Al-Hada Military Hospital,
Prince Sultan Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre

Al Hada Hospital: which was opened in 1980, is a modern, acute care facility with 368 beds located ten miles Northwest of Taif. Extensive medical and nursing services are offered including open-heart surgery and kidney transplant. The hospital provides the latest state of the art care in the renal medicine (dialysis), burn care, general intensive care and coronary care, obstetrics & gynaecology, neonatal intensive care, paediatrics; orthopaedics and various medical and surgical specialities. The medical staff includes over 160 physicians, the majority of which are western educated and board certified with a resident staff of 25. The nursing staff employs about 140 western nurses and an additional staff (about 250) of RNS, LPNs and aides under the direction of a strong nursing administrative staff. Ancillary services include comprehensive laboratory therapy, physical therapy and pharmacy.

TAIF Museum

The Rehabilitation Centre: was also opened in 1980. The facility, located in the city of Taif, offers restorative and rehabilitative care to men, women and children. The centre provides physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, occupation therapy, social services, psychology, dentistry, pharmacy, orthotics & prosthetics, plastic surgery and independent living training. Disabling conditions which are treated in the centre includes spinal and brain injuries, CVS, rheumatic diseases, lighter body and limb injuries, convalescents after operations, psychosomatic syndromes and patients with lesions of the cervical column (tetreplegics and quadriplegic). The patient profile covers active physiotherapy and rehabilitation and chronic disabled. The mixture of chronic and active patients has made it necessary to have broad competence among the medical and paramedical staff.

The Prince Sultan Hospital: opened Feb 1990, is located 50km from Al-Hada Hospital. It consists of a large ER department, flight and aviation medicine, outpatient clinics that provide general and specialised services including dental. The capacity is 52 beds. There are 4 operating theatres, 6 recovery beds, nursery, labour and delivery rooms, pharmacy, physiotherapy, radiology, and laboratory.

There are several Outpatient Clinics associated with the Al-Hada Hospital; there are also clinics provided at the Rehabilitation Centre and five dispensaries. During the month of Haji, 18 mobile clinics operate to provide pilgrims with medical services during haji season.

Staff Housing

Nursing Department:

The nursing units are each managed by a head nurse who has expertise in the specific clinical area. She or he is assisted in managing assigned units by a nursing officer for a Service Area. There are 3 service areas: Surgical, Medical & Maternal Child and Clinical & Ambulatory Care. The nursing officers work with the Director of Nursing and Quality Assurance Director to ensure effective administration within the department.

The Nursing Staff Committee comprised of the head nurses of each unit, nursing supervisors and staff level representatives facilitates communication throughout the department.

The head nurses also meet regularly with the nursing officer to discuss issues related to their respective service area. The Nursing Staff Advisory Committee, which is composed of a nursing staff representative from each nursing unit, can also bring issues of concern, not related to quality assurance, nursing practice, as well as staff education & development.

Surgical Areas:

There are 11 Operating Rooms. They are equipped to facilitate surgeries in the following specialities: neurosurgery, cardio-thoracic, vascular, ophthalmology, ENT, dental, maxillo-facial surgery, urology, orthopaedics, paediatric, gynaecology, and plastic/burns. Nurses scrub and circulate through all speciality areas.

Post Anaesthesia Recovery (PAR) is a 13-bed unit, which is equipped with basic monitoring devices (such as hemodynamic monitoring via Swan Gaz catheters, arterial lines as well as management of CVP and use of oximeter for assessment of patients undergoing all type of surgery .

The 22 bed Orthopaedic with 12 beds assigned to Orthopaedic cases, 4 ENT, and the remaining 6 to Chronic Care, many admissions result from road traffic accidents (RTA). These patients have sustained multiple fractures and injuries, which frequently require open reductions and internal fixations with screws or pins, bone grafting o external fixation. Most admissions to ENT unit include tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy or septoplasty. The chronic care patients are generally those who have recovered for RTA injuries but have deficits in normal functioning or CVA patients. These patients require total nursing care.

A 23 bed Male Surgical Unit (MSI) specialising in urologic diagnostic and surgical procedures & Male Surgery (MSII) unit with 20 beds provides for a wide variety of specialities such as vascular, ophthalmology, plastic & dental surgery. Female Surgery (23 beds) unit which included one VIP suite. The unit caters to female patients requiring a wide range of surgical procedures including neurosurgery, thoracic, ENT, ophthalmologic as well as post-plastic surgery, skin grafts, post burns, orthopaedic, oralmaxillary & urogogic procedures. The VIP unit (26 beds) is for "very important people" and includes the King's Suite. Nurses working on this unit gain a wide variety of both surgical and medical nursing experience in almost all specialities.

