Sustainable Quality Using the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Model of Excellence: The Case of the National Twafa Establishment for Pilgrims of South East Asian Countries (SEA)

This paper aims to make a self-assessment using the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model of excellence to the National Twafa Establishment for Pilgrims of South East Asian Countries (SEA). The assessment was part of the internal environmental scanning necessary prior to the development of its strategic plan. It aimed to find the strengths/weaknesses/areas of improvements that need to be addressed in the strategic plan. The study also used the RADAR assessment methodology. The EFQM Excellence Model includes nine criteria. Five of them are ‘Enablers’ (Leadership, Strategy, People, Partnerships & Resources, Processes, Products, and Services). The other four are ‘Results’ (Customer Results, People Results, Society Results, Key/Business Results). The detailed assessment showed strength areas and 32 other areas of possible improvements. It also ranked SEA (234/1000) on the ladder of excellence which put SEA among the organizations that are committed to excellence. The assessment suggested a road map of initiatives for the strategic plan horizon that will rank SEA, eventually, among the World Excellence organizations while maintaining a sustainable quality. Keywords: Twafa, Pilgrims’ Services, European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), Internal Environment Scanning, RADAR Assessment Methodology, Ladder of Excellence, and Sustainable Quality

Evaluating the effects of subnormothermic perfusion with ap39 in a novel blood‐free model of ex vivo kidney preservation and reperfusion

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordData Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.The use of blood for normothermic and subnormothermic kidney preservation hinders the translation of these approaches and promising therapeutics. This study evaluates whether adding hydrogen sulfide donor AP39 to Hemopure, a blood substitute, during subnormothermic perfusion improves kidney outcomes. After 30 min of renal pedicle clamping, porcine kidneys were treated to 4 h of static cold storage (SCS‐4 °C) or subnormothermic perfusion at 21 °C with Hemopure (H‐21 °C), Hemopure + 200 nM AP39 (H200nM‐21 °C) or Hemopure + 1 μM AP39 (H1μM‐21 °C). Then, kidneys were reperfused with Hemopure at 37 °C for 4 h with metabolic support. Perfusate composition, tissue oxygenation, urinalysis and histopathology were analyzed. During preservation, the H200nM‐21 °C group exhibited significantly higher urine output than the other groups and significantly higher tissue oxygenation than the H1μM‐21 °C group at 1 h and 2h. During reperfusion, the H200nM‐21 °C group exhibited significantly higher urine output and lower urine protein than the other groups. Additionally, the H200nM‐21 °C group exhibited higher perfusate pO2 levels than the other groups and significantly lower apoptotic injury than the H‐21 °C and the H1μM‐21 °C groups. Thus, subnormothermic perfusion at 21 °C with Hemopure + 200 nM AP39 improves renal outcomes. Additionally, our novel blood‐free model of ex vivo kidney preservation and reperfusion could be useful for studying other therapeutics.Physicians Services Incorporated (PSI) FoundationKidney Foundation of Canad