MARCH — APRIL 2010
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IN THIS ISSUE
SINGHEALTH TURNS A DECADE YOUNG
A SingHealth Staff Publication
Plant A Wish For Tomorrow Inspirational Patient Awards 2010
COVER
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me + Smiles
16 Funds from the heart
34 Living the sporty life
18 Accredited to teamwork
34 Itching to get in on the SingHealth sporting scene?
20 A degree of opportunity 21 Continuing commitment to staff retention
CONTENTS
35 Seeing JCI through
22 From the magnet diary of Dr Tracy Carol Ayre 23 e-Healthcare 26 Bridging Healthcare in the 21st Century
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01 Foreword by Prof Tan Ser Kiat
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02 On the cover 03 We’re 10 and growing!
me + Horizon
04 10 reasons to celebrate 06 Inspirational Patient Stories: The power of lipstick and a bit of nail polish
36 Congratulations! Prof Ranga! 36 Contest 28
08 Inspirational Patient Stories: Folding his way to recovery 10 Inspirational Patient Stories: A man with a mission 12 Inspirational Patient Award: Our patients. Our inspiration. 13 Vibrant Campus – Admin warriors 14 Vibrant Campus – A passion for research
SingHealth Editorial Team Tan-Huang Shuo Mei Amelia Champion Katheryn Maung Jeanie Cheah Arthur Wong Lee Yuen Mei
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28 At home with Mr Sia Kheng Hong 31 A palette of ice-cream flavours 32 Losing weight, gaining sight
Pepper Technologies Pte Ltd Alvin Ee Ariel Chew Michael Koek Candice Tang 75B Pagoda Street Singapore 059234 Tel: +65 6221 1286 Photographer for cover and home feature: Tang Xiao Wen Make-up: Siti I.K Copywriter: Sher Maine Wong
Patients. At the Heart of All We Do. Members of the SingHealth Group
me+SingHealth or me+SH represents who we are in SingHealth—as intertwining threads conveying synergy and complementing one another to form a beautiful fabric. me+SH links you to the action in all of SingHealth and around the healthcare industry.
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All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without the written permission of SingHealth and the publisher. The views and opinions expressed or implied in the publication are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of SingHealth and the publisher. Whilst due care has been exercised, both SingHealth and the publisher do not accept responsibility for errors in advertisements or articles, unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. MICA(P) 059/03/2009
Guest Editor
Defining Tomorrow’s Medicine
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o one starts a journey without a destination in mind. Although Medicine is an inexact science, we as healthcare professionals, have the obligation to find our way through all the variables before us, and work towards the best outcome possible. That is the reason why patients come to us in the first place. And our end goal is always to improve the well-being and welfare of those who have placed their trust in us. As we celebrate SingHealth’s 10th Anniversary this year, it is not just about celebrating our achievements over the last decade, even though we are proud of them. But it is really about looking ahead to the future and keeping our sights on improving care for our patients and defining tomorrow’s Medicine. This is no lofty dream – for we must not waver in our commitment to serve the needs of Singaporeans by pushing the frontiers of Medicine and setting new standards of healthcare practice. As a leader in academic medicine, we must be innovators and pace-setters who can raise the bar on clinical outcomes, research into disease cures, and the sharing of clinical wisdom. My wish as we celebrate this milestone is to see the SingHealth family growing as one, for us to be the most fertile ground for staff development across professional groups, and for our unstinting commitment to quality to bear lasting fruit that will transform patient care in Singapore.
Prof Tan Ser Kiat Group CEO, SingHealth
I have often said that true healthcare is a service that can only be provided by professionals who heed their calling – people with the special ability to heal the body, comfort the mind and soothe the soul. But we also draw inspiration from people around us, and the patients we serve. I would like to place on record my deepest appreciation to two groups of people who have shared SingHealth’s journey these past 10 years – to all our Staff, for your belief and commitment in helping SingHealth grow from strength to strength, and to all our Patients, who are and continue to be, at the heart of all we do.
“He who studies medicine without books sails an uncharted sea, but he who studies medicine without patients does not go to sea at all.” — Sir William Osler
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On the cover SingHealth celebrates its 10th birthday on 15 April 2010. To mark the occasion, Group CEO Prof Tan Ser Kiat will plant a Tembusu sapling on the grounds of SGH Campus. Joining him at this special celebration will be our institution leaders and staff representatives of 10 years’ service from across our institutions. Strong and sturdy, the Tembusu tree provides good shelter and stands for resilience. As the group celebrates its 10th anniversary, it is an apt emblem of the unity and strength of the SingHealth family as we continue to provide quality care to meet the needs of Singaporeans. The cover of me+SH shows a young lady aged 10, watering a beautiful Tembusu tree. It is symbolic of SingHealth’s growth and our desire for all staff to plant a wish for tomorrow’s healthcare.
Hear from our cover model — 10-year-old Megan, daughter of Dr Lee Huei Yen, Consultant, Department of Psychiatry, SGH. What It Means To Be 10 • One giant candle on my birthday in place of the many small ones • Going to summer ballet camp – my first trip overseas without mum and dad
there that it’s a great school • Train to be an illustrator because I love drawing, and a dentist because I want to be like my best friend’s mum who is a dentist
And for Dr Lee Huei Yen
What I aspire to do in the next 10 years
How I feel as Megan turns 10
• Enrol in the School of the Arts to do visual arts
Scary!! That a decade has flown by so quickly. Seemed like only yesterday we were examining her fingers and toes immediately after
• Gain entry to Yale. I hear from my aunt who went
she was born to check if she was normal. She is almost a teen. I deal with teenage girls all the time in my line of work - not sure if I’m looking forward to Megan being a teenager or dreading it. What I wish for healthcare in the next 10 years More understanding and less stigma about psychiatric illnesses. Not just from the general public but also from our own medical colleagues. More doctors, shorter waiting times, and the opportunity for longer and less pressure on consults in public hospitals.
NOTICED THE NEW LOOK OF ME+SH? Yes, well, SingHealth is turning 10 and me+SH is turning 2. It is timely to refresh our look as we embrace the dawn of a new decade. We are pleased with our makeover and hope you will be, too. To our me+SH fans out there, do continue to give us your feedback. We want to hear from you about me+SH and also your stories. Remember: if me+SH turns your story idea into a story for print, you’ll walk away with a S$40 shopping voucher. Email us at me.sh@singhealth.com.sg today!
We’re 10 and growing!
SingHealth turns a decade young in April 2010. It is cause for celebration, particularly as we continue to build on our achievements to define tomorrow’s Medicine. We are growing, both literally and figuratively. With the ageing population in Singapore, the demands on public healthcare can only increase. To better meet these demands, we strengthen our staff numbers and develop our talent to fulfil their potential. With our team of experienced mentors nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals, we are set for the future. Join us as we continue to push the frontiers of Medicine.
