NNA – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Initiative, has awarded three grants, amounting to $3.57 million, to the LAU Health Foundation and the Lebanese American University Medical Center – LAUMC-RH Rizk Hospital.
The grants, according to an agency statement, are “to serve patients and improve their safety in line with US standards and practices, while improving hospital staff competence, surgical outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.”
The statement pointed out that “the main pillar of the LAU health institution is medicine with humanity, hence the importance of continuous development and improvement of the patients’ experience within the medical centers at the Lebanese American University. The first and second grants, which ended recently, were allocated for the development and implementation of the ultra-modern hybrid operating room in the center.” Medical Center of the Lebanese American University – Rizk Hospital and to enhance the efficiency of the operating room,” noting that “with the latest equipment supported by highly trained staff, the hospital obtained a hybrid operating room that enables its surgical team to perform more complex operations with better results and patient recovery in a shorter time.” .
The statement indicated that “these two grants allowed the implementation of best practices approved by the American College of Surgeons, which contributed to ensuring the safety of the operating room and the use of its equipment with high efficiency, and that through the support of the United States Agency for International Development, LAUMC-RH doubled its ability to sterilize surgical tools and reduced sterilization time by half.” , allowing the hospital to sustainably perform more surgeries.”
The third grant is dedicated to establishing an effective pharmacy system. While hospital pharmacists are responsible for the general distribution of medicines, the best controls are through having a state-of-the-art closed-loop medicine system that helps improve efficiency and quality of care and reduce errors. With the support of ASHA, the most effective controls and schedule will be available to patients with the right dose of the right medication at the right time through a high level of traceability across the hospital.
“American generosity is invaluable during these difficult times,” said Dr. Michel Moawad. “It is a real source of support for the Lebanese in their suffering. These grants help our medical center to institutionally support American medical practices and, most importantly, help empower the next generation of health sciences students.” , including medicine, pharmacy and nursing, and embracing these practices in their training and professional development, which will reflect positively on patient care wherever these students may go in the future.”
In turn, Mr. Sami Rizk said: “Promoting patient safety and development in surgical operations and drug dispensing is our duty and our ambition in the field of medical support to society is immeasurable. This is the reason for the importance of these grants. They will allow the hospital to develop its capabilities further and embrace the best American health practices that contribute to improving Medical services generally, better alignment with the requirements of JCI accreditation.”
The statement indicated that “USAID/ASHA’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad initiative provides assistance to schools, libraries, hospital centers, and centers of excellence abroad to highlight American ideas and practices in these areas, to provide tangible illustrations of the generosity of the American people, to promote action the public diplomacy of the United States, stimulating cooperation between citizens of the United States and citizens of other countries.The American Schools and Hospitals Abroad initiative began in 1947 and was incorporated into USAID under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.Since its inception, ASHA has achieved a tangible legacy by providing assistance For nearly 300 institutions worldwide and to help develop innovative and modern medical centers, schools and libraries in more than 80 countries.
ASHA currently manages a global portfolio of nearly 120 projects and is an invaluable complement to USAID’s extensive development work.
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