Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Implements Vital for Diabetes

Vital for Diabetes core clinical application for Diabetes center at SFH

Security Forces Hospital (SFH) has been a pioneer in leading the healthcare initiatives that challenge the existing healthcare systems in Saudi Arabia. One of the initiatives by SFH is to provide quality care to the diabetes patient population attending their clinics. SFH has gone live with Vital for Diabetes disease management software on 1^st of May, 2011 for their dedicated Diabetes care center.

The application supports all the care provider roles that form the care team for providing the diabetes care, like Diabetes Nurse, Educator, Ophthalmologist, Dietician and Diabetologist The application functions include ordering of Medication, Lab investigation, and Radiology.

Vital for Diabetes is integrated with the existing Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) and information exchange is done using HL7 messaging services. Vital for diabetes has integration with the existing electronic medical record system and information flow is bi-directional which means the patient record in Diabetes center is updated in real time and the updates made in record at diabetes center are updated in the EMR. This application has integration with the fundoscope to capture the retinal images required for the role of ophthalmologist.

The objective of setting up this clinic is to provide all the services under one roof including referrals like ophthalmology. This was made possible by using the Vital for Diabetes application which supports portal based real time referral.

With Vital for Diabetes as their core clinical application for the diabetes center, the care provided is well coordinated. The care providers are enabled with the alerts and recommended actions based on the evidence based protocols. Currently around seven thousand patients are being treated for Diabetes using this application.

About SFH

The Security Forces Hospital (SFH) is one of the oldest and continuously expanding Hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is 508 bedded, one of the major healthcare facilities within the Kingdom and is operating under Western Healthcare standards. In 1998 the Ministry of Interior assumed responsibility for the hospital and is providing medical services to the Ministry of Interior personnel and their families. The hospital offers all major medical specialties including plastic surgery and has become an internship institution for the Saudi Board of Medical Specialties. The hospital employs a wide variety of health professionals from North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.More information on Security Forces Hospital can be found on http://www.sfh.med.sa/english.