BEST PROVIDERS OF SPECIALIST CARE
CARDIOLOGY SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR AND ADVANCED IMAGING SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA
For the fifth year in a row , Malaysia ’ s National Heart Institute ( or IJN ) has earned the Global Health Asia-Pacific Cardiology Service Provider of the Year Award — an achievement that its chief executive , Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim , attributes to “ the comprehensive level of services that we ’ re providing , and the sophistication of the equipment we use ”.
“ It ’ s quite a challenge to stay ahead , year after year , but we manage to do this by keeping ahead of the curve through our services . We ’ re always preparing to introduce the next innovation . For instance , we ’ re currently setting up a dedicated patient experience centre .
“ We must take our patients ’ experience to a level beyond anything they ’ ve experienced elsewhere . To do that , we ’ re embracing a lot of cuttingedge technologies and computerrelated programmes , while also increasing the level of training for our frontline staff ,” said Dr Aizai , himself a consultant cardiologist .
Recognising that most hospitals offer similar treatments , IJN has expanded its sub-specialities to include a number of niche services , especially in electrophysiology ( the field dealing with the dysfunctions of the heart electrical activity ), pulmonary hypertension ( high blood pressure in the lung arteries ), and ventricle assist devices ( implants that help the heart pump blood ), all delivered with the hospital ’ s promise
Dato ’ Dr Azmee Ghazi
of the best cardiology service in Malaysia .
“ These are some of the niche services that only IJN provides in the country . Our electrophysiologists are also at the forefront for many of the devices and treatments for rhythmrelated heart problems ,” he said .
Recognising that human talent is the most important resource in healthcare , IJN constantly sends its personnel overseas to learn from the best practitioners in the world . “ The best knowledge may not necessarily be found at one place , as such IJN send doctors to as many locations as possible for trainings ,” said Dr Aizai . “ When they return we will incorporate the best practices into our local context .” Major medical centres across the world with which IJN has collaborated include Papworth Hospital , Cambridge University ’ s teaching hospital in Britain .
The expertise acquired through these collaborations is also transferred to other specialists in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region . Indeed , the National Heart Institute is a key training hospital for the nation ’ s cardiologists , cardiac surgeons and nurses , and the preferred choice for heart specialists from several countries like Brunei , Indonesia , and Vietnam , who need to upgrade their knowledge and skills . continues on page 40
38 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com