SingHealth 10th Anniversary Celebrations Line-up JAN-MAR SingHealth 10th Anniversary 2010 Calendar with Her World for all staff (Jan)
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JUL-SEP
10 Anniversary celebrations @ Corporate Office Synergy (Apr)
SingHealth Nurses’ Day celebrations (Jul/Aug)
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SingHealth’s Birthday Tree-Planting by GCEO (15 Apr) Launch of ‘Plant A Wish for Tomorrow’ (Apr) Sunday Times Press Supplement (Apr) Inaugural ‘Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare’ (Apr) 10th Anniversary Commemorative Memento for All Staff (May)
Launch of Health Xchange Portal (Jan)
SingHealth - President’s Challenge 2010: Celebrating the Family! (May) Corporate Office Community Outreach - Empowering Youths! (Jun-Sep)
Pulse of SingHealth – GCEO’s 10th Anniversary Staff Address (Aug) SingHealth Staff Excellence Awards (Aug)
OCT-DEC SingHealth - President’s Challenge 2010 Finale @ The Istana (Oct) SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress (Oct)
10 reasons to celebrate
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WE’RE One Family As a group, we have grown from strength to strength. We are in top form to transform Medicine
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We’ve got
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Trusted Leaders
Our Patients are at the Heart of all we do
The Best Minds in Medicine
Read the Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare
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We Care to Heal through 3 vibrant campuses committed to excellent care, education & research
We have many achievements to Celebrate Look out for the Sunday Times Press Supplement in April
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We’ve got
Synergy
Celebrate with us on all our staff and patient communication platforms
Our Pulse has never been
Stronger
Especially when our institutions and staff unite at Pulse of SingHealth
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WE’VE got
Talent
Our people are our strongest asset.
We have
Dynamic Partnerships SingHealth and Duke-NUS combine our strengths for Scientific Congress 2010
A Perfect 10 in giving Join us as we serve the needs of the community in our annual President’s Challenge initiatives
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Inspirational Patient Award 2010
The power of lipstick and a bit of nail polish
BY CONSTANCE NONIS
A strong zest for life, always positive and passionate in helping others find the will to live – these are the qualities that make Susan Ginsberg a natural winner for SingHealth’s inaugural Inspirational Patient Award. me+SH brings you her story and that of others in this issue. Look out for more stories in subsequent issues.
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t had been a long time since Ms Susan Ginsberg had a Pap smear. Always shy, she had put off undergoing the test because “in those days, there weren’t many female doctors,” Susan, 53, said. But, one day in April 1998, feeling uneasy and also troubled by insomnia, she decided to go for a Pap smear. She was diagnosed with gynaecological cancer. “I nearly died there and then!” cried Susan. “You hear the word ‘cancer’ all the time and you never think that you would get it. It’s always someone else. Well, now I was that someone else,” she said. Fortunately, Susan is by nature, a friendly and easygoing person with a positive attitude and a strong will to live. She coped well.
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“Besides helping me connect with the patients, Susan also teaches them how to improve their image, like how to tie a scarf when they start to lose their hair. She goes to the extent of giving them manicures just to lift their spirits. It is Susan’s commitment and passion that motivates and inspires me to do my job better.” – Nurse Clinician Chew Sen Mei, Ward 43, KKH
Five months into her recovery, Sister Catherine Paul, who is now Nurse Manager of Ward 72 at KKH, asked if she wanted to join a ‘befriender’ or support group to help comfort other patients. Susan recalled how dedicated the nurses were, and thought, why not? During her stay in hospital, the nurses talked to her, offering relief, long after their shifts were over. Initially, she wasn’t sure what to do to support cancer patients. “I remember going up to a patient and not really knowing how to begin. I just hugged her and from then on we began to connect,” said Susan. “It is good to finally see smiles on patients’ faces after they have just received bad news.” Of course, they were not all smiles. Some cried. One even threw a tray at her. “Different people react differently,” said Susan. “Whether it is laughter or a cry, it is always good to elicit some kind of emotion.” Susan sees patients once or twice a week and each time, she shares with them her story, hoping that it will strengthen their will to survive. She also calls them up when she cannot visit them at the wards to reassure them and listen to their complaints or worries.
“When I talk to the patients, many don’t believe that I have cancer. ‘But you look so well … so happy,’ they would say,” said Susan. “I guess I am a happy-go-lucky person and I am very vain.” In fact, she is known among the hospital staff as the ‘Lipstick Patient’ because “the first thing my husband handed me after my surgery was my lipstick. He knows how vain I am. In fact, I must have my lipstick and a bottle of nail polish with me all the time because if I’m going, I’m going looking good!” she quipped. For the past 12 years, Susan has been active in the support group, contributing in every way possible, be it talking and listening to the patients, helping with the organisation of events, cooking or baking to help raise funds or playing chaperone during support group outings. But it is her vanity and zest for life that she hopes will rub off on to the other patients. Many do not realise what a bit of colour, whether to the lips or to the nails, can do to boost one’s image and self-esteem. “Besides helping me connect with the patients,” said Nurse Clinician Chew Sen Mei of Ward 43 at KKH who nominated Susan for the SingHealth Inspirational Patient Award, “Susan also teaches them how to improve their image, like
how to tie a scarf when they start to lose their hair. She goes to the extent of giving them manicures just to lift their spirits. It is Susan’s commitment and passion that motivates and inspires me to do my job better.” Having learned her lesson the hard way, Susan now goes for her Pap smears twice a year even though she doesn’t really need to go so often. She encourages everyone to get checked if they feel unwell or uneasy. Never dismiss anything. And her advice to all women? “Go for your Pap smears and mammograms regularly. Early detection means early treatment!”
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Inspirational Patient Award 2010
Folding his way to recovery It took just one stroke to turn a man’s life upside-down. One moment, he is active and independent, the next he is helpless and dull. It is sad when a stroke steals a man’s mobility and independence but it is even sadder when it robs him of his passion in life as well.
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hat was how Senior Nurse Manager Fong Poh Chee from Ward 18 of CGH felt when she first got to know Mr Ronald Koh. Sixty-two-year-old Mr Koh held a stressful job. He also suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, making him a prime target for strokes. In fact, he has had three. He came out of the first two practically unscathed, but the last one in February 2009 left him half–paralysed. “It is natural for stroke patients to be angry or frustrated because they have to depend on others to take care of them,” said Sister Fong. It is not unusual for some to even lose the will to live. For Mr Koh, however, it was not his disability but that his disability was denying him his life’s passion, origami. “When we learned about his love for origami, we encouraged him not to give up. We kept telling him that this is not the end of the journey for him,” said Sister Fong. With such words of encouragement from the ward staff and the love and support of his wife, it didn’t take Mr Koh long to overcome his grief and work hard towards recovery. A left-hander, Mr Koh learnt to use his right hand to fold simple models such as butterflies of various designs, the ‘flapping bird’ and ‘talking lips’ when stroke disabled his more dexterous left limb. The hospital staff were the happy recipients of his art. Said Mr Koh, “The butterflies were particularly significant to me at that time because they symbolised free flight and freedom of movement, and served to fuel my determination to do all I could to regain my freedom from the restrictive effects of the stroke.” Before long he was folding ‘cranes’, a model more difficult to fold with only one hand.
