The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS) has accredited the four-year Clinical Pharmacy Residency training program to be implemented at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital's pharmacy being a certified training center that meets all standards and requirements of (SCHS).

The approval to implement the clinical residency training program in the pharmacy of King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital is due to the comprehensive pharmaceutical services which fulfill the highest international standards in the field of pharmacy care including Pharmacokinetics and the specialist personnel who are fully qualified to provide training in the subspecialist clinical and applied pharmacology.

The Clinical Pharmacy Program is one of the post-graduate programs supervised by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. It aims to train pharmacists and provide them with the necessary skills through specialized scientific lectures and practical training in order to highly qualify them.  

It is worth mentioning that King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital provides comprehensive pharmaceutical services that meet the highest standards in the field of patient safety, drug use, application of automation techniques and the provision of awareness and educational programs for patients.

King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital celebrated the World Glaucoma Week during the period from 23 to 29 Jumada II 1439, corresponding to 11-17 March 2018 under the theme "Beat Invisible Glaucoma".

The World Glaucoma Week is held every year in March. It is a global week which aims to educate people about this disease. King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital celebrates this event as part of its role and responsibility in the awareness about this disease, which is one of the most serious eye diseases, causing damage to the tissues of the optic nerve which results in defects in the visual field. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that glaucoma or high eye pressure affects about 60 million people around the world. The number of infected people is expected to increase in 2020 to (80) Million people worldwide.

Glaucoma is considered as the world's second leading cause of blindness and loss of vision. It is also the main cause of uncorrectable vision loss. Ophthalmologists advise those who are above (40) years of age, people with diabetes and those who have family history of glaucoma to undergo regular eye examination to prevent the disease.

King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital organizes a number of activities and awareness programs during the World Glaucoma Week. An exhibition will be held at Granada center in Riyadh, on Tuesday 13/3/2018 from 4.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.  The event will include awareness and educational programs on the disease, eye screening and interviews with specialized ophthalmologists to answer queries. The activities will also target the public places such as King Abdullah Park walkway located next to Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Malaz.

The hospital's programs will also include  posting and broadcasting awareness materials about glaucoma through the hospital's official accounts in the social media (KKESHKSA) and the various television channels.

King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital celebrated the graduation of the 23rd batch of Ophthalmology Fellowship Subspecialist Program approved by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. The celebration of 25 fellows were held on Tuesday, 4 Jumada II 1439H, in the hospital auditorium.

King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital celebrated the graduation of the 23rd batch of Ophthalmology Fellowship Subspecialist Program approved by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. The celebration of 25 fellows were held on Tuesday, 4 Jumada II 1439H, in the hospital auditorium. 

Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al Rajhi, Chief Executive Officer of King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, welcomed the attendees and graduates. In his speech, he said that King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital was proud to establish the Ophthalmic Fellowship Program for the last 23 years. Dr. Rajhi added that establishing the fellowship program reflects the hospital mission which focuses not only on therapy, but also on education, training, research and the establishing values of commitment and dedication among employees. Dr. Al-Rajhi mentioned that the number of the 23rd batch is (25) graduates (2) of them are from Kuwait. During the program, they acquired scientific knowledge and skills that will help them in their future professional life.

In his speech,  Dr. Al Rajhi asserted that our goals should not stop at obtaining the scientific degree.  Further goals arise in every stage of our scientific and professional life. He stressed that providing patient service is the ultimate goal of each healthcare provider and that the patient service should not only be medical but also communicative and human because positive words may change the patient life. Dr. Al-Rajhi thanked all the hospital staff for their contribution in the success of the program. He extended thanks to Dr. Iman Al Qahtani who oversaw the first year of training and Dr. Sawsan Nowilaty, who continued supervision for the second year. He wished success to Dr. Sami Al-Shahwan in supervising the next stage.

Dr. Sawsan Al-Nowilaty, Director of Continuing Medical Education, congratulated the graduates and thanked them for their efforts during the program. She hoped that their knowledge and skills will be reflected in their professional life. Dr. Nowilaty added that KKESH staff exerted great efforts and spent long hours working for the success of the program. She mentioned that the hospital was keen to provide graduates with the latest knowledge and skill in the field of ophthalmology.
Dr. Alaa Mufti gave a speech in which he thanked the participants and stressed that the program has enriched the experience of the graduates and that they had scientific and professional benefits from the two years they spent in the hospital. King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital is not only a medical center but also a cultural and Professional facility.
Dr. Khaled Tabbara, Chairman of the Scientific Council of Ophthalmology in the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, said in his speech that this cooperation between the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital has resulted in a distinguished program and that we hope to establish other subspecialist fellowships. The main objective of the program is to enrich the field of ophthalmology with more efficient and skillful consultants. Today's graduates will be independent consultants in the future. Our goal is to provide them with ophthalmic knowledge and skills to serve their patients.
He also thanked King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital for hosting this program and thanked all relevant staff for their efforts and support.
At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Al Rajhi, with the participation of Dr. Tabarah, Dr.Noelatti, Dr. Saleh Al-Misfer, Medical Director, and the subspecialist departments heads, distributed certificates of graduation for the following subspecialists:

