Posted by Moishe Alexander

PROJECT MISSION

Eventually with the financial support of Bnai Zion, the hospital was renamed the Bnai Zion Medical Center in 1988. The hospital has a long history of service to the people of Israel. In its early days, it was known primarily as a facility for the treatment of children with developmental disorders. In 1948, during the War of Independence, it was the only medical facility in Haifa available to treat the wounded. It met a desperate, emergency situation head-on; injured soldiers and civilians were accommodated in tents and makeshift huts on hospital grounds and at the Technion.

In 1982, Bnai Zion Foundation presented an initial contribution to the hospital, which enabled the opening of its new Emergency Room and made a commitment to raise the funds needed to complete the West Wing Project. In 1988, recognizing its $5 million contribution, and in honor of Bnai Zion’s 80th anniversary, the hospital was renamed the Bnai Zion Medical Center.

The hospital is affiliated with the B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion (Israel’s Institute of Technology) and serves as a teaching hospital for its students. Many of the hospital’s department heads and senior physicians are on the faculty of the Technion and are associated with its varied and wide-ranging medical research activities.

COMMUNITY SERVED OVER THE YEARS

The Bnai Zion Medical Center, located on Mt. Carmel in Haifa was voted leading Medical facility, offering high-quality health care in Northern Israel. It expanded to a 450-bed general hospital facility, dedicated to meeting the needs of a growing population that reaches from Haifa to the neighboring villages throughout the North.

The hospital was in the forefront of treatment for frontline victims of the recent war with Hezbollah and other terrorist bombings.
BNAI ZION’S IMPACT

A recent survey conducted by the Macabi Health Insurance Company rated the Bnai Zion Medical Center well above the national average. Patients have praised the medical staff, their professionalism, the admission procedures and efforts to relieve pain, and consider the Bnai Zion Medical Center as an outstanding hospital.

The hospital has been presented with the most prestigious Israeli award given to a hospital in Israel: The Bnai Zion Medical Center has been voted the number one hospital of choice in North Israel for eight consecutive years. Its doctors are known worldwide for the development of groundbreaking treatments and techniques. To meet the needs of all Israelis, the Medical Center has established the following specialized departments:

* Gynecology and Obstetrics
* Pediatrics
* Neurology
* Otolaryngology
* Neonatal and Premature Unit
* Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
* Orthopedics
* Internal Medicine Specialties (including Metabolic, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine Disorders and Cardiac & Liver Disease)
* Ophthalmology
* Childhood Development Center
* Urology

Construction of the Chais Building for child development was completed in September 2005. The Child Development Center was established in 1976 as the only program of its kind in Haifa and northern Israel. Today it is recognized as the region’s leading center for diagnosis and treatment of young children from infancy to six who have neurological-developmental challenges.

The Center provides consultation, assessment and ongiong treatment for a range of neuro-developmental problems: for children with genetic syndromes, autism, cerebral palsy, language and learning disorders, premature babies and others. This multidisciplinary family-oriented program places the family and the child at the focus of the treatment. More than 700 children, both Jewish and Arab, from all over northern Israel are treated here every year.

Ofarim is part of the Child Development Center. It is the only diagnostic, developmental service for blind and visually impaired children in northern Israel. The unit is committed to appropriate developmental treatment beginning in infancy and the staff strongly believes that early treatment can make all the difference. The program includes rehabilitation daycare for blind and visually impaired infants up to age three. Children receive therapy and paramedical treatments along with typical kindergarten activities, which is the best rehabilitative and educational option for these infants.

The hospital recently completed its new Neonatology Unit. This is the only protected neonatology department in Israel.

The Maternity Department was recently renovated as well.

CURRENT EFFORTS

The hospital is working toward building reinforced units for about 250 patients and staff that will protect against direct rocket attacks. In 2008 construction will begin to be able to convert an underground parking lot into an emergency room with one hundred beds to treat incoming wounded in the event of an emergency.

The hospital is in the process of renovating the Gastroenterology Unit.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

To finish construction of the Pediatric Department and add a pediatric emergency room to it, to upgrade the Admissions Office, to build a new Otolaryngology Department and to build a new Urology Department are just some of the priorities of the moment.

AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Summer 2007 – Award for Best Hospital Food

Bnai Zion Medical Center won first prize for the best healthy gourmet meal in a competition with fifteen hospitals from all over Israel. The competition took place at Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon and the panel of judges included a famous author of cookbooks, the minister of Health, the chairperson of the union of chefs, special dieticians and senior chefs. The award-winning meal was prepared with minimal fats and salt and consisted of chicken breast stuffed with antipasto, fresh beetroot salad, sweet potatoes and baked zucchini. It was topped off by a special dessert made of dough in the shape of a basket, filled with fresh fruit and syrup made of tahini (known to be iron-rich) and honey.

Chef Naor Aschenazi heads up the very capable and dedicated food preparation team at the Medical Center.

August 2007 – Award for Excellence

The Bnai Zion Medical Center won an award for excellence in the unique activity of its Multidisciplinary Center for Sexual Abuse and Incest Victims.

The prize was announced at the annual convention of Middle Eastern hospital managers held in Thailand in August. Bnai Zion Medical Center is the only hospital in the world that offers continuous treatment – both in the hospital and in the community – to victims of this abuse on an ongoing basis.

More information about this prestigious award and the activities of this department can be found in the December 2007 Hanukah edition of the Bnai Zion VOICE.

Autumn 2007 – Citation for Courage

Dr. Saab, an intern IN the Ophthalmology Department, received the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Defense Forces citation last month for his courage in treating soldiers while under fire and rockets during the second Lebanese War. His force was among the first that went into Lebanon, and as a result of the difficult location and many soldiers wounded, they had to ‘open’ a clinic in one of the deserted houses in Lebanon. There he treated soldiers while under enemy fire, while the house was hit, and the soldiers inside were injured. Dr. Saab was injured from slivers in his face, eyes and limbs. Despite these injuries he insisted on continuing to treat other soldiers. A day later he and his staff were evacuated back to Israel.

The hospital is very proud to have Dr. Saab on staff.

Autumn 2007 – Research Conclusion

A recent new survey conducted at the hospital has proven that receiving an epidural at the beginning of delivery doesn’t cause any problems. Based upon this result, women who want an epidural can get it right away. As a result of this research, other hospitals in Israel and abroad have accepted this conclusion and act accordingly.

This research was recently published in the American Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal.