HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award Middle East 2018 winners announced

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention wins the Outstanding ICT Achievement Awards, as well as the second finalist place for two exceptional projects

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Elsevier, the information analytics business specializing in science and health, and HIMSS Middle East have announced the winner of the fourth Middle East HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award 2018. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and innovations globally in the usage of health information technology.

This year saw an increase in submissions from last year's edition, which was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In total, 18 submissions from across Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). All project submitters demonstrated how their digital solutions has contributed to enhancements that have helped better the quality of patient care.

The winner, finalists and their projects are:

• Winner: "Universal Newborn Critical Congenital Heart Disorders (CCHD) Screening in MOHAP Maternity Hospitals" project, from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, standardized the CCHD screening ideals to ensure all babies are tested positive after screening, and to receive critical interventions in a timely and safe manner.
• First Finalist: "Tele ICU & Command and Control Center" project, from Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group in Saudi Arabia allowed off-site intensivists and/or critical care nurses to assist in the treatment of critically ill patients
• Second Finalist: "Thalassemia Electronic Integrated Clinical Pathway (TEICP)" project, also from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention was developed for the care of patients with Thalassemia disease. The TEICP module helped to decrease patient waiting time, decrease physician and nurse assessment time, and ensure quality patient monitoring.

"Healthcare in the Middle East is constantly changing. Providers are continually re-invigorating the sector with innovations, helping to achieve better outcomes for patients. Elsevier, with its focus on delivering evidence-based information through technology, is proud to partner with HIMSS to recognize and support these key initiatives," said Tim Hawkins, Managing Director, Clinical Solutions in EMEALA and APAC for Elsevier. "We would like to thank all award nominees for their hugely impressive submissions and congratulate the winner and finalists of 2018's HIMSS-Elsevier Middle East Digital Healthcare Awards."

Director of Hospitals Department at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, Dr.Kalthoom Al Blooshi, submitted two projects which made it to the final. The "Universal Newborn Critical Congenital Heart Disorders (CCHD) Screening in MOHAP Maternity Hospitals" project, ensuring all babies born at MOHAP hospitals receive CCHD screening & critical interventions are received in a timely and safe manner, was the winning project. The "Thalassemia Electronic Integrated Clinical Pathway (TEICP)" project, which was the second finalist, was developed for the care of patients with Thalassemia disease.

Al Blooshi said: "It is an absolute privilege to receive the winning and second finalist HIMSS-Elsevier Awards. The CCHD screening ensures all babies who tested positive get proper intervention in a timely manner and the TEICP module helps decrease patient waiting time, improve patient care through an evidence based thalassemia care plan, and reduce cost. Both solutions projects are aligned with UAE vision to become world class health care system by 2021 & have proven to be effective in improving patient care, and, on behalf of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, we are honored to be recognized for these efforts."

The "Tele ICU & Command and Control Center" project achieved the first finalist award and was submitted by the Head of Application Development at the Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Abdulelah Almayman CIO. Dr. Sulaiman al habib.

Mr. Abdulelah Almayman CIO. Dr. Sulaiman al habib said: "Enabling nurses and other healthcare professionals to assist in the treatment of critically ill patients outside hospital walls is essential and will be an important part of our digital health systems in the future. This is the essence of our Tele ICU & Command and Control Center. We are grateful to HIMSS and Elsevier for providing us with the opportunity to share our success story across the globe."

The judges for this year's award consisted of a distinguished panel of leading healthcare professionals:

• Mariam Almutairi, Takween Tech, KSA
• Dr. Osama ElHassan, Head of eHealth, Dubai Health Authority, UAE
• John Daniels, Global Vice President, HIMSS Analytics, USA
• Tim Morris, Product & Partnership Director, Elsevier EMEALA/APAC

John Daniels, Global Vice President for HIMSS Analytics, said: "We are proud to recognize and support the many projects and submissions we received from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region, which have proven to genuinely drive benefits for clinicians and patients alike. On behalf of HIMSS, I'd like to congratulation the winner, finalists and everyone participating in 2018. We look forward to growing the initiative in the years to come."

The winner and finalists were revealed during the ceremony at the HIMSS Saudi Arabia Conference and Exhibition 2018. The first day of the conference was followed by a HIMSS-Elsevier gala dinner to celebrate this year's success.

About HIMSS
HIMSS is a global advisor and thought leader supporting the transformation of health through information and technology. As a mission driven non-profit, HIMSS offers a unique depth and breadth of expertise in health innovation, public policy, workforce development, research and analytics to advise global leaders, stakeholders and influencers on best practices in health information and technology. Through our innovation companies, HIMSS delivers key insights, education and engaging events to healthcare providers, governments and market suppliers, ensuring they have the right information at the point of decision. As an association, HIMSS encompasses more than 72,000 individual members and 630 corporate members. We partner with hundreds of providers, academic institutions and health services organizations on strategic initiatives that leverage innovative information and technology. Together, we work to improve health, access and the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, HIMSS serves the global health information and technology communities with focused operations across North America, Europe, United Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. www.himssme.org

About Elsevier
Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps institutions and professionals advance healthcare, open science and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support and professional education, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, 38,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. www.elsevier.com