DUBAI HEALTHCARE CITY AUTHORITY LAUNCHES FIRST EXCELLENCE AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE INNOVATIVE CLINICAL INITIATIVES WITHIN THE FREE ZONE

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2017

Dubai, January 31, 2017: Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), the governing body of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), today announced the launch of its first Excellence Awards within the free zone to recognize and reward innovative initiatives and top safety standards that make a positive difference to the lives of patients.

Launched on the sidelines of the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress, the objective of the awards is to honor clinical facilities in DHCC, whose work demonstrates a combination of exceptional quality standards, talent and vision.

Khalid Ahmed Al Sheikh Al Shamsi, CEO, DHCA, said, “The excellence Awards is an initiative that reinforces our quest for excellence through unique offerings that distinguish the quality of healthcare services provided within the free zone. The Excellence Awards are an opportunity to bring the remarkable work being done by our partners to the forefront of the health sector. It will also help us set the bar for quality care within the UAE health sector even higher by continuously working towards excellence.”

The awards are given in two categories ‘Healthcare Innovation Award’, which aims to showcase innovative practices and projects in patient care, and the ‘Outpatient Clinics Quality Award’ which aims to recognize outpatient clinics that have achieved continuous high compliance with the outpatient quality standards of Dubai Healthcare City Authority-Regulatory (DHCR).  Each award category has a winner and two runners-up.

Dr Ramadan AlBlooshi, CEO, DHCR, said, “Our aim is to recognize and reward clinical facilities that lead innovative healthcare practice and make a real difference in the lives of patients treated in the free zone. Through these awards, we are strengthening innovation, knowledge and development in the health sector.”

The ‘Healthcare Innovation Award’ will recognize initiatives designed to improve safety in patient care, education and technology. To qualify, the clinical facility must demonstrate improved patient experience and/or patient education, and show how clinical teams have effectively worked together to resolve existing challenges.

Examples of initiatives include innovation within the delivery healthcare or wider cultural initiatives within the healthcare system such as improving patient access to care, or safety during surgical, medical care or medication administration and management.

More than one initiative within the same facility can be nominated for the ‘Healthcare Innovation Award’.

The ‘Outpatient Clinics Quality Award’ will recognize facilities that have the highest score based on the average score of two consecutive comprehensive surveys achieved without a follow up survey.

The winners and runners-up for both categories will be selected by an independent judging panel, which consists of five members from the Dubai Quality Awards judging panel.

Commenting on the selection process Dr AlBlooshi said, “Ensuring a fair and transparent selection process is fundamental to the success of the awards and this can only be achieved through an independent judging panel.”

In order to apply for the awards, clinical facilities must be operational in the free zone for more than a year, and the submitted initiatives should be complete, not in development stages.

Facilities can apply for the Excellence Awards through the DHCR website (www.dhcr.gov.ae).

The deadline for submitting entries is April 1, 2017 and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in May 2017. 

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Dubai Healthcare City

Wafa Issa / Awad Al Atatra / Carolina D’Souza
PR & Communications Department
wafa.issa@dhcc.ae / Awad.Alatatra@dhcc.ae / carolina.dsouza@dhcc.ae
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About Dubai Healthcare City Authority

Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), the governing body of the Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) free zone, was established in May 2011 by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position the free zone as a preferred and prosperous global health and wellness destination.

HH Sheikh Mohammed appointed HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein as the Chairperson of DHCA and appointed a Board of Directors to create a health and wellness ecosystem, driving excellence in medical, wellness, education and research.

DHCA operates through an independent regulatory arm, ‘Dubai Healthcare City Authority – Regulatory’, or DHCR, which regulates the free zone, and reports directly to the DHCA Board. DHCR is responsible for ensuring compliance and enforcement of international quality standards for clinical and non-clinical facilities within DHCC.

DHCR is also responsible for the licensure of all healthcare professionals, educators and operators, as well as setting and maintaining international best practices in delivering healthcare within the free zone.

In December 2016, DHCA streamlined operations to steer the free zone’s progress through three verticals – Dubai Healthcare City Investments (DHCI), Dubai Healthcare City Education and Research (DHCE & R) and Dubai Healthcare City Medical (DHCM). 

DHCI focuses on developing a health and wellness destination, attracting investment, and creating exceptional customer experiences for patients, residents, visitors and members of the free zone community. DHCI also strengthens the free zone’s medical and wellness tourism portfolios.

DHCE & R spearheads education and research, overseeing the development of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Al Jalila Foundation Research Center.

DHCM oversees the medical facilities under DHCA including Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, Dubai Dental Clinic, Dubai Bone and Joint Center and the upcoming Mohammed Bin Rashid University Hospital.