Mr and Mrs Koh
“We really admire Mr Koh’s determination to regain self-care and to continue with his origami art hobby,” said Sister Fong. “He has also inspired me to work harder and help my patients as much as I can.” It is without a doubt that origami was instrumental in Mr Koh’s recovery. According to Mr Koh, “some places in Australia and possibly a couple of states in the US use origami as part of their rehab programme.” While he doesn’t insist that other patients take up origami, he does encourage them to take up something that would stimulate the mind. At the rate Mr Koh is recovering, it won’t be long before he is back to working on bigger models such as the 45.49m King Cobra which he and his mates from the Origami Group of Singapore folded. Before attempting to fold the giant cobra, he had to design and fold a smaller one to scale. “It took me 20 hours to fold the smaller cobra. Since the stroke, I have been restricted to working on easier designs which I can manage comfortably with one hand. Sometimes I use the other hand as a paperweight, but I would like to put it to better use soon and resume working on the more detailed and complex origami designs I did before,” Mr Koh said hopefully.
The 45.49m King Cobra Mr Koh and his mates from the Origami Group of Singapore folded.
Mr Koh has other projects including finishing some of the models which he has conceptualised but never completed, writing a book on designing origami models, and teaching origami to retirees. A perfectionist, Mr Koh had delayed the completion of some models – the ‘Merlion’ being one of them – because he had not perfected the designs. But no more. If anything, the stroke has taught him to stop putting off his dreams!
Senior Nurse Manager Fong Poh Chee and Mr Koh
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Inspirational Patient Award 2010
A man with a mission “Recalling the fear, anxiety and apprehension he felt when he was first diagnosed, Joey made himself available to newly diagnosed patients to help allay their initial fears and to share with them his personal experience with cancer.”
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hirteen years ago, at 37, Joey Kong had it all – a good job, a comfortable home, a beautiful wife and two adorable young children. Then the illness came. Bouts of bloody stools interspersed with sporadic episodes of constipation prompted him to consult a doctor. Initially, it was thought to be just the common piles; after all, he looked healthy and was even putting on weight. But when the problem persisted, a thorough check-up revealed a tumour in the anus. A biopsy followed and Joey was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma or soft tissue cancer. “Joey took the news very badly,” admits Yvonne, Joey’s widow. “He refused to tell me the results of the biopsy or that the doctors gave him just a few weeks to six months to live. I found that out only two years later from church friends.”
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The initial five years (yes! Joey outlived the life expectancy doctors predicted) saw Joey in and out of the hospital. He underwent radiotherapy, had several surgeries and even suffered a few complications. “Joey remained lively throughout. He refused to stay at home. He said it made him feel helpless,” said Yvonne. This determination to stay active led to Joey becoming involved in the hospital’s Stoma Support Group. “We talked and he told me that because he felt blessed with each passing year, he would like to dedicate maybe a couple of days a week helping others like him,” said Yvonne. Recalling the fear, anxiety and apprehension he felt when he was first diagnosed, Joey made himself available to newly diagnosed patients to help allay their initial fears and to share with them his personal experience with cancer. “Joey had been helping long before I took over stoma care in 2003,” said Nurse Clinician Ong Choo Eng of the Colorectal Ward at SGH. “He would ask me ‘Are there any new patients today?’ so that he could go talk to them. He would also help me organise psychosocial programme activities. In fact, he suggested and initiated the music and art therapy sessions!” As a result of his commitment, Joey was appointed as Chairman of the Ostomy Club from 2004 to 2006. During this period, he found sponsors for ostomy outings and activities, helped plan World Ostomy Day and even helped organise an exchange trip for stoma patients to share their experience with their Malaysian counterparts. In 2007, Joey suffered a relapse. “That was when we told the kids about his illness,” said Yvonne. By then, the kids were already in their teens and were old enough to accept the inevitable. “Before, we never
really told the kids what was wrong with their father. They were young so we just told them that daddy’s sick,” she said, adding that their father’s illness and subsequent death in September 2009 had an impact on the kids, especially their son. The son had always wanted to go into medical research, and is now studying Biomedical Science at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Never one to wallow in self-pity, Joey had remained positive till the end. “He used to say, ’At least this way, I can make use of my time. Imagine if I was suddenly killed in an accident!’” said Yvonne. He may have worried about what would happen to the family after he was gone, “but Joey prepared us well,” said Yvonne with tears in her eyes. “Joey lived his life well despite his illness, and he has taught the children well like teaching them to ‘buy only what you need, not what you want’ and ‘always be humble’.”
Through to his last days, Yvonne and the kids would ask if there was anything he needed to do or say and he would always reply, ‘I’ve done all that I need to do.’ Said Yvonne, “Joey always believed that it was God’s grace that gave him the extra years to watch our children grow and the strength to help others. Each day that he lived was a blessing from God.”
Nurse Clinician Ong Choo Eng (Left) and Yvonne Kong (Right)
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Our Patients. Our Inspiration. SingHealth held its first cluster-wide Inspirational Patient Award on 4 March 2010. This heartwarming event gave a perspective of patients non-frontline healthcare professionals rarely encounter. BY Jeanie Cheah
even those of us who are well could emulate and learn from. Every winner of the award is an inspiring story, and me+SH brings you, our readers, the stories over a few issues starting with three in this issue. We hope you will be as inspired as we have been.
Family and friends of the late Joey Kong
“Never take for granted that there will be tomorrow. Be your best today.� This inspiring thought came from Mr Roland Vivian Simon, one of the 14 winners of the inaugural SingHealth Inspirational Patient Award. It is no wonder that Senior Nursing Manager Carol Tan of CGH nominated him for this award. I have felt inspired by some of the healthcare professionals I have met in the course of work. But it did not occur to me that patients, too, could be a source of inspiration. Not until I met the nominees of the Inspirational Patient Award and heard their stories. My misconception that patients
Susan Ginsberg and family
are naturally feeble and in need of help, hence not in the position to help others, has been completely overturned. I have learnt that in spite of illness, however serious, one can bring hope to a fellow being if he cares. The Inspirational Patient Award recognises patients who have displayed outstanding behaviour and attitudes, which have spurred SingHealth staff to work hand-in-hand with them towards positive outcomes. It stands for the sterling qualities displayed by our patients such as resilience, courage, genuine concern for fellow human beings, generosity of spirit, emotional and mental strength, patience, and a zest for life that
Family and friends of the late Helen Hee
Drop a note to me.sh@singhealth.com.sg and tell us how you have been inspired by our patient stories. Share your story with us too.
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Admin Warriors A 40-strong group of diverse young talent were recently recruited to refresh SGH’s administrative ranks as hospital executives. BY SHER MAINE WONG “I am trained in communication and marketing, but had always wanted to venture into healthcare because I think helping patients is something worthwhile,” said Benjamin. “The promise of future personal development was also attractive.”
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enjamin Chia has played computer programmer, logistics co-ordinator, emcee and is now manpower norm analyst. The 27-year-old is no job hopper. That is what he has done in just seven months in his first job as a hospital executive. The word “administration” may conjure images of paper-pushers in a repetitive daily routine, but Benjamin, part of a 40-strong group of hospital executives groomed for higher administrative positions within SGH, is breaking new ground every day. “There’s not been a single day in the past seven months that I’ve been here that has been the same,” said Benjamin. The business management graduate from the Singapore Management University joined the group of diverse talent from fields including life sciences, engineering and finance, who responded to an SGH advertisement for hospital management executives last year.
