HMC’s expanded bone and joint center officially opens

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) upgraded Bone and Joint Center, in Doha, is officially opened today after completion of a refurbishment and expansion project.

The enhanced orthopedic specialist facility provides a dramatic increase in capacity for patient diagnostics and treatment, and conveniently collocates services in an additional 4,500 sqm of space that includes a total of 19 new treatment rooms, pain management and anesthesiologist services, a physiotherapy room, as well as a multi-purpose room for clinical observations.

Clinic rooms have an open concept and are fitted out with high-tech equipment allowing for up-to-the-minute access to patient diagnostics and information.

New services including an expanded radiology department with specialized CT, MRI and ultrasound capabilities are expected to considerably reduce wait times for patients, who also benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach to care at the facility, which minimizes patient movement throughout the center, and has nurses, doctors and specialists visiting the patient in their treatment rooms.

The center is also one of the first facilities at HMC to introduce a new cashless payment system which means a more convenient experience for patients and visitors. Two new pharmacies and additional parking have also been added for further convenience.

H.E. Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health and HMC’s Managing Director said the expanded Bone and Joint Center is another key building block in the delivery of HMC’s ambitious Facilities Master Plan announced in 2015 to expand in-demand services and enhance infrastructure and facilities.

“The opening of the Bone and Joint Center expansion delivers a critical piece of HMC’s facilities master plan, and not only helps to meet the country’s growing need for specialist orthopedic services, but also meets expanded capacity requirements, improved access to critical outpatient services, and reinforces the multidisciplinary approach to care which conveniently collocates patient services,” Her Excellency said.

“Qatar’s public healthcare system is on a journey of transformation, which involves the expansion of primary, secondary and tertiary health services, the integration of a nationwide patient information system, and the overall improvement and collaboration between services to provide better patient outcomes,” added Her Excellency. 

HMC Bone and Joint Center Director, Dr. Mohammed Mubarak Al Ateeq, said the expanded center provides more convenience for patients and showcases new technology that speeds up their diagnostics and delivery of treatment.

“The center is the first in the Middle East to operate the low-dose 3D imaging EOS machine, which provides a full body skeletal 3D scan in less than 30 seconds. In the near future we will be also installing the latest robotic pharmacy dispenser, which will speed up dispensing of pharmaceuticals to patients,” said Dr. Al Ateeq

“In many cases, wait times for MRI and CT scans have been reduced from months down to same-day for acute care patients, signaling a vital improvement in our ability to deliver care more quickly to patients in need,” he added.                                                        

A branch of Hamad General Hospital, the Bone and Joint Center has a dedicated healthcare team specializing in delivering outpatient services for fractures, pediatric orthopedic, spine, foot and ankle injuries, anthroplasty (surgery of the joint) and sports medicine.

The Bone and Joint Center is located on Al Meena Street in Old Salata. It is open Sunday to Thursday 7 am to 3 pm, and Sunday to Wednesday 5 pm to 9 pm.