JEDDAH, 21 May 2007 — A number achievements of International Medical Center (IMC) were in focus at its board of directors meeting, which was attended by a representative of US-based Cleveland Clinic, the IMC reported yesterday.
Dr. Walid Fitaihi, CEO and chairman of the IMC board of directors, chaired the periodic meeting, which was attended by its members Ibrahim Al-Issa, Ehab Al- Samannoudi, Saeed Basamh, Ayman Tamer and Loai Hakeem, and Dr. William Ruschhaupt on behalf of Cleveland Clinic.
Fitaihi said that a number of IMC’s achievements over the last one year were in focus at the meeting, which also discussed its future strategies. “The IMC is steadily developing, gaining momentum and expanding extensively since it was inaugurated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan in October 2006,” he said.
“I am delighted and satisfied with the progress that the IMC is making toward its goals and we look forward to continuing to serve the people with excellence in health care,” Dr. Ruschhaupt said. “The Cleveland Clinic and IMC link remains strong and committed to each other”. Dr. Mishal Ghandour, acting chairman of surgery and critical care and director of cardiac center at IMC said: “Since its opening, the IMC has witnessed 1,300 surgical operations in various specialties including general surgery, orthopedics, cardiovascular, ENT, ophthalmology and neurology.”
He added that some highly complicated surgeries were successfully performed with precision including open-heart operations.
Furthermore, expansion of the gastroenterology and endoscopy department with its state-of-the-art medical technology of capsule endoscopy and the pain and headache center had also increased patient care capacity. Dr. Islam Ibrahim, chief medical officer at IMC said: “Among the most important reasons for the success achieved by IMC is the attraction of high caliber doctors and medical professionals in various medical specialties and sub-specialties.”
Cleveland Clinic is the number one cardiac care provider for the past 12 consecutive years in the US, and the IMC have entered into a unique partnership regarded as the first-of-its -kind in the Kingdom. The clinic is an equity holder in the IMC project and its representatives serve on the IMC board of directors as voting members.
