1 week Ago By Qatar Tribune
Qatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre (Itqan) has become the first centre in Qatar to receive accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). Itqan is a state-of-the-art education and training facility located on the Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City (HBKMC) campus of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). It is one of the world’s largest and most technically advanced simulation centres.
SSH accreditation is the gold standard in healthcare simulation. It signifies commitment to excellence and sets an institution apart from the competition and ensures that the facility embodies quality education. SSH-accredited programmes are more likely to provide high-quality simulation experiences that lead to better patient outcomes.
Commenting on the accreditation, Dr Abdulla Yousuf, acting executive director of Itqan, said: “It is a significant milestone for Itqan to receive full accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, formally recognising the centre as a proven leader in healthcare simulation excellence. We take great pride in our dedicated team at Itqan, whose consistent hard work and commitment to excellence over the past several years have made this achievement possible.” “Itqan is revolutionising clinical education and training in Qatar by equipping healthcare professionals and students with the invaluable opportunity to enhance their technical skills while advancing clinical judgment, prioritisation, communication and teamwork capabilities,” added Dr Yousuf.
Itqan’s SSH accreditation covers two specific areas of focus: Core and Teaching/Education. The centre undertook a lengthy process of documenting, which included the Strategic Planning Process and Booking Process, which were both deemed exemplary by the SSH reviewers. “Itqan’s purpose-built state-of-the-art facility provides controlled and supportive learning environments that imitate real-life patient care situations in patient suites, labour and delivery suites, operating theatres, intensive care units and clinic setting.
The credit for this achievement goes to the leadership and the team of Itqan and to the dedicated faculty from the different clinical departments across HMC, all of whom we are very proud of,” said Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, deputy medical director and director of Medical Education at HMC. “The centre supports HMC’s vision and mission to be the healthcare provider of choice for patients providing the highest quality care and a thriving and integrated Academic Health System. The mission of Itqan is to make significant, positive impacts on patient care outcomes, health professionals’ education, and medical research and innovation.
Receiving this accreditation from SSH is formal recognition and endorsement of the high-quality education and training provided by the centre,” added Dr Khal. The SSH-Accreditation board noted the thoroughness of Itqan’s policies, evaluation activities and the way the team works together. All criteria were met in the areas of Educational Activities; Educational Activity Design; Qualified Educators; and Evaluation and Improvement.
Site visitors arrived in April 2024 to observe daily practice and to meet with all stakeholders to ensure the centre functions at a level of high quality. “This accreditation is an important milestone for us, not just in terms of regional and international recognition but in how it strengthens our operational and strategic capabilities. Being the first centre in Qatar, and among only a few in the region, to receive this accreditation places us in a unique position, enhancing our reputation on a global scale.
This will not only bolster our ongoing efforts but also pave the way for future international partnerships with academic partners and industry leaders, allowing us to continue pushing the boundaries of healthcare simulation and patient safety,” said Amr Metwally, assistant Executive director for Itqan. In 2023, Itqan facilitated 1,450 activities for over 31,500 learners. It also hosted 3,500 high-school students on tours to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics education as part of its community engagement.
Thus far in 2024, Itqan has hosted 21,272 learners participating in many different training courses from the very basic to the highly technologically advanced ones. Copy 23/09/2024 10.
