Abu Dhabi Health Services Company-owned Mafraq Hospital, has unveiled its new state-of-the-art emergency room, increasing its capacity from 10 to 33 patient bays and almost trebling potential patient intake. 

The updated, patient-friendly facility is expected to reduce patient waiting times by as much as 30 per cent, a statement from the hospital said.

The expansion included a series of significant enhancements ranging from an expanded triage area, an increase in patient registration kiosks from three to six, separate male and female waiting areas with increased capacity, a dedicated ambulance entrance, enhanced signage, and a 230 per cent increase in patient beds.

Dr Mohammad Yaman, chief medical officer, Mafraq Hospital, said: “As one of the leading trauma centres in the country, the Mafraq Hospital emergency department has been treating an average of nearly 110,000 patients annually. This expansion is expected to increase capacity, and positions us as one of the leading emergency departments across the region.”

With an average of 300 patients passing through the ER on a daily basis – 40 per cent of which are trauma cases– swift and first-rate treatment, as well as efficient patient flow, is critical to the success of the department, the statement said.

Brenda Flynn, director of ambulatory care services, said: “Mafraq Hospital employs a dedicated team of 62 nurses and 19 doctors who work around the clock to ensure our patients receive  the highest quality of care, as well as a positive treatment experience.”

“Emergency care doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience, and we have designed our new facility with comfort and calmness in mind.  Research shows that calm patients are more receptive to treatment, which in turn reduces wait times and results in a more efficient experience for doctors and patients alike,” she added.

Further boosting efficiency, an urgent care clinic was recently opened to manage patient overflow from the ER. Fitted with 5 beds, the clinic is equipped to handle urgent but non-life threatening cases, the statement said.

“Upon opening, the urgent care clinic immediately alleviated a significant amount of strain on our ER department. While these patients require medical attention, they can be effectively treated outside of our emergency care department, freeing up resources for those with life-threatening injuries. We treat an average of 70 patients a day through this clinic, which demonstrates its value and necessity,” Flynn said. – TradeArabia News Service