Acibadem Healthcare Group has pursued an ambitious strategy to become a leading health care network in Turkey. In 2003 it began a collaboration with Harvard Medical International that has focused on the development of numerous high-quality programs across multiple areas of hospital operations, organizational development and education, and clinical staff development.


Acibadem Healthcare Group has teamed with HMI to develop high-level collaborative educational programs for its internal staff, the regional medical community, and the general public. In addition, HMI has provided strategic advice on the design of Acibadem's network of health care facilities. Highlights of the collaboration include:
  • Numerous medical education programs and symposia designed to advance knowledge and practice at Acibadem and in the greater Istanbul community. Program topics have included oncology, neurology, stem cell research and applications, orthopedic surgery, and the development of multidisciplinary medical services.
  • Clinical program input and training for a new multidisciplinary oncology and neuroscience center
  • An extensive nursing leadership initiative designed to improve staff retention
  • Professional development programs to improve health care quality and patient safety

By the end of 2004, Acibadem's new multidisciplinary cancer unit had already begun to care for patients. Physicians and nurses from Acibadem -- as well as the HMS faculty who have traveled to Istanbul -- are excited about the progress that has been made so far. Acibadem’s nursing leadership initiative has resulted in a dramatic improvement in nurse retention, with nurse turnover dropping from 33 percent to 16 percent since this partnership began. Today, as Acibadem looks to expand its network of hospitals regionally, it continues to work with Partners Harvard Medical International to develop educational opportunities for Acibadem's medical and nursing staff and look at pursue key initiatives focused on improving hospital operations and performance.