Doha: Another healthcare facility under Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has been awarded the Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care (PCC) by Planetree International.
Home Health Care Service (HHCS) is one of only 116 healthcare organizations worldwide to earn this prestigious award, and this is their second Gold Certification.
Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care represents the highest level of achievement in person-centered care, based on evidence and standards.
Person-centered healthcare prioritizes the active participation of patients and their families throughout the healthcare process with an emphasis on partnership, compassion, transparency, inclusion, and quality.
HHCS provides home care to Qataris and expatriates of all ages, who are temporarily or permanently housebound.
Currently, HHCS provides daily home care to about 2700 patients across Qatar through its satellite locations in Al Khor, Al Wakra, Landmark, Muaither, and its headquarters in Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City.
Nasser Al Naimi, Chief of Patient Experience at HMC and Director of Hamad Healthcare Quality Institute, said, “This recognition reinforces HMC’s mission to provide person-centered healthcare that respects the needs, values, and choices of those we serve, ensuring that every patient's experience is as comfortable and powerful as possible. My heartfelt congratulations to the whole HHCS team for achieving this remarkable achievement”.
“HHCS provides valuable service within HMC, and it is designed to enhance patient comfort, promote healing, and improve overall health outcomes,” said Dr. Hanadi Khamis Al Hamad, HMC’s Deputy Chief for Long Term Care, Rehabilitation, and Geriatric Care, Medical Director of Rumailah Hospital and Qatar Rehabilitation Institute.
Dr. Al Hamad said this remarkable recognition highlights HMC’s unwavering commitment to delivering innovative and compassionate care that places patients at the heart of their healthcare experience.
As part of the Certification process, the HHCS team underwent a rigorous assessment by the Planetree team to achieve Gold Certification.
The certification process also included a thorough review of patient experience and quality performance metrics, demonstrating how continuous measurement and improvement translate into superior healthcare outcomes.
The HHCS has undertaken significant initiatives in advancing person-centered care, most notably their 16 Wishes Program, co-designed with the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).
This initiative encompasses key improvements such as 24/7 access and coverage, caregiver competency training, and assigning physicians for dermatology and dental services, including early discharge and palliative care at home program.
Dr. Hanan Saleh Alyafei, Senior Consultant and PCC Clinical Champion of HHCS said: "We are really proud to have been awarded Planetree's Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to putting patients and their families at the center of all we do. This honor goes to every member of the HHCS team and our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), their dedication, compassion, and collaborative attitude have been critical in incorporating person-centered care into all aspects of our services."
“The Planetree Certification is the only award that recognizes excellence in person-centeredness across the continuum of care,” said Michael Giuliano, President of Planetree International, a not-for-profit organization that has been at the forefront of the movement to transform healthcare from the perspective of patients for more than 45 years.
“This Gold Certification emphasizes to its patients and community that HMC’s Home Health Care Service is an organization where staff partner with patients and families and where patient and family comfort, dignity, empowerment, and well-being are prioritized as key elements of providing top-quality clinical care.”