SGH will provide opportunities to expose the hospital executives to all areas of hospital operations so they can ultimately take on higher leadership posts. Benjamin’s SGH orientation was an eye-opener. He said: “I found the hospital to be an incredibly complex place, with so many specialties all catering to the public.” Given a choice of department to join, he chose human resources, while his colleagues went to departments as diverse as clinical services, corporate services and operations support. “I felt that HR would give me a better understanding of the resources required in a healthcare community,” said Benjamin. He has helped to refine a computer programme for manpower analysis needs and co-ordinated the distribution of the SingHealth 2010 calendar. He also ensured that the SingHealth care packs reached every staff during the H1N1 crisis. He is now busy interviewing administrative staff in clinical departments to initiate a study on workload norms.
INTEGRATING INTO HEALTHCARE Being a hospital executive isn’t easy. First, there are only 40 slots with an excess of 1,000 applicants. Hopefuls were put through a rigorous selection process of a 2,000-word essay on their reflection of the healthcare scene in Singapore, and then a double interview to put to test their resolve. According to SGH Human Resource, a hospital executive must have in him a strong passion for a career in healthcare and the potential to become a future leader in healthcare administration. During the first year, each hospital executive will undertake a project of their choice, which provides them with exposure to various aspects of hospital operations. The projects available are very varied, but most of them seek to improve processes either in patient care areas or in hospital operational support areas. With the purpose of inducting the hopefuls to different aspects of healthcare, the Hospital Executive Programme looks set to nurture a new breed of hospital administration leaders.
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A Passion for
Cancer
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You might say that the talented researchers and clinicians form the brains at the Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research of the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), but me+SH discovered the heart behind all the breakthrough research in NCCS. BY ARTHUR WONG present staggering 20 laboratories supporting a myriad of cancer research programmes.
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udrey-Anne Oei, Senior Manager, and Justine Tan, Manager, have worked in the Research Division Administration (RDA) of NCCS since its inauguration 10 years ago. The pair and their team have put their heart and soul into facilitating cancer research and have borne witness to their Research Division’s humble beginnings - growing from just three laboratories to the
Their commitment to their work is almost palpable. Audrey, for example, gives the researchers the impression that she never sleeps. She sends out emails in the dead of the night and in the daytime, she seems always to whizz past the researchers in the corridors in her bid to attend to meetings. “I once had a researcher draw a picture of me zooming by, and in the picture all they could see of me was my hair,” she jokes. As they share anecdotes about their work, you feel their passion towards what they do. So what DO Research Administrators do? “To put it simply, our job is to facilitate research,” says Justine,
“helping researchers with the mundane administration work, and leaving them free to focus on the exacting science.” However, it is not as simple as it sounds. Justine manages research operations in NCCS - from overseeing the smooth functioning of the facility, ensuring a safe working environment for the researchers, operating the animal housing facility, procuring the necessary research equipment and laboratory consumables, to even providing laundry service for the researchers’ lab coats. Justine is also the person all researchers turn to for advice and guidance when it comes to compliance with research regulations (eg. BATA, WSHA, NACLAR) and the many other different Acts and guidelines governing research in Singapore.
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Research covers more than one-third (5,000 square metres) of the total floor area of NCCS. But what’s all that floor space used for? The Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research in NCCS houses three research divisions, mainly: Cellular & Molecular Research This essential area of basic, clinical and translational research is aimed at prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human cancers in the future. Medical Sciences This is focused on applying advances in basic research to clinical care, including new diagnostic and treatment methods. Clinical Trials & Epidemiological Sciences Clinical trials are designed and executed together with consultancy services in biostatistics. NCCS also maintains databases which combine epidemiological information with treatment and survival data. NCCS published 1,259 papers over the last ten years, with landmark research projects that include: Targeted Cell Treatment Writing Molecular Maps Tailoring Drugs Novel Therapies Improved Detection
Having a good track record of safety and governance gives NCCS researchers a better rapport with funding agencies and auditors when they come around, and that makes it easier to secure funding for research. And when we talk about funding and grants, there is no better person to go to than Audrey. None more passionate either. As Audrey relates her job scope, she digresses into a very personal rant – one that describes how hard her researchers work to secure research funding. “Given the restrictive funding situation, it is so hard to do cancer research, but our people are passionate enough to still be
here. Our researchers are our most precious assets, and as they persevere in their search for a cure, we are inspired to help them as much as we can,” was Audrey’s bottom line. Challenges aside, her responsibilities at NCCS include governance and management of research grants. This involves facilitation for securing grants from funding agents, providing administration support for secured funds and ensuring researchers’ compliance with the terms and conditions set out by these funding agents. With 200 researchers in NCCS spread between the small RDA team, that is no easy feat.
It’s a tough job with many late nights, but to Audrey and Justine, all the long hours add up to a single purpose – “We look forward to the day when cancer will just be like the common flu, and that it was research that made it all possible,” said Justine resoundingly.
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Funds from
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SingHealth Foundation facilitates fundraising, gives grants, and manages financial contributions in support of medical research, medical and healthcare education and patient services to improve the quality of healthcare in Singapore. me+SH finds out how the Foundation is making a big difference.
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adam Nilam Furi binte Ali had five children to look after. Her husband was ill and she was down with chronic asthma which had developed into full-blown pneumonia.
feel less tired in the day; I can go out for short periods and do the marketing as I no longer have to rely on the oxygen concentrator all the time. I can cook at home and, now, I can even scold my children!�
The breather literally came in the form of a machine called the Bipad paid for by SingHealth Foundation.
She is just one of the many who over the years have reached out and found a helping hand from SingHealth Foundation, a not-for-profit grantmaking organisation set up in 2002 to up the quality of healthcare.
Said the 47-year-old housewife: “I use the Bipad at night. It helps me
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Dr Goh Soon Noi, Senior Manager of Medical Social Services at Changi General Hospital, whose department was able to provide financial assistance to Madam Nilam thanks to funding from the Foundation said: “SingHealth Foundation empowers staff on the ground, close to the heart of the problems and issues. It contributes to our capacity to respond with new programmes, reaching out and touching lives.” In addition to these direct grant programmes, Foundation also oversees the governance and financial management of four endowment funds from Changi General Hospital, National Dental Centre of Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore and Singapore General Hospital. Said Professor Tan Ser Kiat, Chairman of SingHealth Foundation, “As an Institution of Public Character under the Ministry of Health, we emphasise upholding the highest corporate
governance standards. We seek to continuously improve our processes and procedures for managing grants and donor funds. It is on the strength of our sound governance structure that our donors and partners have continued to support us with their generous contributions.” Foundation manages more than $100 million in general and earmarked funds and has a grant portfolio of more than $50 million in four core areas: the cord blood bank, patient care, research and education. On the Foundation’s role in funding research and training, Dr Kwa Chong Teck, Executive Director of SingHealth Foundation adds, ”The Foundation is committed to investing in SingHealth staff. We hope to enable our healthcare professionals to advance their skills and knowledge for better patient care. We also want to empower our researchers to pursue solutions to today’s healthcare problems.”
