It may be the first and the oldest medical facility in Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf. But, it is also the youngest, when it comes to the way the American Mission Hospital embraces the latest advances in medical technology.
It opened in 1903 as the Mason Memorial Hospital. And it remained as the first choice, if not the only choice, for the people of Bahrain, until formal government healthcare facilities opened up in the 1940s.
Today, as the only not-for-profit private hospital here for nearly 120 years, it continues to offer high quality, affordable, healthcare to the people of Bahrain.
QUALITY RECOGNITIONS
In April 2021, “For the second time, consecutively, we have been awarded ‘Diamond’ status, the highest level among accreditation statuses awarded by NHRA or the National Health Regulatory Authority of Bahrain”, says Dr. George Cheriyan, the Corporate CEO and the Chief Medical Officer.
“And another proof of our commitment to quality, in patient-care, is that our policies, processes and procedures have achieved the certifications of ISO 9001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007”.
“This May 2021, we have also became the first private hospital in Bahrain to win the coveted CAP accreditation”, adds Julia Tovey, the Group CEO.
“This recognition from the College of American Pathologists is sought-after by pathology labs around the world. And our lab has succeeded in meeting CAP’s stringent international quality standards, and made us the second hospital in the country, after the government’s King Hamad University Hospital, to earn this unique honour.”
PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Todd Sprinkel, the Director of Clinical Services, says: “One of the core advancements in our clinical services, in these last two years, has been the improvement of PX or the patient experience.”
“The patient is at the core of what we do. And all our doctors, especially the service line heads, understand the Net Promoter Score. They have individually worked on improving these scores, by ensuring that all our processes and practices enhance patient experience”.
“Recently, we've added a new pediatric neurologist to our team of experts, and we will soon be starting Pediatric EEG Testing as well”.
“Our Ob-Gyn department has seen a 110% increase in the delivery of babies, in the second quarter of 2021. From an average of around 60 deliveries a month, we have delivered over 135 babies each month. That we can handle such capacities quickly is indicative of our hospital’s agility in adapting to operational changes.”
BEST PRACTICES
“To ensure that best practices in the healthcare sector are maintained, the competencies of our nursing staff and the allied staff skills are regularly updated,” says Elize De Bod, the Director of Nursing.
“Our motto is to provide quality patient care that is appropriate, effective and specific to the individual. The patient’s wellbeing remains our main focus”.
Regarding education and training, the director of nursing adds this: “American Heart Association has accredited us as an International Training Centre. We provide courses like, Basic Life support (BLS), Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Heart-saver, and First Aid for both, internal and external, healthcare professionals.”
NEAR FUTURE
Work is underway, in A’Ali, on the King Hamad American Mission Hospital which will open in October 2022. This $70 million, 775,000-square-foot hospital will be an eco-friendly, solar-run hospital. With its tie up with RCSI, the hospital will be a teaching hospital, as well.
And when it opens, A’Ali will become the fifth location - after Manama, Saar, Amwaj Islands and Riffa - from where AMH will continue to serve the community.