Dar Al Shifa Hospital (DASH) in Kuwait has been recognised by HIMSS for its digital maturity.

The hospital was awarded Stage 6 on the EMRAM and O-EMRAM, this week, making it the first in Kuwait to receive the validations.

EMRAM, or the Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model, measures the adoption and maturity of a health facility’s inpatient EMR capabilities from 0 to 7, while O-EMRAM measures its outpatient capabilities.

The assessments involve testing for clinician documentation, including orders, e-prescribing, patient engagement, population health analytics, as well as continuation of care for patients and populations outside the acute care setting.

WHY IT MATTERS

DASH implemented its electronic patient record (EPR) in October 2017, under the title Sehaty Online (Your Health Online).

HIMSS assessors who carried out the validation noted the degree of structure within the hospital’s medical, nursing and allied health professional record was a highlight and could serve as a reference for other hospitals.

They also noted the “fantastic examples” of device integration across the hospital, including the aesthetic equipment, electrocardiogram (ECG) machines, cath lab, bedside monitoring and ultrasound machines.

Healthcare reminders are in place to help clinicians identify candidates for colon, breast and prostate cancer screening programmes. The DASH mobile app provides patients with access to their clinical records, test results and clinic appointments, as well as enabling them to send messages and pay bills.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Also in the Gulf region, Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was awarded Stage 7 on the EMRAM in December 2021. It followed Dr Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group in Al Khobar, which was awarded Stage 7 EMRAM earlier in the year.

Three Saudi Arabian hospitals in the Mouwasat group based in Qatif, Damman and Riyadh also achieved Stage 7 EMRAM in June.

ON THE RECORD

Dr Ahmad Nasrallah, CEO of Dar Al-Shifa Hospital, said: “We promise the patients of Dar Al-Shifa Hospital and the people of Kuwait with more achievement in the coming future."

Taleb Jeraq, chairman of the DASH board of directors, said: “The HIMSS accreditation is one among several proof points that proves and confirms the continuous commitment and tireless pursuit of DASH to develop the services it provides to its patients and the community in Kuwait. Also it enhances DASH excellence in everything it does, whether it is the direct patient care or the technologies that support such care.”

John Rayner, regional director of EMEA, HIMSS, said: “This is an impressive hospital in which all clinicians make great use of the Cerner Millennium EPR system. The doctors and nurses take full advantage of opportunities to record clinical information in a structured way using templates and structured strings of narrative. This not only standardises data collection, but it also provides an excellent platform from which to compare clinical outcomes, carry out research and local audit projects.”