SingHealth Foundation Chart SINGHEALTH INSTITUTIONS
SINGAPORE HEALTH SERVICES PTE LTD
INTEREST INCOME
SingHealth Foundation
DONATIONS FROM FOUNDATION, CORPORATIONS, PUBLIC & STAFF
Sources of Funds
including CORD BLOOD BANK Singapore Cord Blood Bank
CGH Endowment Fund SGH Integrated Fund NHCS Endowment Fund NDC Tooth Fairy Fund
UNDERSTANDING PATIENT CARE Patient Care Programmes at SHS Institutions Programmes for needy patients Arts for Health Institutional Patient Care Programmes
EDUCATION Education & Training for SHS Cluster HDMP TDF Institutional Education/ Training Programmes
RESEARCH Research Programmes at SHS Institutions Peer reviewed & competitive funded research programmes via SHS Office of Research Institutional Research Programmes Earmarked Research Programmes
* Donations from Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd have been sufficient to cover administrative and operating cost incurred by SingHealth Foundation.
Uses of Funds
WHO BENEFITS? Cord Blood Bank People who may die from blood-related diseases like leukemia can get a second lease of life with a blood stem cell transplant from the Singapore Cord Blood Bank (SCBB). Funded by SingHealth Foundation, the bank is a national repository for blood stem cells, collected from the umbilical cords of newborns. Started in September 2005, bank deposits have saved the lives of 25 patients as of March 2009. SCBB hopes to double the amount of blood stem cells it has in storage, so more lives can be saved. Patient care Some patients who may be financially needy find financial support when they need it through Foundation grants. These grants help pay for the home rental of expensive medical equipment, vaccinations for the poor elderly patients, medical treatments for premature babies, and temporary stays at private nursing homes for those who are awaiting vacancies at voluntary welfare organisations. Research Research may not produce immediate results, but it gives new hope to patients, and paves the way for medical advances in the future. Foundation supports research through Investigator Excellence Awards, Mentorship Grants, Start-Up, Project and Clinical Trials grants covering fields as diverse as cancer and fertility to stroke and ophthalmology. The Foundation has provided grants to young scientists looking to test their good ideas, as well as provided support for infrastructure to enable the most seasoned researchers at SingHealth to qualify for prestigious awards and grants for their groundbreaking discoveries. Education From symposiums to awards for the building of facilities, SingHealth Foundation is steadfast in supporting the continuing education in SingHealth to meet the challenges of increasing healthcare demands. Besides co-funding the Health Manpower Development Programme (HMDP) with Ministry of Health it has funded grants like the first Singapore National Eye Centre – Duke-NUS Medical Retina Symposium, sponsored nursing scholarship awards and built the simulation training centre at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
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It took SNEC less than a year to obtain their JCI accreditation, and it’s all due to inter and intrainstitution teamwork. BY ARTHUR WONG
surveys and collected data. All in preparation for the day when the JCI auditor put their resolve to the test.
858
– that was the number of measurable elements SNEC had to address when they stood up to the scrutiny of the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. These elements fell under two categories of standards: patientcentred standards and healthcare organisation management standards, along with 6 International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs). Over the course of 9 months, the JCI committee at SNEC sat through meetings, wrote and rewrote policies and procedures, performed mock
When the auditors came they left no stone unturned. They climbed ladders and squeezed into every nook and cranny, read every word and checked every punctuation in their policies before awarding SNEC with the coveted JCI accreditation in December 2009. Team SNEC was led by Medical Director, Prof Donald Tan and assisted by chairman of the SNEC JCI steering committee, Dr Ian Yeo who is s senior consultant ophthalmologist with the Vitreo Retina Service. When asked for his thoughts on completing the accreditation process, Dr Yeo smiled and said, “I’m glad the rush is over.” “When we started on the accreditation process, we were told it would take us at least two years. But we wanted to get it before the new categories of standards came into effect. It didn’t leave us with a lot of
time to think – you either make it or break it.” Rushing to meet the accreditation was a tough decision, but the committee decided to stick it through and strive for the best. Work started almost immediately, with Dr Yeo forming his committee. “I was fortunate to be able to work with a team of dedicated and likeminded individuals who shared the same passion and were willing to move in the same direction – quickly.” said Dr Yeo. To familiarise SNEC staff with the new procedures and guidelines, as well as prepare them for the upcoming audit, the steering committee specially prepared a JCI handbook with concise information about the JCI. Posters were put up across the institution, and their intranet site was constantly updated with the latest JCI news. Roadshows were also held to promote awareness of JCI.
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Apart from the teamwork of the SNEC committee members, Dr Yeo attributes a large part of their achievement to the knowledge and guidance given by other SingHealth institutes who imparted their experiences with the JCI audit in their regular meetings. “Although a part of our accreditation is due to management’s support and
What is JCI?
our staff’s commitment, I also wish to thank all the other institutions for their invaluable knowledge. The process is a tie-up between the many components of SNEC and would not be possible without the many interactions we had from the institutions,” he said.
JCI – GOING FORWARD me+SH takes a look at what SingHealth’s JCI roadmap looks like. In 2008, the SingHealth Clinical Governance Council, senior management and Board called for all SingHealth institutions to be accredited externally. In response, all our centres and polyclinics opted to be accredited by JCI. Said Dr Daphne Khoo, Director of SingHealth Clinical Governance & Quality Management, “JCI accreditation is a difficult and painful exercise. However, the initial institutions who had undertaken it did see definite value and benefits. The decision to be JCI accredited seems fortuitous as it now appears that JCI accreditation will be a requirement for the residency programme.”
2011 – SHP Accreditation
December 2011 – KKH Re-Accreditation July 2011 – SGH & NHCS Re-Accreditation
April 2011 – CGH Re-Accreditation January 2011 – NNI Mock Survey
April 2010 – NCCS Mock Survey
March 2010 – NDC Mock Survey
2005 – KKH and CGH accredited by JCI – SGH became the largest teaching hospital in Asia to be accorded such a recognition – NHCS became the first heart hospital outside US and in Asia to be accredited by JCI
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A Degree of Opportunity Pursuing an occupational therapy degree in Singapore is possible with the collaboration between SGHPGAHI and La Trobe University. “There are few opportunities available to occupational therapists interested to pursue a degree programme in Singapore. Not everyone has the financial means to further their education overseas. Realising this, SGH-PGAHI took the golden opportunity to explore the possibility of bringing the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy programme to the occupational therapists instead.” Professor Ang Chong Lye,
Chief Executive Officer, Singapore General Hospital
SGH-Postgraduate Allied Health Institute (PGAHI) and La Trobe University successfully put another 17 students through their Bachelor of Occupational Therapy programme. This is a 18-month degree conversion programme for holders of the Diploma in Occupational Therapy from Nanyang Polytechnic. The graduation ceremony, held on 30th January 2010, celebrated both the achievement of students and the success of the collaboration between the School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University and SGH-PGAHI. Said Professor Ang Chong Lye, CEO, SGH, “There are few opportunities available to occupational therapists interested to pursue a degree programme in Singapore. Not everyone has the financial means to further their education overseas. Realising this, SGH-PGAHI took the golden opportunity to explore the possibility of bringing the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy programme to the occupational therapists instead.” The students were taught by overseas La Trobe University’s lecturers in SGH and supported with on-line material coordinated by La Trobe University. SGH occupational therapists were
also involved as tutors providing their expertise and teaching the graduates. Speaking at the ceremony, class representative Ms Tay Lei Shan shared her personal journey as a working mother of two. Though she faced difficulties in balancing her studies along with motherhood, she ultimately felt a huge sense of achievement at graduation. Her story struck a chord with many present in the audience. Said occupational therapist Geraldine Ong from SGH, another graduate from the same class, “Because this is a parttime programme and we were working and studying concurrently, it involved personal sacrifice. We had to put our social life on hold. However, being a practising occupational therapist meant I could apply what I learnt in class straightaway. The interaction with classmates who are working in different settings was great. We got to exchange ideas and best practices.”
