Sheikh Khalifa Medical City announces the upcoming opening of the new Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center in Abu Dhabi

In cooperation with Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Sheikh Khalifa Medical City - managed by Cleveland Clinic - would like to notify the community of Abu Dhabi on the upcoming closure of the Emergency Department and Renal Unit at the Central Hospital, after four decades of excellent service.

These changes follow the upcoming plans of renovating SKMC facilities. These departments will be relocated to new locations immediately.

As an alternative center for urgent care, the Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center will be opened on the 7th of February 2008- an ultra-modern Urgent Care Center while the Renal Unit will be relocated to a newly renovated ward in the Medical Pavilion (previously known as Al Jazeerah Hospital) in addition to the existing Renal Unit at the Outpatient Specialty Clinics of SKMC.

With the closure of the Central Hospital Emergency Department and the opening of the new Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) will offer the public three options for patients previously treated at the Central Emergency. It is vital to the public to know the medical cases that should visit each of the following venues.

1. For EMERGENCIES, patients should go directly to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City's Emergency Department (ED). These would include life-threatening cases such as:

- allergic reactions
- chest pain
- difficulties in breathing
- fever in young infants
- poisoning
- medications overdose
- seizures
- broken bones
- Motor vehicle trauma
- serious burns
- serious wounds
- head injuries
- vomiting and diarrhea in young children
- severe abdominal pain

The Emergency Department (ED) has been renovated in line with the closing of the central ED and seven (7) beds and treatment rooms were added which makes the total number of beds to be 45 beds. The ED is located in the ground floor of Sheikh Khalifa Surgical Pavilion (SKSP) and can be reached at +971 2 6102000.

2. FOR URGENT PROBLEMS such as those listed below, patients should go to the new Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center (UCC). These cases are not life-threatening and can usually be treated in Urgent Care Centers. Examples are:
- vomiting and diarrhea in adults
- coughs/colds/flu
- earache/sore throat
- eye problems
- mild-moderate asthmatic episodes
- minor lacerations
- back pain
- rashes
- sprains
- abdominal pain
- urinary symptoms

The new Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center consists of 19 modern treatment rooms, and comprises a pharmacy. X-rays and some hematology tests will be performed at the center. The staff will include 20 physicians, 43 nurses, and 59 clinical technicians and administrators. The new center is located in Al Khalidiyah Area, first right after Al Khalidiyah Mall and can be reached at +971 2 6653475.

3. FOR GENERAL MEDICAL CARE as listed below, patients are advised to go to the Primary Health Care Centers in Abu Dhabi. The best PHC center would be the one nearest to your home, e.g. Al Rawda PHC, Al Ittihad PHC, Al Madina PHC, Al Zafaranah ... etc.

- acne, long-standing rashes
- asthma management
- diabetes management
- high blood pressure management
- long-standing problems for evaluation (joint pain, back pain, headache, abdominal pain)
- medication refills (note: refills will NOT be provided at the Emergency Department or Al Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center)
- physical exams for school or work
- requests for referral to specialty clinics

Stressing the importance of public awareness on this significant change, Dr. Kenneth Ouriel, CEO of SKMC, stated that the healthcare profession has an obligation to educate the community about the best venues for non-urgent and urgent problems. We are working to increase public awareness through various printed materials and publicity to ensure that medical care of patients is not affected by the closing of Central Hospital. Moreover, the Emergency department will prioritize serious versus less serious emergencies, providing transportation to the patients from the ED at SKMC to the Urgent Care Center for non-urgent cases who initially visit the ED at SKSP.

He added "the new Khalidiyah Urgent Care Center is modernly equipped and provides a friendly environment for patients receiving medical treatment in the community. The closure of the Central hospital and opening of the new Urgent Care Center will allow us to provide advanced emergency and urgent care services at the highest standard in both locations".

Dr Ouriel said "SKMC is committed to raising the standards of health care services at its facilities to levels practiced around the world. We would like to thank our patients and staff during the transitional phase".