Dr. Ahmad Al Hammadi Head of General Pediatrics Section
What is the main objective of the General Pediatrics Section at Hamad Medical Corporation?The Division of General Pediatrics is committed to excellence in pediatrics and the promotion of child health through innovation and collaboration encompassing the areas of patient care, education and research.
How do you plan to accomplish this?As a first step, we have looked into expanding our team. I am delighted to announce the recruitment of two new attending staff who have recently joined our division. Dr. Adibah Hamad, MD, joins us as a Senior Consultant from Toledo, Ohio, United States, with more than 15 years of experience as a pediatrics hospitalist. Dr. Mohamed Hendaus, MD, is a Consultant from Chicago, United States.
In addition, Dr Michael Weinstein, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto – SickKids Hospital, paid a week-long visit to our division to support the establishment of a pediatric complex care team in Qatar.
Let’s discuss each of the areas you have mentioned in further details. What measures have you undertaken to improve patient care within your division?We launched an interesting new system which has had an immensely positive impact on our patients care. Under the new system, we have implemented the following initiatives:
- Daily nursing-physician handover round from 8.45am to 9am
- A coordination team: This team has become the only point of contact for all admissions to the Pediatrics Department. The main advantages of having such a team are optimization of beds usage, facilitation of patients’ admission process and reduction of patients waiting time
- In February 2012, we introduced an inpatients quality and safety round that takes place at the end of each block (last Thursday of each month) for the first time at HMC
- We are currently working on establishing a rapid response team in cooperation with the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
- Starting from March 2012, we plan to operate a failure to thrive clinic once a week which will be run by Dr. Mohamed Hendaus under my supervision
What educational initiatives have you implemented?
The General Pediatrics Division takes a leadership role in pediatrics residents teaching activities. The following points summarize our resident’s education activities:
- Resident sit-down round: carried out every Monday from 11am to 12pm. This is a weekly clinical round of the Division of General Pediatric. All pediatric residents take turns giving presentations. The purpose of the presentations is to provide up-to-date and evidence-based presentation of important, relevant and current clinical topics of interest.
- Resident academic ½ days: takes place every Wednesday from 12:30pm to 2:30pm. This protected teaching time is mandatory for all pediatric residents. On those half-days, talks cover a wide variety of topics that are important to residents, and facilitated by pediatrician and sub-specialists. We adopted a range of teaching approaches for these sessions, which include problem-based learning (PBL), small group discussions, lectures and clinicals.
- Resident continuity clinic is conducted by our division every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday afternoons.
- In January 2012 we will take the lead on bedside teaching sessions for Weill Cornell Medical College students during their pediatrics internship. These sessions are conducted every Monday and Wednesday from 12:30pm to 2pm.
- In January 2012, new history and physical exam form, inpatients progress note and WHO growth chart were introduced to the pediatrics ward.
- In January 2012, we gave the first Resident of the Month award.
- In February 2012, the Pediatrics Journal Club was held outside the hospital for first time, under mine and Dr. Hatem Abdul Rahman’s direct supervision.
Which areas of general pediatrics are you currently focusing your research activities on?
Our research projects focus on common general pediatrics conditions. For instance, research in the areas of FTT, GERD, Kawasaki Disease and bacterial meningitis are presently in progress.
Thanks for your time Dr. Al Hammadi
You’re welcome.