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is open for application. For enquiries on the July 2010 Intake, please contact Ms Gayle Tan at 63237156 or gayle.tan.x.y@sgh.com.sg
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Continuing commitment to
staff retention Our sixth Collective Agreement re-affirms SingHealth’s commitment to staff retention and strong partnership with the union. my take home pay. It also serves as incentive to attract more people to join the healthcare industry,” said Mr Charles Chan, Senior Manager, Diagnostic Imaging, KKH.
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oming out of the financial crisis, SingHealth staff have one more reason to cheer: they will enjoy enhancements in benefits, salaries and allowances from April onwards. This is the result of the close collaboration and partnership between SingHealth and the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union – which represents employees in the healthcare sector.
need to keep an eye on staff welfare, training and career development.
Prof Tan Ser Kiat, Group CEO of SingHealth, at the signing ceremony on 2 March, said that the talks were conducted last year when Singapore was in the grip of the recession. “SingHealth as a group exercised wage restraint, curtailed spending and implemented wage freeze for senior management,” he said.
Most SingHealth institutions operate round the clock for patients and staff work rotating shifts to extend operating hours and optimise use of resources and equipment. To acknowledge the onerous nature of shift work, new and enhanced premiums for eligible staff performing second, night and rotating shifts have been introduced.
Despite that, SingHealth and the union, which have worked together for over two decades, believed in the
“I am very happy about the new benefit. It not only recognises the work that I do, but also increases
The agreement not only covers monetary aspects such as adjustment to salary ranges of nursing and non-nursing staff, better dental and medical benefits, it also stresses on the need to attract more nurses, by upgrading and enhancing the profession.
The CA touches on the need for family time and work-life balance. In place of leave encashment, supervisors and staff are encouraged to plan and take their leave to relax, de-stress and spend quality time with their families. It also encourages the building of a diverse, multi-generation workforce with older staff retained in employment and playing various roles like mentor and teacher. A new wage review framework is provided for staff who turn 60. Staff with sustained good performance and performing the same job scope can retain their current pay at age 60. As a gesture of appreciation for our staff’s commitment to this new Collective Agreement, SingHealth is pleased to present each eligible employee with a $200 NTUC Fairprice voucher. Said Prof Tan: “This Collective Agreement is a deep investment in our future. It would take us a step further in enhancing people excellence to improve quality of care for our patients.”
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0 1 0 2 y r a u r b e 1-4 F
FROM THE MAGNET DIARY OF Dr Tracy Carol Ayre Deputy Director, Nursing, SGH
We survived the Magnet designation site visit! The excitement in the air was palpable. Our four appraisers from USA started by meeting our senior leadership, including GCEO, CEO, CMB and COO, and DN. Their aim was to understand Singapore’s healthcare system and the workings of SGH. Shared governance, research and evidence-based practice, professional development, quality and collegiality among disciplines and departments were common themes the appraisers hit on throughout their site visit. They met and spoke with staff of various levels and professions. Over breakfast and lunch meetings, the appraisers held conversations with nurses, physicians and our community partners. Special public forums gave them the opportunity to hear from patients, their families and SGH staff on the whole experience of receiving and giving care at SGH.
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The afternoons were spent visiting all the inpatient and outpatient units in SGH. Accompanied by sixteen guides and note-takers – our ‘ambassadors’ for the tour – the four appraisers scoured every corner in SGH. At each unit, the appraisers were bowled over by our staff’s enthusiasm in wanting to share their unit’s work and achievements. In fact, the nurses enjoyed the visits so much that they have given feedback to us that there was not enough time for them to share with the appraisers. Rules established by the Magnet Commission meant that the appraisers were not able to share
their observations about the site visit, but they did inform us that our areas of excellence are supportive and visionary leadership, strong quality culture, opportunities for professional development, and strong inter-disciplinary relationships. They also expressed their appreciation for our hospitality. It has been a challenging but rewarding journey. At a get-together held in appreciation of every staff’s effort, the appraisers even joined our senior leadership in toasting our staff. Now all we have to do is to wait patiently for the results.
REMINDER TO SELF — CULTURE AND LANGUAGE! We remembered to provide a cultural familiarisation programme for the appraisers to help them understand our culture and value system before the site visit, but our near stumbling block proved to be terminology differences. Some of the terminology used by our appraisers were not what our nurses were familiar with. Fortunately, they were receptive to our feedback and rephrased their questions. A big sigh of relief! By the third day, the appraisers had even picked up Singlish.
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e-Healthcare A small growing group of doctors, nurses and pharmacists are working to build a vast computer network within SingHealth to change the way healthcare is delivered across the entire cluster. BY SHER MAINE WONG
The future of healthcare lies in using computers to make better sense of medical information, and A/Prof Low Cheng Ooi and his team are well on their way to plugging all of SingHealth’s systems into the IT socket.
Imagine: • Doctors search for a walk-in patient’s name on the database and his entire medical history is displayed. • To view the latest temperature or blood pressure data of warded patients, doctors click the patient’s name and what the ward nurse just keyed in shows up. • Computers alerting doctors of specific abnormal blood results when ordering a specific drug.
“We are on a long journey of moving towards a full electronic medical record system,” said A/Prof Low, an orthopaedic surgeon who is SingHealth’s chief medical informatics officer. Medical informatics focuses on acquiring, classifying, storing, retrieving and application of knowledge, using technology to deliver high quality and relevant solutions to healthcare providers and patients. A/Prof Low is leading a SingHealth medical informatics team comprising doctors, nurses and pharmacists, working to implement the IT systems / Electronic Medical Records (EMR) for the SingHealth cluster.
“I threw the net out for interested and like-minded young people. Now they are going even further ahead than me,” said A/Prof Low, referring to how some in his team are doing post-graduate studies at overseas universities in medical informatics. He added: “Ultimately the system will enable a better level of support physician support so we can provide a higher level of patient care.” Doctors at Changi General Hospital, following a 2008 upgrading exercise, can already place clinical orders such as radiology or laboratory tests online instead of having to write them out. At KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, medical staff can get a common view of inpatients’ medication information, order and administer medication electronically at each point of care. Now, the team is busy putting in place a similar online system at SGH Campus. Target date of rollout: June this year.
