Running a Five Star Hospital

	Dr Ramhi of Beit Jala Hospital
	New nurses' station ANERA installed at the Beit Jala Hospital

Ali Al Ramhi, doctor

“When you entered the hospital, you couldn’t figure out where to go. It was hard to tell whether you were entering a hospital or a jail.” A cardiologist by training, Dr. Ali Al Ramhi has worked at Beit Jala Government Hospital* for 15 years. He currently serves as hospital director and has horror stories about working there.

Dr. Ali lists some of the challenges he and his medical staff faced. “The hospital had no water well and there were often water shortages, especially in the summer.” The elevators broke down on a regular basis, making it difficult for patients and staff to get to different departments quickly. Worse still, when the elevators were out of order, Dr Ali said his doctors had to postpone or even cancel surgeries because they couldn’t get patients to the operating theaters. “You can’t ask a severely ill patient to take the stairs.”

Medical equipment and materials that should have been stored safely out of the way were stacked wherever there was space, leading to messy hospital departments. Overall, the hospital suffered from severely deteriorated facilities, broken A/C and heating systems, bad lighting, a lack of signage, and a general air of despondency.

Dr. Ali also describes the deteriorated central laboratory which, normally is off limits to non-staff. However, he often found patients and visitors wandering around the laboratory looking for test results. In addition, it was crowded with various equipment and machines, making it hard for staff to find space to work. These problems combined to reduce the efficiency of the laboratory.

Dr. Ali explains says these were just a few of the obstacles that negatively affected his staff’s ability to work. His tone changes as he describes what happened this past year after ANERA renovated nearly 80% of the hospital. The appearance, space, hygiene factors, lighting, sanitation facilities and quality of services were all much improved after the USAID-funded project transformed the hospital. “You can clearly see the difference, and we now officially have a proper hospital entrance!”

It’s not just the entrance that is different. The central laboratory now has a proper entrance with a reception window for patients and visitors to get the help they need without interfering in the lab itself. Staffers say they now feel more comfortable working with better lighting, more space and privacy. Dr. Ali points out how much the lab’s turnover rate increased. “The laboratory used to complete 15,000 medical tests a month; however, now they now conduct 25,000 medical tests.”

To address the other problems, ANERA installed new elevators and built a water cistern and two new storage facilities. Dr. Ali also marvels at the improvements in the Emergency Unit, which used to treat only 80 to 90 patients a day. Additional patients were transferred to other government or expensive private hospitals as far away as Ramallah, Hebron and Jericho. After ANERA’s renovation work, the Emergency Unit now can treat between 120 and 160 patients.

Renovation of the X-Ray and Internal Medicine and Heart Disease Departments increased hygiene, provided better lighting and sanitation facilities and new A/C units. New curtains around patients’ beds give them much-needed privacy.

Hospital workers tell Dr. Ali how much happier they are now that the work flow is more organized and there is enough space and privacy for them to work without feeling cramped.

Patients also stop are pleased. Dr. Ali says one patient told him, “Beit Jala Hospital is like a five star hotel now, especially the new IC Unit.”

Dr. Ali smiles with pride, “People now compare our hospital to other hospitals outside the West Bank!”

 

 *This is one of four government hospitals in the West Bank renovated or currently undergoing renovation by ANERA under the Emergency Water and Sanitation and Other Infrastructure Program (EWAS II) funded by USAID.

Date Modified: March 2009