PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL MEDICINE NEWS BUREAU

Contact:  Leonard N. Karp

215/735-3989; lkarp@philadelphiamedicine.com

June 8, 2001                                                                                                                                      

For immediate release:                                                                                                                 

Philadelphia -- Philadelphia International Medicine (PIM), an organization of nine hospitals in the Greater Philadelphia region dedicated to establishing the area as the international health care destination of choice, has signed an agreement with the Al Hammadi Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that creates a “Health Gateway” between the two organizations.

“The Health Gateway opens doors both here and in Riyadh through which can pass physicians, hospital administrators, other health professionals and patients,” said Andrew Wigglesworth, president and CEO of PIM.  The Health Gateway provides a means to build physician-to-physician relationships and organization linkages that can benefit the community in Philadelphia and in Riyadh.”

Specifically, the agreement provides a framework for both immediate and long-term projects including:

·         Visiting Physician Program, through which physicians from PIM member hospitals will travel to Riyadh to provide lectures on specialized care, perform grand rounds and assist in the care of patients with advanced conditions.

·         Continuing medical education exchanges, in which physicians and administrators from Al Hammadi Hospital and other facilities in the Middle East will be eligible to come to Philadelphia for advanced courses.  Al Hammadi Hospital has agreed to advertise these courses throughout Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Countries.

·         Joint medical conference, in which physicians from PIM member hospitals will travel to Riyadh for a two-day session to be held next winter.  Planning for the conference will begin shortly with a Philadelphia/Riyadh committee to establish seminar topics and speakers.

·         High risk and specialized care patient referrals, which will be made by Al Hammadi Hospital to PIM members as both organizations work to establish a linked continuum of care.  Cases will be referred back to physicians at Al Hammadi Hospital for follow up care.

·         Assistance in enrollment of appropriate students into medical school and residency programs, and offering customized training programs for physicians and hospital administrators from Saudi Arabia and Gulf Countries.

            Potential longer-term projects include the joint development of an oncology center in Saudi Arabia, and construction of two new hospitals in Jeddah and Damman, Saudi Arabia.  PIM’s role in these longer-term projects will continue to be negotiated.

            PIM has organized an inter-disciplinary team of hospital administrators, physicians, allied health professionals and medical educators to assist in implementing the aspects of the agreement. 

            “While this agreement is a first step, both Philadelphia International Medicine and Al Hammadi Hospital clearly recognize the opportunities it presents.  We are very happy to be partnering with a hospital whose administrators, physicians and support staff have earned the respect of the Saudi medical community and the patients they serve,” said Wigglesworth.

            “It is also clear recognition that the Philadelphia region’s healthcare expertise is a wanted service worldwide, and will further our aim to increase the exposure of our medical schools, hospitals and physicians abroad.”

            Mohammad Al-Hammadi, general manager of Al Hammadi Hospital, said the link with Philadelphia International Medicine enables his institution to continue its effort to bring the highest quality medical care to the Riyadh community.  “This agreement will set Al Hammadi Hospital apart in Saudi Arabia.  It allows our medical staff to receive advanced training from the best practitioners in the United States, and establishes a patient referral link that will make it easy for patients seeking care in the United States for highly specialized care.”

            Philadelphia International Medicine was established in 1999 as a regional economic development initiative by the hospitals of the greater Philadelphia region.  Participating are:  The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Crozer-Keystone Health System, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, MossRehab Hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, Temple University Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. 

            In two years, the organization has contributed about $12 million in new economic activity in the region, including patient revenue and spending for such patient support services as hotel accommodations, interpreters, food and shopping, transportation, etc.

            Al Hammadi Hospital is a 252-bed private hospital in Riyadh that is currently expanding by adding a 50-bed obstetrics/gynecology center and 20-bed nursery. 

Philadelphia International Medicine is an organization that provides medical and patient support services to international patients.  It also provides continuing medical education and health care training and education to international physicians, administrators and other practitioners.  As the international department of several Philadelphia-area hospitals, international patients gain access to physicians and hospitals rated among the best in the world through one telephone call to PIM.  You can reach PIM by calling 1-215-735-3575; fax, 1-215-790-1267; or e-mail, physicians@philadelphiamedicine.com.  You can find out more about PIM through its Website at www.philadelphiamedicine.com.