(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Hamad Medical Corp (HMC) Deputy Chief for Long-Term Care, Rehabilitation, and Geriatrics, and Medical Director of Rumailah Hospital Dr Hanadi Khamis al-Hamad noted that the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute (QRI) has achieved, since its opening in 2016, significant milestones, launching important initiatives that have contributed to the development of its specialised services and programmes in this vital field.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr Hanadi explained that the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute is the only facility in the country that provides specialised rehabilitation services for both inpatients and outpatients, with care available during both day and evening hours. The institute offers five main programmes: stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, pain management, and paediatric rehabilitation, she pointed out, noting that these programmes are designed with multidisciplinary rehabilitation services to meet the specific needs and requirements of each patient.
She said that the stroke unit is one of the largest departments at the institute and follows a patient-centred model of care, which includes a specialised rehabilitation physician, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and a well-trained nursing team.
Dr Hanadi also highlighted other key programmes at the institute, such as brain injury and spinal cord rehabilitation. In addition, she pointed out the hydrotherapy service, a therapeutic technique that uses the properties of water for treatment. Patients are immersed in a water pool maintained at a therapeutic temperature, allowing them to perform exercises under the supervision of a physical therapist. This service is also available at several hospitals and centres under Hamad Medical Corp.
Furthermore, she noted that the institute has expanded its motion analysis services through the newly established Gait Laboratory. This lab offers specialised diagnostic and therapeutic rehabilitation services for both children and adults, with the goal of enhancing patient care. She emphasised that this expansion focuses on delivering high-quality care and improving patients' quality of life, as the lab provides gait performance assessments using advanced equipment and includes innovative therapeutic systems and a multidisciplinary team to ensure a comprehensive approach to patient care.
Dr Hanadi added that the rehabilitation programme also involves integrating the patient's family into the treatment plan and ensuring that all patient needs are met before discharge. This includes providing specialised wheelchairs, mobility Aids, and assistive technology, as well as conducting a pre-discharge home assessment to ensure the home environment is suitable for the patient's condition. These measures aim to ensure the patient's continued safety and adherence to the treatment plan, including medication and follow-up appointments.
Dr Hanadi discussed the process of community-based rehabilitation provided by the institute. This rehabilitation is delivered through a specialised, multidisciplinary team that visits the patient's home to provide appropriate rehabilitation sessions, with a particular focus in this context on the elderly.
She also highlighted, in a related context, one of the key achievements of the institute, which is the launch of the Precision Rehabilitation Programme that enables patients to track the progress of their health conditions. Dr Hanadi explained that Qatar Rehabilitation Institute is the first facility in the country to offer such an initiative, which designs tailored treatments for patients recovering from injuries, surgeries, or managing chronic conditions. The initiative also incorporates advanced technologies, such as robotics, to provide personalised therapeutic interventions and improve patient outcomes.
Dr Hanadi noted that the institute also meets the needs of geriatric patients requiring rehabilitation following certain illnesses or surgeries. In addition, paediatric patients are cared for in facilities that offer day rehabilitation and long-term care within the specialised units of Al Maha Centre.
She further stated that the centre places great importance on continuously holding high-quality training courses and conducting specialised research in collaboration with Qatar University and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. These research efforts focus on rehabilitation and disease prevention, aiming to enhance the quality of services provided to patients and accelerate the healing process.
Dr Hanadi expressed her pride in Qatar Rehabilitation Institute receiving international accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), making it the first facility under Hamad Medical Corp to earn this prestigious recognition in the field of rehabilitation.
She affirmed that this achievement has significantly contributed to improving the quality of life for patients in Qatar, with a strong emphasis on innovation and continuous development in the fields of treatment and rehabilitation.
Dr Hanadi also emphasised that the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Programme, recently launched by the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute for the first time in the country, represents a major milestone among the institute's many accomplishments and ongoing initiatives. It reflects the institute's firm commitment to capacity-building, clinical excellence, and innovation in rehabilitation services.
She addressed the challenges of rehabilitation and the family's role in recovery, noting that the challenges are varied and include both psychological and physical adaptation to treatment. She stressed the vital and essential role that families play in supporting patients and ensuring adherence to treatment plans.
She also shared key messages for the public, confirming that high-quality rehabilitation services are available at the centre, adding that prevention is better than cure. She urged the public to avoid risk factors for strokes and similar conditions by managing contributing factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
She called on everyone, especially patients, to engage in physical activity and exercise, as it plays an important role in helping them reintegrate into society during the often lengthy rehabilitation period.
Furthermore, she emphasised that the centre provides services for all age groups, children and adults, men and women, without discrimination, with a core priority of supporting patients' recovery and reintegration into the community, through a team of qualified and specialised medical and technical professionals.
Dr Hanadi highlighted that rehabilitation services are available across HMC hospitals for inpatients through day rehabilitation programmes, as well as for outpatients at specialised rehabilitation clinics in Al Wakra Hospital, Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital, Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, and the Al Maha Centre.

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