Aspetar adopts a balanced action plan focused on health education for athletes

The COVID 19 crisis

Following the requirements of the Ministry of Public Health

Doha: 23 March 2020

Considering the consequences of the spread of the Coronavirus COVID 19 on various fields, particularly sports, Aspetar, Qatar’s orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital continues providing medical support to athletes by adopting a preventive policy aimed at maintaining the health of athletes, reflecting its mission in providing the best medical services for athletes, without neglecting its educational role for the community.

Aspetar has carried out several precautionary measures with the beginning of the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the world, by implemented many decisions and instructions for sports clubs and federations in Qatar ,  following the health requirements imposed by the Ministry of Public Health. , Aspetar has put a set of guidelines that were distributed; to all medical staff working with teams and federations.English translation.

Preventive measures in clubs and federations

Aspetar informed all athletes in Qatar to follow the instructions of the Ministry of Public Health regarding preventive measures to avoid the spread of the virus, and all athletes were informed about  the possibility of quarantine if they traveled abroad.

Dr. Khalid Hassoun, Medical Director of Clubs and Federations at the National Sports Medicine Programme in Aspetar, said: "At first glance, we informed all medical staff in Aspetar, which works in clubs and federations, to follow the instructions set by the Ministry of Public Health, in parallel with the Aspetar directives to infection control,, and reminded them of the procedures we routinely take in Aspetar when sports teams participate in events, when athletes travel outside the country to participate in international competitions or training camps."

Immediately after this procedure we contacted our staff working on the field, through the various clinics of Aspetar distributed in clubs, to avoid coming to the hospital except for the necessity, following the instructions while keeping the minimum Surgeries or emergencies, while guidance was provided to athletes undergoing physiotherapy and rehabilitation programme." Added Dr Hassoun.

Aspetar was represented by Dr Khalid Hassoun at the joint meeting organised by the Qatar Football Federation and attended by representatives from various sports and medical authorities in the country, where they discussed mechanisms for returning training for Qatar Star League clubs and how to maintain fitness away from Competitions.

 Precautions to avoid contagion

"it’s the same measures that are applied to the public, including washing hands, the use alcohol disinfectants, and keeping away from crowds to reduce exposure," said Dr. Yorck Olaf Schumacher, chairman of the Aspetar Infection Control Committee.

Avoiding any activity that may weaken the immune system, such as lack of sleep and malnutrition, standard infection precautions such as avoiding handshakes and even autographs. In case of travel, isolation procedures should be taken for team members who are suffering from upper respiratory tract infections to protect the rest of the team."

He added: "The advices currently being addressed to the public, are the same as those we used to educate athletes about prior to travelling to camps or training abroad. They are not different for CoVid19

Health education for athletes and the community

Aspetar accredited by many recognised medical and sports institutions, always educates about such preventive measures through many awareness programmes within Aspetar or in the institutions and sports clubs, such as scientific conferences, and educational lectures targeting medical staff.

Similarly, an educational and awareness programmes directed to the public through the media as well as Aspetar social media platforms, by providing many advice and evidence-bases studies.

As an ideal treatment destination for athlete from all over the world, Aspetar one of the internationally recognised research centers, has produced a series of educational videos and posted them on its official YouTube channel some videos explaining the stages of rehabilitation and treatment of sports injuries, , and advance fitness exercises.

In 2017, Aspetar, the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine hospital, received the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital (PSFH) Level 3 designation. The award is administered by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in partnership with the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO).

The PSFH assessment is based on a review of 140 patient safety standards covering five core areas, Aspetar achieved this important designation. After a rigorous process of self-assessment, external assessment and new safety process implementation over 18 months.

In 2018, Aspetar has been awarded the Diamond Level Status under the Qmentum International Accreditation Program, an internationally-recognised system that focuses on quality and safety throughout all aspects of an organisation’s services, including governance and leadership, direct care and infrastructure.

It is noteworthy that Aspetar in November 2012 created a sustainable long-term programme on injury and illness prevention called the Aspetar Sports Injury and Illness Prevention Programme (ASPREV), which is based on the two main conjoined elements of research and implementation, The objectives and activities within ASPREV are closely aligned with those of the IOC; Aspetar has been recognised as an IOC Research Centre for the Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health since November 2014.

-ENDS-

About Aspetar:

Aspetar is a world leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.

In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence”. In 2013, Aspetar was adopted as a reference collaborator centre by the Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council and “IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014.

In 2015, Aspetar has been recognised as the “IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health”.  In 2017, Aspetar was awarded World Health Organization’s Patient Safety Friendly Hospital-Level 3 designation.

In 2018, Aspetar – Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital was officially awarded Diamond Level accreditation status by Accreditation Canada. This is the highest level of accreditation award possible under the program and awarded to highly committed and quality-oriented organizations that monitor outcomes, use evidence and best practice to improve services.  Aspetar is now the first hospital in the State of Qatar to be awarded this coveted Diamond Level Status. Aspetar is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.