HMC Centre Receives Acknowledgement From Society For Simulation In Healthcare

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre has been awarded provisional accreditation in teaching and education by the internationally renowned Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH).
The provisional accreditation, granted by SSH's Provisional Board of Review, is a validation of the developmental efforts of the centre and the simulation and education programmes provided.
Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, deputy chief medical officer and director of Hamad Medical Education Department at HMC, said:“Simulation facilities play a pivotal role in providing practical hands-on training for clinicians in a safe environment. Enhancing the competencies of medical practitioners, including doctors and nurses, which gives them more confidence when treating human patients; it also improves patient safety and reduces health care costs.”
“Itqan is the first clinical simulation centre in Qatar to receive such an accreditation. This is truly a major achievement that is a source of pride for HMC and an important milestone in Qatar's strategy to develop a highly competent workforce,” noted Dr al-Khal.
“Our centre is purpose designed and built as a state-of-the-art facility that provides healthcare professionals and students from across Qatar with the opportunity to develop and refine their technical clinical skills as well as improve clinical judgment, safety culture, communication and teamwork skills,” explained Dr al-Khal.“Itqan is an Arabic word for perfection. At the simulation centre, we always strive for high quality in our environment, our training, our outcomes, and in our future patient care.”
Located at the Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City campus, the Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre is one of the world's largest simulation centres and the largest facility of its kind in the region. It is technically advanced and fully equipped with specialised simulation tools, such as high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality simulators, fully equipped operating theatres, intensive care units, and patient care rooms. The centre has been an extremely important facility in providing upskilling and retraining of targeted staff during the past Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Kimberly Leighton, executive director, Itqan Clinical Simulation & Innovation Centre, explained that the SSH's provisional accreditation was a credit to executive leadership support, the magnificently designed hi-tec facility and a highly trained and dedicated team who provide simulation training and support.
“We embarked on this journey to gain SSH accreditation because it represents an external validation and recognition of the quality of the facility's operations, its staff, and the training programs we offer to healthcare professionals. This provisional accreditation status is granted to our centre for two years, with a view toward enabling us to develop further and be ready to apply for full accreditation status in 2024,” added Dr Leighton.

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