Critical & Ambulatory Care:

Surgical Intensive Care (SICU) unit (10 beds) accepts all levels of critical care patients and complex medical patients. Admission problems include multiple trauma, neurosurgical; complex, abdominal, surgical patients frequently transferred from other hospitals in the area and renal transplant cases. Nurses working in this area will gain extensive experience in the care of critically unstable patients and the utilisation of critical care equipment and pressure monitoring devices while working with an internationally trained team of nurses, physicians and respiratory therapists.

A 5 bed Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CSICU), adjacent to the recovery room, is designed to accommodate patients immediately post-op from open or closed heart surgery including by-pass & valve replacement cases and for other thoracic surgical procedures

The (10 bed) Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) is equipped to provide coronary care to patients with all types of cardiac problems including congenital heart problems, myocardial infractions, arrhythmia's and post cardiac surgery. The Hemodialysis Unit is very busy offering the outpatients and in-patient dialysis for up to 52 patients in two shifts per day. This unit has 15 regular stations with plasmapheresis. The unit's staff also provides acute dialysis treatments for patients in other critical care settings throughout the hospital. A fully equipped, 10 bed, Burn Intensive Care Unite (BICU) provides complete burn care to patients including hubbard tanks for their therapy.

The Emergency area serves an average of 50 to 100 patients per day. The unit has the capacity to provide normal care to 6 patients at a time with 6 treatment rooms and 4 major trauma beds.

The outpatient clinic (OPD) area consists of a total of 10 clinics, 8 on one floor and 2 decentralised units in other areas of the hospital. A wide variety of specialities are represented including neurology, endoscopy, paediatrics, oncology, internal medicine, endocrinology allergy, psychiatry, neurology, and neurosurgery ENT, obstetics & gynaecology ophthalmology, audiology, dermatology, cardiothoracic, urology, plastic surgery and general practise. This is a very busy area, which caters both to scheduled and non-scheduled patients.

Medical & Maternal/Child Areas:

The 13 beds Nephrology unit specialises in care of patients with renal failure and post kidney transplants. The unit operates a Peritoneal Dialysis programme, which is planned to develop into an ambulatory at home programme.

The labour and delivery area, staffed with nurse midwives, is frequently the busiest in the hospital. The birth rate is very high. The unit has six first-stage rooms, two delivery rooms and a newly refurbished fully equipped operating room. Post partum 1 provides care for patients following delivery without problems. Post partum II (27 beds) is a combined antenatal and gynaecology ward caring for patients with complications of pregnancy (e.g. APHm pre-eclampsia).

The new-born nursery has 27 beds plus 10 NICU step-down beds. Nursing staff in this area gain experience caring for well new-borns, the extended care and the care of babies re-admitted for various treatments and phototherapy. Neonatal Intensive care Unit (NICU), capacity for 15 neonates. The most common problem is respiratory distress. On average three of the neonates require full ventilator support. A 30 bed Paediatric area provides both medical and surgical care for children.

The Female Medical (35 beds) and male Medical (30 beds), with an additional 10 bed long term care unit, offers care for a wide variety of medical problems. Admissions include patients with chronic and acute chest conditions, diabetes, cancer (with chemotherapy), and pre operative preparation of cardiac surgery with catherization, acute infections and neurological problems. The telemetry monitoring equipment is housed in this unit. Nurses working on this unit gain experience with EKG interpretation, pre-operative preparation of patients for cardiac surgery, caring for patients with CVA, MI, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia major as well as chemotherapy.

Ancillary Services:

Radiology: The department of radiology is headed by a chief and three physicians who oversee a large staff over 25 trained and certified technicians in addition to support staff. The department provides a complete and state of the art menu of services including MRI, CAT, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, special procedures and basic diagnostic xray. In 1993 the department performed over 75,000 procedures.

Respiratory Therapy: The supervisor manages a staff of 12 therapists (usually registered RT) plus two technicians and one clerk, equipment includes: ventilators (Angstrom, Bear infant & Adult), Siemens 900C anaesthetic ventilators, metabolic function microprocessors (Beckham Horizon), radiometer blood gas analysers, oxygen monitors, (Critickon, Backman & Ohio), oxygen tents and tracoetancus PO2/PCO2 monitor of neonates.

