FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 16, 2000
CONTACT:Patricia Enright
202-452-9511
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (CNMC) PHYSICIANS TO TREAT CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN IN SAUDI ARABIA
Local physicians also to provide ground-level planning and management consultation for development of new rehabilitation center
Washington, DC (February 16, 2000) -- Beginning Thursday, February 17, a team of physicians from Children's National Medical Center is travelling to Dammam, Saudi Arabia to help treat critically ill children needing specialty medical care at the Eastern Province Rehabilitation Society for Disabled Persons (EPRSFDP). The group will also identify opportunities for improving clinical services at the center. CNMC was chosen from among the leading pediatric centers in the U.S. to spearhead this initiative.
The CNMC team is comprised of Dr. Laura Tosi, M.D., Chairman of Orthopedics, Katherine Parker, Physical Medicine Specialist, Ousama El Baba, Director, International Programs and Dr. Paul Rader, Executive Director, International Programs. The group will have the opportunity to attend to several patients there as well as help develop operations and clinical treatment strategies for the new rehabilitation center. The four-day visit to the clinic will be followed by a trip to meet with officials in Riyadh.
"We consider this trip to be the first step in a long-term, collegial, cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship," said Dr. Rader. "In the future, we hope to establish telemedicine links, arrange follow-up visits to diagnose and treat patients, consult on matters of medical management and arrange for physician and staff exchanges."
Not yet fully operational, the goal of EPRSFDP is to provide care for children with developmental disorders and cerebral palsy as well as adult patients with head injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and physical disabilities. Service units to be developed include diagnostics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and vocational training.
This trip is the next step in CNMC's ongoing commitment to healthcare in the Middle East and Africa. In the past six months alone, groups of CNMC physicians and staff have made similar trips to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. and Benin, West Africa. Discussions to organize a trip to facilities in Rwanda are currently underway.
"Working to build lasting relationships with these international medical centers has been, and continues to be, a rewarding experience for everyone concerned," added Dr. Rader. "We believe that CNMC's collaborations with local officials and physicians will help to bring exemplary healthcare to these communities."
Children's National Medical Center, located in Washington, D.C., is a leader in the development of innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury. Among the top 15 pediatric hospitals in America, Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) has been serving the nation's children for over 125 years. CNMC's newly developed Centers of Excellence programs include: Neurosciences and Behavioral Medicine; Cancer and Blood Disorders; Heart and Kidney Disease; Community Pediatric Health; Complex Diseases; Hospital Based Specialties, and Surgery. The Centers of Excellence program and an internationally recognized team of pediatric health care professionals allow Children's National Medical Center to care for thousands of families throughout the region, the nation, and the world. In addition, Children's serves as the regional referral center for pediatric emergency, trauma care, cancer, burn, neonatology, and critical care.
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For additional information, or to arrange an interview about this trip, please contact Patricia Enright at 202-452-9511 or via e-mail at: [email protected].
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