(Comprehensive ophthalmology):  Dr. Hussein Fadhel al-Haboubi from the Ministry of Health 
(Corneal surgery, external eye diseases and correction of refractive errors) : Dr. Turki Abdul Aziz bin Dakhil and Dr. Saud Abdul Aziz Al-Sultan from Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Dr. Walaa Abdullah Al-Diri from King Faisal University in Dammam; Dr. Lujain Talaat Idris from King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah; Zuhair Ahmed Mir Alem from the Ministry of Defense; Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Osaili from Qassim University 
(Glaucoma): Dr. Alaa Hisham Mufti from King Abdul Aziz Medical City of the National Guard; Dr. Thuraia Saleh Al Dosari from Dammam Medical Complex; Dr.Saad Abdul Rahman Al-Omari from the Ministry of Defense; Dr. Amira Jafar Al Daoud from Eye Specialist Hospital in Dhahran 

(Oculoplastic and Orbit Surgery) : Dr. Dalal Ibrahim Al-Issa from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University; Dr. Fatima Abbas Al-Hammad from King Saud University; Sultan Abdul Aziz Al Hassan from  Qassim University; Dr. Manar Khaled Al - Wuhaib from the Ministry of Health Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties.
(Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) Dr. Maitham Mahmoud Al-Ali from the Ministry of Health Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties; Fawzia Mohammed Al-Haimi, and Dr. Najah Shahrani from Prince Sultan Military Medical City.
 (Vitreoretinal surgery ): Dr. Abdulrahman Zaher Al-Barqi from Prince Sultan Military Medical City;Abdul Rahman Hamad Al-Saadi and Dr. Faisal Abdullah Al-Mark from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University; d. Yahya Ahmed Kariri from the Eye Specialist Hospital in Dhahran; Dr.Omar Abdul Salam Al Abdul Salam from King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Al-Ahsa "National Guard".
 (Retinal and Uveitis diseases): Dr. Duha Mohammed Al-Hamad from Eye Specialist Hospital in Dhahran; Dr. Fawzi Anani from King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah 
 

Dr. Sawsan Al-Nowilaty, Director of Continuing Medical Education, congratulated the graduates and thanked them for their efforts during the program. She hoped that their knowledge and skills will be reflected in their professional life. Dr. Nowilaty added that KKESH staff exerted great efforts and spent long hours working for the success of the program. She mentioned that the hospital was keen to provide graduates with the latest knowledge and skill in the field of ophthalmology.

Dr. Alaa Mufti gave a speech in which he thanked the participants and stressed that the program has enriched the experience of the graduates and that they had scientific and professional benefits from the two years they spent in the hospital. King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital is not only a medical center but also a cultural and Professional facility.

Dr. Khaled Tabbara, Chairman of the Scientific Council of Ophthalmology in the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, said in his speech that this cooperation between the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital has resulted in a distinguished program and that we hope to establish other subspecialist fellowships. The main objective of the program is to enrich the field of ophthalmology with more efficient and skillful consultants. Today's graduates will be independent consultants in the future. Our goal is to provide them with ophthalmic knowledge and skills to serve their patients.

He also thanked King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital for hosting this program and thanked all relevant staff for their efforts and support.

At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Al Rajhi, with the participation of Dr. Tabarah, Dr.Noelatti, Dr. Saleh Al-Misfer, Medical Director, and the subspecialist departments heads, distributed certificates of graduation for the following subspecialists:

(Comprehensive ophthalmology):  Dr. Hussein Fadhel al-Haboubi from the Ministry of Health

(Corneal surgery, external eye diseases and correction of refractive errors) : Dr. Turki Abdul Aziz bin Dakhil and Dr. Saud Abdul Aziz Al-Sultan from Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Dr. Walaa Abdullah Al-Diri from King Faisal University in Dammam; Dr. Lujain Talaat Idris from King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah; Zuhair Ahmed Mir Alem from the Ministry of Defense; Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Osaili from Qassim University