Rehabilitation & Development Staff: Physical therapists are employed in both acute care facility and the rehab facility. The acute care faculty employs a supervisor and nine therapists. The rehab staff is comprised of 8 therapists & 7 technicians. The rehab centre also employs 5 occupational therapists and 4 technicians plus recreation, play and development therapists.

Pharmacy: Extensive computerised pharmacy services are available throughout the system. Under the direction of the chief of pharmacy the staff is comprised of 2 clinical pharmacists, 15 staff pharmacists and a support staff of 25 technicians plus messengers and clerks.

Laboratory: Under the direction of a chief, plus a clinical and an anatomical pathologists, the staff is comprised of 10 medical technologists and 25 medical lab technicians plus specialists in haematology, chemistry, microbiology, histopathology & electron microscope.

Dental Services: A complete range of dental services are available at Al Hada and Prince Sultan including orthodontia.

Living in Taif:

Staff Housing

The housing complex at Al-Hada surrounds the hospital facilities. The surrounding grounds are lushly landscaped with palm tress, flower gardens. There are outside swimming pools and tennis courts. The community centre, grocery store, cafeteria, barber shop, donut shop, banks and dry cleaners complete the campus.

Accommodations: The housing consists of 4 & 5 story apartment buildings. Single housing at Al-Hada consists of a modern furnished two-bedroom apartment, each employee has a private bedroom and bathroom and shares a living room, kitchen and balcony with one other person. Free washer and dryers are located on each floor. Apartments are equipped with basic furnishings. Linens, telephones, pots & pans, dishes etc., some may even have a television.

Community Centre & Recreation Services:

Al-Hada Community Centre

All though there is a membership fee of 150 SR ($40) per year, the membership allows you free use of the facilities, a free mail box as well as reduced rates to Jeddah, to the beach or sightseeing. Services include:

- Library
- Indoor & outdoor pool
- Video tape rental - for 50 cents (2SR)
- Exercise room with weights & exercise videotapes
- Bowling Alleys
- Courts for Tennis, squash and Racquet ball
- Gymnasium for volleyball and basketball
- Theatre for amateur staff productions
- Telephone Exchange to make long distance calls.

In addition to the recreation centre there is also:
-Beauty shop & barber shop
-Dry cleaning & laundry
-Supermarket - offers a wide variety of fresh and frozen food at competitive prices. It is open 7 days a week until 10:00 pm but closes during prayer time.
-Cafeteria-offers a variety of fresh and frozen food at competitive prices. It is open until late so staff coming off the night shifts can have a good meal.
-Doughnut & Coffee shop
-Weekly Shopping trips to Jeddah. Cost 14SR - About $5.

Bus Service: Located on the bulletin board in the hospital is a complete listing of the hospital bus service. The buses transport personnel to all facilities and to the main shopping centre in Taif. The trip to the local souq takes 15 minutes.

Restaurants: Because social life centres mainly around the home, there are only a few restaurants in Taif. Some local restaurant include China Restaurant - very good Chinese food, moderately expensive; Pizza Hut & Wendy' s- Identical to those found in the states but more expensive. Intercontinental Hotel serves an excellent evening buffet. Middle Eastern Restaurant, excellent and expensive.

Employee Health: UMG operates an employee health unit, which is located in the outpatient clinics. The unit provides staff with full health care including immunisations. It operates on a regular schedule.

Sunburn: The sun is extremely strong in Saudi Arabia throughout the year. Always protect yourself against the sun to prevent sunburn.

High altitude & low humidity: Al Hada is located in the Taif Mountains at an altitude of 6,000-Ft. (1,800 meters). At this altitude, oxygen is less readily available and new arrivals will normally feel somewhat short of breath, especially when exercising, climbing stairs or carrying heavy burdens.

These symptoms will subside spontaneously with acclimation in a few days. Decrease smoking, don't overeat and drink plenty of fluids.

Shopping: If you know where to look, goes the saying, you will find everything you want. Knowing where to look requires some time, energy and patience. Shopping is excellent in Taif. The shops range from small general shops (souqs) to well-established boutiques and a department store. Shopping if fun and eventually you will e able to find everything to meet your needs. The best buys are electronic equipment, French perfume and gold jewellery. Shopkeepers are honest and in the "souq" bargaining is an artful skill. The traditional Bedouin Taif souqs are among the most famous in the Kingdom especially for collectors of Bedouin jewellery, carpets, etc.

