International Medical Center – Biomed Middle East

The idea for establishing the International Medical Center was conceived in 1993, and actual work on the project began in 1998. The original founders and first investors were the Fitaihi Company under the medical and technical leadership of Dr. Walid Fitaihi, later joined by the rest of the medical team.

1998
The first marketing and financial feasibility studies were conducted by KPMG (Peat Marwick Group).
KPMG surveys the seven best hospitals in Jeddah to perform a needs assessment.
The studies are critiqued by the Bristol Group and Adams Associates (health consultants in Boston, USA)

1998-2001
Over 80 consultants from many disciplines (such as information technology, equipment selection, clinical operation and facility management) are involved in the design of the facility.

1999
An internal financial study is conducted by a financial expert in healthcare delivery in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

2000
A third set of independent marketing and financial feasibility studies were completed by The Consulting Center for Finance and Investment (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
These studies are reviewed for accuracy and objectivity by Salisbury Associates, an independent financial consultation firm in Boston, USA.
Joint Commission International (JCI) reviewed the IMC architectural plans and confirms compliance with USA construction standards for healthcare facilities. The IMC signed a multi-stage contract with JCI to aid in organizational design and operations planning to assure a level of care quality comparable to that found in the USA, leading ultimately to international accreditation. The leaders of the IMC medical team in Boston negotiated affiliations with leading medical institutions in the USA for long-term strategic alliance and exchange of services.

2001
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation reviewed the IMC plans for an affiliation and agreed to being the first American institute to become partners with a Saudi Arabian based hospital. The CCF is also an equity holder, owning stock in the IMC project and will work in partnership with IMC on several joint initiatives including e-health, teleconferencing, second opinions and continuing education programs.

2002
The official IMC company was formed with the establishment of the headquarters in a modern office tower near the allocated land for the hospital construction site in Jeddah. The formal commencement of the CEO’s office was followed by the first official meeting of the board of directors in London. The meeting set the beginning of a new era in healthcare with a mission that guided each board member towards looking out for the interests of the global citizen.

2003
In February 2003, the groundbreaking ceremony of the IMC hospital construction took place in its homeland, Jeddah. All the board members, including Dr. Floyd Loop, then CEO of CCF, attended the ceremony. The board members enjoyed the warm Saudi hospitality in a unique tent put up especially to give the attendees a feel of the region’s culture.

2004
This year witnessed the commissioning stage of the hospital with visits from the JCI team. The team monitors the construction stages and the recruitment progress.
The teleconferencing with CCF also took place and was held at the West Inn, Jeddah with all the IMC staff, the investors and the board members. The teleconferencing event was the first of many to come in the future enhancing the partnership attributes between CCF and IMC. The IMC vision was also covered in a major article in Arab Health and other regional media.

2005
The current year marks yet another big achievement for the IMC and CCF partnership and that is the “Best Foreign Partnership Award” granted by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority. The award was delivered, on February 9th, through a grand event in Riyadh, attended by all the IMC board members, the CCF’s current CEO Dr. Delos Cosgrove and the investors.

Throughout the year, the IMC staff will attend major events around the globe, the first being the Arab Health exhibition in Dubai to introduce their vision of Holistic Approach to Healing.
IMC is due to open in the third quarter of 2005 and it will be the first healthcare facility of its type in the region, combining its distinctive vision in healthcare, a pioneering partnering with such a renowned U.S. institute such as CCF and forming its foundation through the JCI standards.

Contacts
Phone: +966 2 650 9000
Fax: +966 2 653 5045
E-mail: imcinfo@imc.med.sa