(Glaucoma): Dr. Alaa Hisham Mufti from King Abdul Aziz Medical City of the National Guard; Dr. Thuraia Saleh Al Dosari from Dammam Medical Complex; Dr.Saad Abdul Rahman Al-Omari from the Ministry of Defense; Dr. Amira Jafar Al Daoud from Eye Specialist Hospital in Dhahran

(Oculoplastic and Orbit Surgery) : Dr. Dalal Ibrahim Al-Issa from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University; Dr. Fatima Abbas Al-Hammad from King Saud University; Sultan Abdul Aziz Al Hassan from  Qassim University; Dr. Manar Khaled Al - Wuhaib from the Ministry of Health Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties.

(Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) Dr. Maitham Mahmoud Al-Ali from the Ministry of Health Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties; Fawzia Mohammed Al-Haimi, and Dr. Najah Shahrani from Prince Sultan Military Medical City.

 (Vitreoretinal surgery ): Dr. Abdulrahman Zaher Al-Barqi from Prince Sultan Military Medical City;Abdul Rahman Hamad Al-Saadi and Dr. Faisal Abdullah Al-Mark from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University; d. Yahya Ahmed Kariri from the Eye Specialist Hospital in Dhahran; Dr.Omar Abdul Salam Al Abdul Salam from King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Al-Ahsa "National Guard".

 (Retinal and Uveitis diseases): Dr. Duha Mohammed Al-Hamad from Eye Specialist Hospital in Dhahran; Dr. Fawzi Anani from King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah

King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital advised people with allergies and those who had recent eye surgery not to leave the house during sandstorms.

Dr. Saad Al-Harbi, Anterior Segment Consultant at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, said that the weather fluctuations affecting the various regions of the Kingdom affect eye patients and the affect increases with exposure to dust. He added that those who have sensitive eye or had a recent eye surgery are recommended not to leave the house during weather changes.

Dr. Al-Harbi said: "If the patient has to go outside home, it is preferable to wear glasses and masks and put on the eye shield for those who underwent recent surgery to avoid the dust entering the eye. He also advised to wash the face and eyes with cold water. He added that if the patient feels pain or burning in the eye, he/she should use refresh drops and avoid rubbing the eye with hands to prevent sand grains form scratching the surface of the cornea, which may lead to inflammation of the eye. Dr. Al-Harbi advised to avoid wearing contact lenses during the sandstorm and not to look at the sun to avoid burning of the retina. At the end of his statement Dr. Al-Harbi wished safety to all.

It is worth mentioning that the hospital accounts in the social media @ KkeshKsa contributed in raising the awareness on eye care by posting educational materials on how to deal with weather fluctuations including medical advises and responses to patients' queries.

As part of the hospital's scientific mission, the Glaucoma Symposium was launched this morning 1 Rabeea Al- Akhar 1439 corresponding to 19 December 2017 at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital under the slogan "New Form of Glaucoma Treatment".

Dr. Awad Al Owaidah,, Chief of Glaucoma division and Chair of the Organizing Committee, gave a speech about the symposium and its objectives. Dr. Saleh Ahmed Al Mesfer, Executive Director of the hospital, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the attendees, participants and speakers.

The hospital hosted international speakers from Hungary, Italy and local speakers from King Fahad Hospital in Al Khobar, King Saud University Hospital and Riyadh Military Hospital, as well as speakers from King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. The participants are expected to reach 200 participants from all levels in the glaucoma field. This symposium was covered in the hospital's social media accounts.

Based on the importance of volunteering and its role in enhancing the spirit of the team and its positive impact on the individual and society, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital launched six voluntary initiatives as part of the Ministry of Health initiatives for the World Volunteer Day which was held on December 5, 2017 under the hashtag (#تطوعي_صحة (. These initiatives are:  the initiatives of the elderly care center in Al-Nakheel/ the initiative of the (Insan) Group under the name "You are in the eyes"/ the initiative of the Aris Foundation under the name of "your safety is our happiness" and the Initiatives of the Girls' Care Foundation in Riyadh under the name "An Eye on the Future".

Each team in these visits performed eye screening for the occupants of these centers. They also gave awareness lectures on eye diseases. These visits started from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm.