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“The most difficult thing to do is to move towards inpatient clinical documentation,” he said. “The medical information team serve as a crucial bridge between the clinicians and the IT staff when discussing this clinical transformation.”
A/Prof Low ultimately hopes to build up a bigger health informatics department to support this initiative.
easier to roll out these IT initiatives. They are also more likely to use IT to make their clinical work much more efficient.”
He said, ”With this generation of clinicians who are more savvy, it is
Dr IT With his Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Informatics, Daniel Li has made a mark as the most qualified medical information officer in SingHealth. Dr Daniel Li studied five years to become a doctor. But after the 29-year-old completed his housemanship in May 2008, he has seen more computers than patients.
at an overseas conference, sharing SingHealth’s experiences with other centres around the world. What he does, is to reconcile doctors’ needs with what IT systems can deliver. This in turn translates to safer and better care for the patients.
He joined the newly set-up Medical Informatics department, in response to an e-mail from SingHealth’s chief medical informatics officer A/Prof Low Cheng Ooi asking for interested candidates.
On a typical day, he will talk to doctors to tell them about the new IT systems, and work with the IT staff to put the right systems in place.
“I have always been interested in computers,” said Dr Li. “My second choice of career would have been in IT. Medical informatics, which is about using information systems for healthcare, combined my two passions.”
He said: “One challenge is to convince clinicians who have been used to paper and pen. They tell me, everything is fine now, why change things? I convince them by actually showing them that it’s faster to click than to write.”
In the last two years, Dr Li has relentlessly upgraded his medical informatics qualifications. From completing a distance-learning course from the American Medical Informatics Association and qualifying as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management System (CPHIMS), he is now studying part-time for a Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics. He has also presented
He also trots out the argument that in-built safety checks can alert a doctor if a patient has a drug allergy. “Slowly, they adapt to it,” he said, “And they realise the benefits the system can bring. Of course no system is perfect and our role is to perfect it.” Currently he is involved in the rolling out of online systems at Singapore General Hospital and all the centres
at SGH Campus. “It’s a huge challenge because of the sheer size of the institutions involved, and that we are computerising laboratory, radiology and medication orders all at once.” Said Dr Li: “Exciting times lie ahead and there are so many things we can do with healthcare IT systems. It is not just about entering information and storing it, but building intelligence into it.”
(from left) Ms Foo Kwee Eng (Applications Manager, Information Services – Personal, CGH; Dr Daniel Li, A/Prof Ong Biau Chi, Senior Consultant and Head, Dept of Anaesthesia & Surgical Intensive Care, SGH; Dr Wong Yue Sie, Group COO, SingHealth.
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Bridging Healthcare in the 21st Century The SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress 2010 helps you keep abreast of the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.
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ealthcare in the 21st Century is more complex than ever. Increasing patient needs and rising costs – evolving demands – call for healthcare professionals to remain relevant and keep abreast of trends. With that in mind, SingHealth and Duke-NUS hope to bring together the brightest minds in healthcare at the SingHealth DukeNUS Scientific Congress 2010. The two-day congress will address the complexities of healthcare in this day and age through a series of plenary lectures, symposiums and specialty tracks along with a distinguished line-up of speakers. Said Professor David Matchar from Duke-NUS, the co-organising chairpersons for the congress, “The Congress will galvanise various medical, nursing and allied health professionals to meet the challenges of rapid healthcare advances and dramatic demographic shifts. This is important for them to stay at the forefront of healthcare to continue providing quality patient care.” Topics include the practical implications of innovations in technology and services, strategies
for coordinating outpatient care, new information technologies, and practical issues in stem cell and transplant therapies. Research oral papers on various topics will also be presented. With the premise of improving tomorrow’s healthcare landscape, the congress offers attendees opportunities to learn, discuss and network in an environment filled with academic buzz. “The Congress is unique for the fact that it is a partnership between SingHealth and Duke-NUS. The augmentation of expertise coming from institutions across the SingHealth cluster and a renowned graduate medical school is the first in local history,” said Associate Professor Teo Eng Kiong, Senior Consultant at CGH and Co-organising Chairperson for the congress. The SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress will take place on 15 and 16 October at Suntec Convention Centre. For more information, log on to www.singhealthdukenus-congress.sg
SINGHEALTH DUKE-NUS SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS 2010 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS SingHealth cluster* and/or Duke-NUS students, staff and faculty are invited to submit abstracts for the following categories: • • • •
Basic Sciences Translational Research Clinical Research Health Services & Systems Research
Awards: • Best Oral Presentation and Poster Awards for each category • SingHealth Duke-NUS Young Scientist Award • Special Awards for categories of Nursing, Allied Health Professionals and Students
Closing date for submission: 25 June 2010 **Students affiliated with SingHealth institutions (e.g. medical students from YLLSoM, nursing students from polytechnics) are also encouraged to submit abstracts in any of the above categories. The Scientific Committee will review all abstracts and determine if the accepted abstracts are for oral or poster presentations. For more information or to submit an abstract online, visit www.singhealthdukenus-congress.sg/ Abstracts_Awards.shtml
NURSING CARE LIFESTYLE & WELLNESS SOLUTIONS IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME
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Our multidisciplinary approach solves the needs of both the patient and the family members, providing attentive care to the patient and quality lifestyle to the whole family. Our comprehensive package includes 90 hours of customised care each month, specifically : • 60 hours of daily visits by both a dedicated nurse and a patient housekeeper; and • 30 hours of wellness care, tailored according to each pathology.
We aim to create a special relationship with doctors that includes : • Free access and secured login to our uniquely designed IT platform; • The ability to monitor our daily progress and request a specific parameters’ analysis; • Direct and privileged communication with our Nurse Managers; and • Generation Home Care’s total commitment and dedication to relay your medical expertise. Free 24/7 Helpline. Free medication compiling and free delivery to the patient’s home.
Generation Home Care Pte. Ltd. 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #15-12 Great World City, West Tower, Singapore 237994 Phone: +65 6402 6407
www.generationhomecare.com
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SingHealth’s Group Chief Financial Officer has been with the cluster from day one. 10 years on, Mr Sia Kheng Hong tells us how he has changed from a “No” man to a “Yes” man.
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At home with...
Mr Sia Kheng Hong BY SHER MAINE WONG
T
he patient is dying and he needs an urgent bone marrow transplant. But he has no money. When Sia Kheng Hong first stepped into the world of healthcare finance, he would have told the doctors in charge: No. Money is the bottomline. Nowadays, SingHealth’s Group Chief Financial Officer would say yes. Or at least, try to within the constraints. “Over the years, I began to feel like my role changing from “No, you cannot” to “Yes”. The default became yes and I would figure out how I could make it a yes,” he said. As GCFO, Mr Sia manages millions of dollars and advises the management on cash inflow and outflow. “A lot of what I do now is about getting funding,” he said. Mr Sia has a 21-year history in healthcare finance, starting from 1989 when he was headhunted to join Singapore General Hospital. At the time, the hospital was undergoing restructuring and putting in a management team was part of its corporatisation effort. He was SGH’s first Chief Financial Officer. “It was quite a traumatic experience,” he recalled.
