Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Earns Comprehensive Stroke Center Accreditation

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), part of the PureHealth network, has achieved accreditation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) from the American Heart Association (AHA). This notable recognition underscores SSMC’s excellence in stroke treatment and care within Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.

The AHA's CSC accreditation comes on the heels of SSMC's designation as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for stroke by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), emphasizing the facility's high standards and exceptional capabilities in delivering comprehensive stroke care. Since launching its Stroke Unit in March 2022, SSMC has significantly expanded its services, including the introduction of a cutting-edge Biplane Angio Suite for diagnosing and treating ischemic strokes in June of the same year.

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Earning the CSC certification is one of the highest recognitions for hospitals that manage complex stroke cases. It reflects SSMC's commitment to continuous improvement and exceptional patient care through advanced infrastructure, clinical services, and expertise from healthcare professionals. 

Dr. Isam Salih, Chair of the Neurology Department at SSMC, expressed pride in the center's achievements: “We are truly leading the way when it comes to stroke care, particularly in interventional neuroradiology. Our team consistently delivers timely and comprehensive multidisciplinary care for patients facing a wide range of neurological conditions. The full accreditation from the AHA highlights our efforts to enhance and innovate our capabilities in addressing this critical healthcare challenge.”

Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer of SSMC, emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards in care: “As the largest tertiary care hospital in the UAE, it is crucial that we continually push ourselves to improve and set new benchmarks in the region. Being recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the AHA is a significant achievement, reflecting the rapid progress we have made in just two years since opening our dedicated stroke care facility. This international recognition marks another key milestone on our journey to becoming a destination medical center of choice for patients in the region, ensuring that those in the UAE have access to the high-quality services they expect from the world’s leading hospitals.”

The Stroke Unit at SSMC operates 24/7, providing multispecialty care from experts trained in conditions affecting the blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord. This includes interventional neuroradiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and emergency medicine. SSMC is also home to the advanced Biplane Angio Suite, specifically designed for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic strokes—when a blood clot blocks an artery leading to the brain. This service, part of the Division of Interventional Neuroradiology within the Clinical Imaging Department, involves a team of interventional neuroradiologists collaborating closely with the Stroke Unit.

Serving a large geographic area within Abu Dhabi, SSMC’s multidisciplinary facilities offer essential life-saving procedures that can dramatically reduce the long-term or permanent adverse effects of stroke, enhancing the quality of care for patients in the UAE.