Doha, 2 July 2025: Rumailah Hospital, part of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), proudly celebrates the fifth anniversary of its Elderly Urgent Care Unit (EUCU), Qatar’s first and only urgent care service dedicated exclusively to patients aged 60 and above. This milestone represents not only five years of service excellence but a broader transformation in how geriatric care is delivered and perceived across the country.
Established in 2020, the 12-bed EUCU was created to fill a vital gap in Qatar’s healthcare system; rapid access to urgent medical care tailored specifically to older adults. The unit provides an alternative to crowded emergency departments, offering a calm, respectful, and age-friendly environment that aligns with the unique needs of senior patients.
“The Elderly Urgent Care Unit represents a milestone in compassionate, expert care tailored to the unique needs of our senior population. Our commitment is to ensure that every older patient receives timely, dignified treatment that respects their life experience and promotes their well-being, said Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, Deputy Chief for Long-Term Care, Rehabilitation, and Geriatric Services at HMC.
Unlike general urgent care facilities, the EUCU is equipped with specialized clinical protocols designed to address the complexities of aging—such as frailty, polypharmacy, cognitive decline, and limited mobility. The unit strives to have a physician assess each patient within 15 minutes of arrival, ensuring timely triage and intervention that reduces complications and prevents unnecessary admissions.
Staffed by dedicated geriatricians and a full multidisciplinary team, the EUCU provides integrated care supported by nurses trained in elderly health, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, speech therapists, case managers, and social workers. This collaborative model ensures patients receive both urgent medical care and broader support to maintain independence and dignity.
“We recognize that older adults have unique healthcare needs that extend beyond physical symptoms. This unit is designed to meet those needs with compassion, clinical expertise, and person-centered care,” added Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad.
The EUCU is equipped with onsite diagnostic tools including point-of-care blood tests, ECGs, portable X-rays, ultrasounds, and access to rapid lab services. Treatments range from IV therapies to wound care and medication adjustments; all delivered under one roof by elderly care specialists.
The unit also works in close coordination with HMC’s home healthcare services, rehabilitation units, acute geriatric wards, and long-term care facilities, ensuring that each patient benefits from a smooth care transition tailored to their recovery path.
Since its inception, the EUCU has provided urgent care to thousands of senior citizens, contributing to reduced emergency department congestion and lower hospital admission rates.
Patient and family feedback consistently praises the unit’s respectful environment, swift care, and compassionate team.
“The care my father received at the EUCU was exceptional — the staff understood his needs as a senior citizen, and treated him with dignity and compassion,” shared the son of Khalid Abdullah Rashid, an EUCU patient.
The EUCU is more than a service, it’s a statement of Rumailah Hospital’s strategic vision. It reflects the hospital’s role in transforming public perception from being seen solely as a long-term care provider to a progressive, dynamic center of excellence for senior health. It also supports the broader goals of Qatar’s National Health Strategy, which emphasizes person-centered, proactive, and integrated care for the aging population.
This five-year milestone reaffirms Rumailah Hospital’s leadership in geriatric innovation and compassionate care. By continuing to expand tailored services and challenge outdated perceptions of aging, the hospital positions itself—and Qatar—as a regional leader in healthy aging.
Caregivers and senior citizens can call the unit at 3325 3128 or 5519 3240, available 24/7, to request a triage assessment and receive timely support when it matters most.