An exhibition was also held at Al-Bujairi Park in Al-Deraiya in order to educate the visitors of the exhibition about the safe methods of using contact lenses and cosmetics, their disadvantages and how to prevent them under the name "My eye is beautiful." A number of visitors underwent eye screening during the exhibition which started from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm

An exhibition entitled "Ask a Doctor" was also held at the Panorama Shopping Center, which aims to answer visitors' queries regarding eye diseases and how to prevent them. The exhibition started from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

It is worth mentioning that this campaign is the biggest implemented campaign in the history of King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. The number of participants was more than 140 volunteers with a total of 675 volunteer hours in 6 different locations. These initiatives benefited 275 persons and (52) cases were detected. The procedures of their treatment in hospital are ongoing.

The participants in these initiatives interacted positively with volunteer work, which is a fundamental pillar in the development and the social cohesion of the society. Volunteer work is a human practice which has been closely linked to all the meanings of good in all human societies. These initiatives were covered in the hospital's social media accounts.

Dr. Saleh bin Ahmed Al Mesfer, Acting General Executive Director of King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, , opened the 32nd Annual Nursing Symposium under the slogan " Modern Nursing Role in Health Promotion" in Tuwaiq Palace at the Diplomatic Quarter during the period from 26-27 Safar 1439H corresponding to 15-16 November 2017. The symposium was granted 11-scientific-hour accreditation by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.

 The ceremony started with reciting verses from the Holy Quran. Dr. Al-Mesfer then delivered a speech in which he mentioned that King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital used to organize annual medical conferences and symposia to keep up with all updates in the field of ophthalmology. Based on the important of nursing role in supporting health services and in order to keep the nursing staff updated in the field of nursing, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital holds the 32nd annual Nursing Symposium under the slogan "Modern Nursing Role in Health Promotion ". The symposium was granted 11-scientific-hour accreditation by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. We are pleased that this symposium hosts 12 international and local speakers."

The symposium sheds light on several topics, the most important of which are:  Challenges in Integrating Practice; Education and Research; Advanced Nurse Practitioner; At the Bedside: Managing 6 Cs (care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, commitment); Patient Engagement in Patient Safety: Educating Our Patients, Nurse Resilience: Critical to Patient Care, The Cost of Caring: Keeping Healthcare Providers “Healthy”, Ethics in Nursing: Is it lost?

As a result of the hospital's strict adherence to the international health standards in the provision of health services in all ophthalmic subspecialties to ophthalmic patients and in recognition of the efforts exerted for patients' safety and health, the accreditation of the Joint International Commission for the accreditation of health facilities has been renewed for three years. The hospital was one of the first hospitals in the area to be granted the accreditation.

The hospital has also been awarded (HIMSS Stage7) classification for Hospital Health Information Systems (HISMS), which is under the umbrella of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), located in the United States. The hospital is the first hospital in the Middle East to obtain this classification.

  This comes in the light of the generous and continuous support of the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and H.H Crown Prince as well as the continuous follow-up by H.E. Minister of Health.

In conclusion Dr. Al-Musfer thanked all members of the Organizing Committee for their outstanding efforts in preparing the scientific program of the symposium and communicating with all experts and speakers to enrich this symposium with their scientific competence and experience. He also thanked all the speakers for accepting the invitation to participate in this symposium. He thanked all colleagues and attendees and wished success to all the efforts of organizing staff. At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Mesfer honored the participants.

The Joint Committee for International Health Facilities' accreditation has renewed the accreditation of King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital for a period of three years. This accreditation comes as a result of the strict adherence to the international health standards in the provision of health services to ophthalmic patients in various specialties and in recognition of its efforts for the patients' safety and care. The hospital was one of the first hospitals in the region to achieve the accreditation in 2001.  

It is worth noting that the Joint Commission for Health Facility Accreditation works with hundreds of health care institutions, ministries of health and international organizations. It is the world's leading healthcare accreditation committee. The certificates it awards constitute an international accreditation for the best practice in quality and patient safety.

Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi, Executive Chief of King Khaled Specialist Eye Hospital, thanked the technical and administrative staff for their continuous efforts and dedication in serving patients which resulted in the successful renewal of accreditation.

As part of celebrating the World's First-Aid Day, Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital has published a number of awareness leaflets on the social media. Interviews were made through the hospital's snapchat account in which specialists talked about first aid in case of eye injury. In this regard, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Amri, senior anterior segment consultant in the emergency room,   was interviewed in the Saudi Chanel (2).

These efforts are initiated by the hospital to raise awareness and clarify the right first aids in the event eye injury. 

On the first day of Eid Al-Adha, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Rajhi, Chief Executive Officer of King KKESH, visited the admitted patients to celebrate Eid with them. During the visit, bouquets of flowers and sweets were presented to patients and toys to pediatric patients, wishing them health and wellbeing.