Two years after opening, Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Bayt Aman is continuing to support expatriate laborers who have been released from hospital and are awaiting return to their home country. Since opening in June 2016, Bayt Aman has hosted 20 residents, with nine successfully discharged and safely returned to their home countries.
“The expatriate workers who are cared for at Bayt Aman no longer need the high level of clinical supervision that is provided at HMC’s rehabilitation and long-term care units, but they do require some support. The majority of these individuals have sustained a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or injuries to multiple body parts and organ systems. While they have recovered from a serious injury and are clinically well enough to leave the hospital or a long-term care facility, they still require support. At Bayt Aman, we are able to provide them with this extra support and assistance,” stated Dr. Wafa Al Yazeedi, Chairperson of the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute.
Located in the Al Thumama area, Bayt Aman can accommodate up to 12 guests at any given time, with most residents spending several months at the facility before returning to their home country. Established in collaboration with Qatar Building Company, Bayt Aman provides safe and accessible accommodation for workers with disabilities who are awaiting repatriation to their home country.
“Some patients discharged from HMC hospitals no longer need hospital-based care but they are not yet ready to return home due to the severity of their injury or the unsuitability of their accommodation. Bayt Aman is staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week and was created with the vision of providing a space for discharged expatriate laborers to fully recuperate and re-adjust to their daily routine,” explained Mr. Mahmoud Saleh Al Raisi, Chief of Continuing Care Group.
Dr. Nasser Al Nabit, Executive Director, Business Development, Continuing Care Group, oversees operations at Bayt Aman and said guests of the facility are outpatients, with many receiving follow-up rehabilitation services at QRI on an outpatient basis. He says while the facility is staffed by a charge nurse and patient care attendants, residents are encouraged to be independent.
“Our residents are considered outpatients with our facility acting as assisted-living accommodations. Patients are encouraged to be as independent as possible, particularly in terms of their daily self-care activities,” said Dr. Al Nabit.
Calling Bayt Aman a safe and restorative environment for expatriate workers who have completed medical treatment and are waiting to return home, Dr. Al Nabit says staff at the facility are focused on helping residents who have completed their medical treatment to fully recuperate and adjust to what may be a new normal routine.
“While waiting to be cleared for travel back to their home country, residents at Bayt Aman are kept busy by engaging in activities such as exercising, painting, cooking, taking care of plants, or socializing with visitors. Staff regularly organize events for our residents, such as painting classes recently held in collaboration with artists from the International Artists of Doha,” added Dr. Al Nabit.
Dr. Al Nabit expressed his gratitude to the National Human Rights Committee, the Ministry of Interior, and Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation for their support in facilitating the safe repatriation of the nine former residents who have returned to their home countries.
“We deeply appreciate the role played by these organizations in ensuring that all Bayt Aman residents are able to stay in the country legally during the final stages of their rehabilitation and that they are able to leave the country without delay once they are well enough,” Dr. Al Nabit noted.
