Dubai adopts online patient safety, risk management system

The Hospital Services Sector at the Dubai Health Authority recently adopted an online patient safety and risk management system across its hospitals and speciality centres. The online healthcare risk management system known as, 'Aman' is the first to be implemented in the Emirate of Dubai. The system is live in all the DHA hospitals- Dubai, Rashid, Latifa and Hatta as well as in DHA's four speciality centres- The Thalassemia Centre, Dubai Diabetes Centre, Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre and the Airport Medical Centre. Khalid Al Sheikh Mubarak, Deputy Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority said: "The implementation of this patient safety software is to ensure unification of processes and reporting systems which is essential to minimize risks and further enhance patient safety. For us, at the DHA, it is very important to constantly enhance our healthcare services and this system is a vital tool to achieve this". Dr Mohammad Al Olama, CEO of Hospital Services Sector at the DHA said: "This system will provide our healthcare entities with a unified reporting system, will ensure real time follow up on safety events and hazards and will improve communication, reporting and response to any adverse events, however minor they may be, which in the long run is essential to build a robust healthcare system". Dr. Zakaria Zaki Al Attal, Director of Quality and Performance Management, Hospitals Services Sector at the DHA said: "The reporting system covers all kinds of risks and adverse events including adverse medication reactions and includes all kinds of risks that patients may be exposed to during hospital stay". The system is extremely comprehensive and ensures minimised exposure to such risks. At the end of the day, patient safety is most important for all healthcare organisations and this system ensures improved patient outcomes." Dr. Laila Faraidooni, Head of Risk Management and Communications Section, Hospital Services Sector at the DHA and project manager of Aman said that the current implemented system will help improve event reporting, will enhance safety, improve quality and ensure prompt notifications for such events and timely feedback. It will also help improve communication and foster teamwork". She added: "Another important benefit of this system is that it will provide us qualitative data for analysis. In the long run this will help also help in improved information-sharing, enhance productivity, lead to effective use of resources, reduce costs associated with adverse events and help develop a culture of safety and learning".