Tawam Hospital Care Reaches Beyond The Hospital

In its efforts to help patients get the best treatment possible, Tawam Hospital continues to find ways to care for its patients both in and out of the hospital.

A Tawam Hospital patient for 19 years, 9 months, Fatima (not her real name) suffers from a debilitating metabolic disorder called mucopolysaccharidosis. The disorder means that Fatima needs weekly intravenous (IV) infusions of the much needed enzyme for her body. Administering the IV takes many hours and requires for Fatima to spend one night each week in the hospital. This process of course takes its toll on Fatima who needs to be transported by ambulance to and from the hospital in order to receive her treatment, and has to spend 52 nights a year away from her family. The disease affects Fatima’s whole body, particularly her bones, confining her to bed all the time as she cannot walk nor sit well on her own.

Together with the Tawam Paediatrics Department, its nurses, as well as the clinical pharmacist, Tawam Hospital has now provided a mini-home infusion pump called Mini Rhythm to Fatima, which enables the administration of the enzyme at her convenience and in her own home. Dedicated nurses visit Fatima to administer the enzyme and the precise coordination of the pharmacy enables the timely delivery of the medication to her address.

With care available at Fatima’s home, she will now visit Tawam for check up once every six months as opposed to her prior weekly trips to the hospital. Despite the limitations of her movement, Fatima enjoys a better quality of life and no longer spends days and nights in the hospital.

Dr. Jozef Hertecant, Consultant Pediatrician – Tawam Hospital said: “It is quite a breakthrough in patient care to be able to extend treatment at home, especially in the case of Fatima. This is thanks to our committed and dedicated home discharge team and the nurses at the Pediatrics Department. The new mobile treatment also paves the way for Tawam Hospital to give the same dedicated care to other patients suffering from the same disease. This is just the beginning.”

Marianna Van Taak, Head Nurse, Pediatrics Department said: “We are committed to providing the best possible care and improvements in quality of life for our patients. The home care we now provide to Fatima and soon to other patients suffering from the same metabolic disorder is just one tangible example of us finding new ways of working to make our patients’ lives better. We have trained nurses to handle the care of patients like Fatima who go beyond the hospital and clinics to visit homes and administer care, support and medication.”

Working closely with the Pediatrics Department, Pharmacists also met with Fatima’s family of to discuss the preparation, collection, and transportation of her medication from the pharmacy to her home every week.

Tawam home discharge team spared no efforts to arrange for her treatment at home; coordinating the delivery of the Mini Rhythm, and working with the pharmacy and trained nurses. “Fatima is a special case for us and working to ensure that she receives the best care in the most convenient way is paramount to our team. We are truly grateful to everyone who has worked with us to bring a smile to Fatima’s face,” said Mr. Mohammed Okkeh, head of Tawam home discharge team.

Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System and is owned and operated by SEHA which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Emirate:  Abu Dhabi

Date: Jan 9, 2014

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