The grocery stores are unique. There are many small grocery stores and three large supermarkets. The fruit and vegetable shop has beautiful, fresh products; again, bargaining is proper. Food prices are for fresh meats and vegetables are reasonable. They do carry a good range of canned frozen and meats and vegetables are reasonable. They do carry good range of imported canned frozen and packaged foods but prices are high on these items. Good bakeries are located throughout the city. Locally made bread is inexpensive and delicious.

Al Hada Housing Compound

Taif, Summer Capital

Taif (means "encompassing") is located in the mountains of Saudi Arabia I the Hijaz area, 2 hours driving time from Jeddah. Because of its 6,000 foot elevation and generous rainfall, the city has a pleasant year round climate with mild summers (80-90F degrees) and cool winters (40F, warm clothing is needed).

The normal population of approximately 300,000 may double during the summer months when Taif becomes the summer capital. Throughout the year, the city is one of the most popular holiday resorts. Taif is a contrast of the old and new. There are ultra modern government offices of marble and glass besides the old mud structures with wooden louvre windows and carved wooden doors. The plantings of oleander and palms enhance the old and new building.

The people of the Taif region are hard working settled Bedouins who have become herders and farmers. The landscape is terraced for irrigating the fields, which are very productive. Much of what you find in the vegetable shops have been grown locally. Taif is famous for their pomegranates, roses and grapes.

Taif has a modern airport. There are frequent direct flights to Jeddah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province. The second highest mountain in Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim Jebel is located near the Wadi Turabah 40kn from Taif. This is an excellent spot for climbing, picnicking and camping.

Places of Interest

Al Rudaf Park: Located south of Taif is a large natural park where clumps of tree lie scattered amidst magnificent weathered granite rocks. The site also has a small zoo.

Wadi Mitna: The Prophet Mohammed's sanctuary in 662AD, first year of Hegira. Mohammed came here to gain support of the Hawazeen and the Tawfiq but was stoned by the tribes. He was later given sanctuary by his fellows in a small house new used as a mosque.

Al Shafa: A small village situated high upon the Sarawat mountains, rich in agricultural products. The fruit gardens of Taif are located here. Great view for the camera buff and for those with an adventurous heart, try a camel ride.

Rock Carving Site: Located 40km north of Taif, this was the site of the largest and most well known of the pre-Islamic souqs or gathering places. The souq was a scene for annual social, political and commercial gatherings. It was also the location of competitive recitation of poetry and prose. The buildings remain, including prominent outlines of walls of basaltic stone.

Nature Reserve: Between Al Hada hospital and the Sheraton Hotel a the top of Al Hada mountain is a large nature preserve. Al Hada means tranquillity and this preserve of trees and plants offers a true respite. It is also good location to catch the sunset over the mountain.

Turkish Fort: The remains of the fort are located near the Rock Carvings, legend has it that Lawrence of Arabia fought here in 1917. Many battles have been fought there and many graves can be found.

Taif-Jeddah Escarpment Road: This spectacular escarpment is a beauty, which one never expects to encounter in this part of the world. It is a marvel of engineering. Breathtaking and majestic, the road rears 6,500 feet in 21 kilometres and 93 bends. However, beware this is a dangerous road to travel especially after sunset. You will travel this road on your way to Al Hada from Jeddah.

Jeddah: Jeddah is a beautiful large modern city with a population of over 2 million. It is not only the terminal of international commercial air and sea traffic but also the point of entry to Mecca. It offers great dining, shopping and access to beaches and diving on the Red Sea.

LATEST VACANCIES
October 2008

Medical:
Dermatology Consultant
ICU Consultant
Orthopaedics Consultant
Gastroenterology Consultant
Ob/Gyne Consultant
Neurosurgery Consultant
Neurology Consultant
Urology Consultant

Nursing:
Nursing Instructor

Head Nurse:
Haemo, Male Surgical, Female Surgical, Orthopaedics, Burn ICU, Female Medical, Nephology, Paediatrics, OR/RR

Please submit resumes and full back-up documents to

Mr Steve McAllister
Network Overseas
34 Mortimer Street
London W1W 7JS
United Kingdom

Fax: +44 (0)20 7580 6242

or as an attachment to
e-mail: medical@network.cc

For further details, please contact Steve McAllister at Network Overseas
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