Abu Dhabi DoH sets new requirements for emergency divisions

ABU DHABI / WAM

The Department of Health — Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, has announced new standard requirements for emergency departments in general hospitals across public and private healthcare providers.
According to the new standard, emergency divisions will be restructured into two distinct departments: emergency departments and urgent care centres. The standard stipulates specific service requirements and criteria that all public and private general hospitals in Abu Dhabi will be required to fulfil in order to obtain licencing for their emergency departments.
The new reforms are part of the DoH’s ongoing efforts to elevate patient experience and facilitate access to an appropriate emergency care unit in line with the highest standards of quality and safety.
Neil Clark, Acting Director of the Investment and Capacity Management Division, said, “The DoH remains committed to improving the quality of the healthcare services in Abu Dhabi and taking patient care standards to higher levels as we continue to move further towards achieving our vision of a ‘healthier Abu Dhabi.
“To that end, we revisited the emergency departments’ roles and services and divided them into two separate divisions, with the aim of each providing different interventions based on the severity of the patient’s illness. This new structure will provide patients with access to better-designed emergency units that meet their medical needs more efficiently and with better results.”
The emergency department will be responsible for providing critical care to patients with acute, life-threatening conditions.