|
Beds
|
Adult (ward Blue 4) |
14
|
| |
Children (ward Blue 2) |
4
|
| |
Day care |
1 per week
|
|
Staff
|
Doctors |
14
|
| |
Technicians |
11
|
| |
Technician-trainees |
0
|
| |
Nurses |
19
|
| |
Coordinators |
1
|
Tasks
Vision is one of the major five senses of man and represents an essential part of the quality of life for each individual. The Department of Ophthalmology, Sultan Qaboos University, is an academic medical facility. The department is committed to the fight for sight and against blindness focussing on the main problems of mankind in general, and of Oman specifically. Our endeavors are highlighted by four issues:
- Academic patient care
- Academic teaching
- Clinical & experimental research
- International Ophthalmology
Patient care
In our Department, the complete spectrum of clinical Ophthalmology is covered, and treatment is guaranteed for all referred, walk-in and casualty patients 24 hours a day, year round.
In contrast to non-academic facilities, we understand our role as a referral center for the most complicated ocular problems of Oman and the region, which only here can be managed with the latest state-of-the-art equipment, continuously internationally trained and certified staff knowing and applying the latest clinical and experimental research results to the benefit of patients.With the addition of Oculoplastic and Vitro-retinal units, the patient care has extended to new dimensions.
Teaching:
The Department is involved in training and educating medical students along the lines of the Curriculum Committee of the College. Students are confined to block-wise individual clinical teaching by the medical staff in the ward and outpatients clinic. Each semester, one interdisciplinary case presentation is organized for the students.
Ophthalmologists can be trained guided by a curriculum and a log-book to acquire the knowledge to pass the International Council of Ophthalmology Basic and Clinical Assessment, which is organized and conducted annually by the Department for all the Gulf countries and Iran. The successful candidates can apply for the FRCS Ophthalmology (Glasgow).
Continuing medical education programs with invited academic authorities from all over the world are carried out regularly for Ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses and ophthalmic technicians in Oman. Certificates of attendance are provided in accordance with the Oman Medical Specialty Board Executive. Majority of the CME programs, symposia, workshops and courses are accredited by the international institutions.
Research:
academic and clinical research is being conducted at a national and international levels. In 2004, two University and one WHO clinical project addressing the main eye problems in Oman, glaucomas and diabetes, have been granted. Major projects like Pseudoexfoliation (PEX) glaucoma blindness in Oman (Nizwa hypertension project), genetics in diabetes mellitus amongst Omani population, and genetic study in retinal dystrophies are currently going on. There have been about six publications in major, internationally indexed, and national peer reviewed journals in year 2008.
International Ophthalmology:
National and international issues of preventable and curable blindness are another facet of the work of the Department. The shifting of preventable blinding diseases from trachoma and cataract to glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy as well a inherited retinal dystrophies has been addressed by the Department with respect to research as well as teaching ("awareness") priorities. Thus, glaucoma and diabetes clinical research programs are carried out together with the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and the Ministry of Health.
Since a stable QUALITY MANAGEMENT system for the department has been developed sine 2001, and has been ISO 9001:2000 certified by TUV Nord in 2002 our goal now is to qualify for "center of excellence").