SEHA to mark Laboratories Professionals Week

Press release

Published May 27th, 2012 - 05:20 GMT

Al Bawaba

In an effort to better serve patients, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has announced the integration of its medical laboratories across its network with the launch of its Clinical Support Service Laboratory Council.

In its first emirate-wide health program after the launch of the council, SEHA will mark Laboratories Professionals Week from 27-31 May 2012 across four of its network hospitals – Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Mafraq Hospital, Al Ain Hospital and Al Rahba Hospital. Laboratory Professionals Week is a global public health initiative observed focused on medical laboratory professionals.

“We are taking this time to highlight the crucial role laboratory professionals play in SEHA’s continued commitment to deliver world-class health services to the people of Abu Dhabi,” said Dr. Ali Abdul Kareem Al Obaidli, Group Chief Clinical Affairs Officer at the Corporate Clinical Affairs Division of SEHA. “We have marked Laboratories Professionals Week individual laboratories, but this year we are bringing all SEHA network facilities together to participate in a focused series of events.”

SEHA will kick-off Laboratories Professionals Week with a series of public health events hosted at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, from Sunday, 27 May until Wednesday, 30 May. Beginning each morning at 10 AM and lasting until 2 PM, laboratory professionals will be on hand at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City to conduct free health screenings for the public and will provide laboratory open tour for healthcare professionals and medical students. Al Rahba Hospital will focus on a series of educational programs while hosting talent competitions for its laboratory staff and will also provide laboratory open tour on May 30 from 10 AM till 3 PM.

Mafraq Hospital will host a series of presentations and conferences to educate both hospital staff and the general public on the vital importance of laboratory practices. Al Ain Hospital will host free blood glucose screenings for patients along with games and activities for laboratory staff. Al Ain Hospital will close the week with a ceremony where it will name its employee of the year.

Through hosting Laboratories Professionals Week, SEHA aims to not only educate all stakeholders across its network about the importance of laboratory professionals, but to help empower laboratory staff, boost confidence, increase productivity, and help them achieve their targets.

“We are honored and excited to organize Laboratories Professionals Week and we hope everyone in Abu Dhabi takes this opportunity to learn more about how medical laboratories work and use this week as a chance to get an update on their overall health status,” concluded Dr. Al Obaidli.

The SEHA Clinical Support Service Laboratory Council aims to sustain collaboration within the SEHA hospitals in order to continue supporting educational programs and enhancing Continuous Medical Education through reputable healthcare programs.

Background Information

SEHA HealthSystem

SEHA is the corporate marketing name of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, an independent public joint stock company that owns and operates all public hospitals and clinics across the emirate. ‘SEHA’ is a phonetic rendering of the Arabic word for health.

The company was established by Emiri Decree No 10 of 2007 and is a leading participant in the reform of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector. The reform seeks to upgrade and improve healthcare delivery to the public at a level comparable to the finest healthcare systems in the world. The program began by separating management and regulation – SEHA assumed responsibility for public healthcare centers and hospitals, while Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HA-AD) was established to regulate the public and private sectors. The two organizations replaced the General Authority for Health Services (GAHS), previously responsible for both roles.