The Oncology / Hematology Center, known as Al Amal Hospital (AAH) is a governmental facility, part of Hamad Medical Corporation, providing cancer and hematology disorders care to the population of Qatar.

AAH is dedicated to excellence in cancer care, to enhance quality of life for those living with cancer and blood disorders, and to improving control of cancer for all Qatari, residents and visitors.

At AAH, we understand that a cancer diagnosis can be stressful for both patient and their families. We offer the most current diagnosis and treatment options available for patient care, and work closely with patients and families to ensure that emotional, spiritual and informational needs are met.

Services:

The AAH offers a vast range of services for the oncology/hematology patients from 12 years old and older, from diagnosis to treatment. It includes:

Cancer Registry

The Cancer Registry works under the supervision of the Hematology/Oncology team consultants. The cancer registrar collects, analyzes and verifies data and enters them in the cancer registration program “CanReg-3”. This program was introduced in 1999 for all GCC countries.

Diagnostic Studies

At present, diagnostic studies are performed in coordination with all HMC facilities. Hoping to have them all integrated in AAH.

Our state of the art MRI, CT Scanner, Ultrasound and other diagnostic imaging studies and procedures provide accurate and prompt diagnosis. Services include fine needle aspiration (FNA), endoscopic procedures, sentinel node biopsies, and laparoscopy (minimal invasive surgery).

Education

The oncology clinical instructor is responsible for the educational programs in Al Amal Hospital. He/She coordinates and provides continuing education credits on various topics of oncology and hematology. The clinical instructor coordinates the monthly sessions and nursing updates. He/She oversees the oncology library, which provides oncology-related materials to health care professionals and the general public.

Medical Staff

The Medical team at Al Amal Hospital consists of consultants, senior specialist, specialists and residents. They collaborate together to form the plan of care for our cancer patients.

Nursing

Al Amal Hospital fosters and promotes the development of expertise in oncology practice. Nurses at Al Amal Hospital are specially trained oncology nurses who understand both the physical and emotional aspects of cancer and delivery of oncology nursing care. They, as well, provide extensive patient education and make themselves readily available for any follow-up problems or questions. Oncology nurses in Al Amal Hospital are certified in chemotherapy administration and radiotherapy with guidelines established by the Department of Nursing in Hamad Medical Corporation. Periodic educational offerings are given to ensure updated knowledge on cancer-related issues, such as new techniques as well as symptom management.

Nutritional Services

The dietitian at the oncology center is responsible for the assessment and follow up of the nutritional status of every patient. A Cancer patient may experience some of the side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and pancytopenia, hence, the dietitian meets with the nutritional adjustments to these side effects according to the patient’s needs and preferences. He/She then documents the nutritional program in the patient file and follow it up.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy at Al Amal Hospital is providing the following services:

     In-patient Pharmacy
       1. Reconstitution: Preparation of Cancer drugs for in-patient and out-patient departments.
       2. Preparation of all pre- and post medication of cancer patients according to specific protocol.
       3. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for cancer patients and bone marrow transplant patients.
       4. IV-Admixture: Preparation of all I.V. medicines for cancer patients.
       5. Unit Dose System.

     Out-patient Pharmacy
       1. Supplies medication to out-patients, Chemotherapy Day Care Unit and Home Medications.

Social Services

The social services department is involved in the discharge planning of the oncology patient. Through communication with the patient, Social Services ensure the continuum of care by facilitating the transition from in-patient stay to discharge to the appropriate level of care.

Patient Care Services:

Out-patient clinics

Al Amal Hospital Out-patient clinics receive Oncology/Hematolgoy patients as new referrals, after initial diagnosis, and follow up cases for the purpose of continuation of care.

The Out-patient clinics are composed of four (4) consultation rooms, with two (2) examination rooms for each.

Two (2) Phlebotomy rooms, one (1) male and one (1) female and one (1) Treatment room.

The working hours are from 7.00 A.M. to 3.00 P.M., from Sunday to Thursday.

Radiation Oncology

The department uses a range of modern radiotherapy equipment to plan and treat oncology patients. The department is staffed by clinical or radiation oncologists and therapeutic radiographers supported by medical physicists, engineers and nurses. Patients are planned using a dedicated CT scanner or simulator and one of two treatment planning systems, Xio for external beam treatment and PLATO for brachytherapy. Treatment for most patients will be on one of two identical Siemens Primus high energy Linear Accelerators for external beam treatments. A smaller number of patients are given localized brachytherapy/internal treatment by HDR Microselectron.

Chemotherapy Day Care Unit

The Chemotherapy Day Care Unit is an active area designed mainly for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. However, other treatment modalities related to Oncology such as blood transfusion, iron replacement, treatment for hypercalcemia, blood disorders and other procedures are provided in this unit as well.

The unit is composed of female treatment area with the capacity of 4 beds and 2 private rooms with reclining chairs, male treatment area with 3 bed capacity and 2 private room with reclining chairs and one non-chemotherapy treatment area with 3 bed capacity for other treatment and procedures not related to cancer. Both female and male patients are ambulatory, self caring and only in hospital for short stay.

Bone Marrow Transplant

The BMTU is a 5 bed capacity unit. All rooms are single bed “Private Rooms”.

The main types of Bone marrow transplant which are being performed are:

1. Autologous BMT
2. Allogenic BMT
3. Mini-Allogenic BMT

Theater

The Theater consists of one (1) operation room with one (1) recovery room of 3 beds capacity to serve minor surgeries in Al Amal Hospital.

In-patient wards

It consists of two (2) Medical Oncology, clinical hematology Units, first and second floors.

The second floor a, which consists of twenty six (26) beds, twenty (20) single rooms and three (3) double rooms and includes 10 beds for Palliative Care and terminally ill patients whereas the first floor consists of five (5) rooms with 3 bed capacity each.