Press Release June, 26 2008

Central Hospital Demolition Work Begins

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) - managed by Cleveland Clinic - would like to announce the commencement of the demolition of the Central Hospital Building in Abu Dhabi.  Today, 26 June 2008, a bulldozer will make its first pass through the building that has long served the Abu Dhabi community.

 
"Full demolition of the old hospital should take 4-5 days," said Dr. Scott Strong, Acting CEO of SKMC. “The hospital has provided excellent service to the community of Abu Dhabi for more than four decades. When Central Hospital was merged into SKMC in 2004, several departments were closed; however, the Emergency Room and Renal Unit kept functioning until 06 February 2008, when SKMC was able to also transfer these services to other facilities at SKMC”.

Dr Strong added “The recent closure of these two areas last February aligned with the upcoming plans of renovating SKMC facilities, as indicated by Mr. Saif Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company - SEHA. These departments were immediately relocated to new locations as an alternative center for urgent care, the Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center, was opened on the same day while the Renal Unit was relocated to a newly renovated ward in the Medical Pavilion (previously known as Al Jazeerah Hospital).”

“The management team of SKMC and SEHA are in the discussion and planning stages regarding future use of the site.  Once plans are finalized, we will publish those plans.  Over time, these changes will improve the delivery of patient care to the residents of Abu Dhabi”, Dr Strong added.

For urgent problems that were previously treated at Central Hospital, patients should seek care at the new Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center (tel#026653475) whose working hours are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, life-threatening emergencies are best handled at the SKMC Emergency Room and general medical care is delivered by the Primary Healthcare Clinics. 

About SKMC

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, operates under the management of Cleveland Clinic, named one of the top three hospitals in the USA by U.S. News and World Report. SKMC is owned by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, recently established to oversee operations of all public hospitals in the Emirate.  It is the flagship institution for the public health system in Abu Dhabi and has several 'Centers of Excellence,' and aspires to practice contemporary medicine comparable to the best hospitals and medical centers in the world. SKMC provides comprehensive health care services in all of the disciplines relevant to the needs and priorities of the community to attain the highest levels of patient satisfaction.

SKMC consists of a 550-bed Acute Care Hospital, a 120-bed Behavior Sciences Pavilion and the 90-bed Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Center, in addition to more than 12 specialized outpatient clinics and ten primary healthcare centers around the city of Abu Dhabi. 

About SEHA

SEHA is health in Arabic.  The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company – whose corporate identity is SEHA – is an independent, public joint stock company created to manage and develop the curative activities of the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.  SEHA is committed to providing quality, cost effective healthcare on par with international standards measured through accessibility, affordability, choice and satisfaction.  SEHA manages 8 hospital systems totaling 14 facilities, 2,472 licensed beds, more than 55 Primary Health Clinics and 14,350 employees.