“I was used to a place where the CEO is the boss. But here, the medical professionals call the shots.” The initial suspicion and belligerence from the medical staff who regarded him as an administrative minion out to make life difficult for them nearly had him hand in his resignation letter. He never did. “The place somehow began to grow on me,” he said. “I began to see that it’s not just about the bottomline, but it’s really helping poor patients. I hate to sound corny but there is an altruism factor.” The doctors also started seeing that Mr Sia - who talks of heart bypasses and hernia operations as products was part of the team. “Before the doctors did not want to talk about the bottomline. Now I am asked to help out with problems,” said Mr Sia. “It is very satisfying working with doctors who understand that funds are finite, and they want to understand how to work within that.” “Today, people have come round to understanding that finances are important.” When SingHealth was formed in 2000 as an umbrella organisation for several healthcare institutions including SGH, Mr Sia moved one notch up.
The challenge then was overseeing institutions which had been independently run up to that point. Without a straightforward hierarchy, Mr Sia found himself having to leverage on good relationships to get things done. Over the years, he said, “the management team has come closer together”. The finance heads of the institutions, for instance, meet every fortnight. As a SingHealth pioneer who has helped to hone the cluster’s financial systems, it is perhaps surprising that Mr Sia cannot find his curriculum vitae.
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10 THINGS ABOUT MR SIA
Yes, he has not changed his job in two decades, but it is also reflective of how Mr Sia pays very little attention to his achievements. In answer to a question on what were his career highlights, he answers almost apologetically: “I struggled to think of this. I couldn’t think of anything. My only career progression was getting one letter in front of the title when I became GCFO instead of CFO.” “Oh and I got a 20-year award, this watch,” he quipped, gesturing to his wristwatch. Mr Sia is also SingHealth’s Company Secretary. The father of three teenagers – two girls and a boy – spends his weekends catching up on sleep, going bird-watching with his son, hanging out with family members and going to church on Sundays.
He also enjoys hanging out at the icecream parlour which his wife, an exlawyer turned homemaker, co-owns. The family, by his account, live simply even though the bungalow where the interview took place is a Bali-inspired haven. Said Mr Sia: “The house fuels the misconception that CFOs are rich. The house belongs to the bank.” Twice-yearly family holidays are spent in places such as Phuket, Desaru and Penang. The soft-spoken gentleman, who has already banished all notions of CFO’s as rich iron-fisted grumpy old men, sweeps away the last vestiges of stereotype when he admits: “I try to understand how much the family expenditure is and till today I don’t have a clue.”
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The soundtrack of Mamma Mia in his car CD player is his daughter’s
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He enjoys hawker food like char kway teo and beef noodles
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His poison of choice is kopi
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When the wife shops, he hops into a bookstore
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He enjoys non-fiction and fiction books by authors like Ken Follet
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He loves B-grade movies with antagonists like “ridiculous monsters” and “flying piranhas”
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He likes pets and has kept dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits
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He enjoys dark chocolates and pops one nearly every day
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He imbibes in ice cream and his favourite brand is Haagen Daaz
10 As a youth, he scuba-dived and sailed
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A Palette Of Ice-Cream Fla ours They say that good things are hard to find. Perpetuating this myth is Tom’s Palette, one of the most interesting finds at nondescript Shaw Leisure Gallery along Beach Road. Despite the off-road location, there was hardly anything left when me+SH visited to try out some of their homemade ice cream (there are 86 flavours and counting). BY LEE YUEN MEI 1. Longan and Red Dates Ice cream goes herbal with this marriage of two cultures – the smooth sweetness of the ice cream textured with bits of red dates.
6. Chocolate Stout Just a warning: it’s all chocolate until the stout kicks in. After that, the enjoyment begins. Not for the faint-hearted.
2. Soursop Soursop never tasted so good! This sherbet is refreshing without compromising on the natural taste of soursop.
7. Granny’s Favourite This is one of Tom’s Palette’s specialty ice cream that is popular amongst the young and old. An interesting mixture of chocolate, malt and cookie dough makes this ice cream sweet and chewy with a lingering aftertaste of malt.
3. Salted Caramel Cheesecake Light and creamy cheesecake infused with the sweetness of caramel and a slight hint of salt – all of this in a single scoop of delectable ice cream. 4. Summer Berries For those who like berries, this here is your quick fix - blueberry, strawberry, blackberry and raspberry to satisfy any craving. 5. Melt and Sizzle Pop rocks (that’s right, POP ROCKS) in a thin chocolate sheet, blue berries, and cranberries in a rich brown chocolate base. Fun with every bite.
8. Green Tea A Japanese tea ceremony served in an ice cream scoop, this popular flavour has a strong matcha taste that green tea lovers will appreciate. 9. Lavender Not your usual ice cream, this strong flavour is the best-seller AND the most disliked. Some buy tubs of it, others prefer their lavender in candles.
Tom's Palette 100 Beach Road #01-25, Shaw Leisure Gallery, Singapore 189702 Tel: 62965239
15% off
all ice cream products for SingHealth staff. Valid till 30 Jun 2010. Present coupon before payment.
$5 discount
for ice cream making lessons. Valid for one redemption per coupon. Valid till 31 May 2010.
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Losing Weight,
Gaining Sight. Specialists from Health Xchange answer questions on weight loss and lasik surgery.
THE SPECIALISTS: Dr Tham Kwang Wei Consultant, Department of Endocrinology, SGH Ms Lim Siew Choo Senior Dietitian, KKH Dr Ong Wee Sian Head and Consultant Sports Physician, Sports Medicine Service, KKH
They may seem totally unrelated problems, but in Singapore many of us struggle with effective weight management and failing eyesight. Specialists from the Health Xchange Portal (www.healthxchange.com.sg) answered some questions on weight management and Lasik surgery. Health Xchange: Meet The Specialists Forum is an online interactive forum with special focus on different health topics each
month where members can send in questions to be answered by panel of Specialists from across SingHealth institutions. For more professional answers to your queries, visit www. healthxchange.com.sg
heavy. Any advice for them that they can act on, or does it sound like they need to see a doctor/ specialist? What’s the difference between seeing a specialist and just changing lifestyle habits, etc?
Weight Management
Dr Tham: Firstly, you must help your friend and his family to identify that obesity is a risk factor for health problems like diabetes, hypertension, even if their parents did not have these medical problems, so that they will be motivated to see the need for change.
We can all expect to put on some weight during the festive season but when does ‘some’ become ‘too much’? Obesity is a condition where there is an excess amount of fat in the body. This usually occurs when a person consumes more calories than he burns. So how can we indulge without the bulge and guilt? Is there a right way to manage our weight? Q: My friend and his family are all heavily overweight. All 4 of them are adults between 30-45 years old. Yet their parents are not very
Having additional support and concern (not nagging and scolding) from friends and family will enhance their efforts, such as actually exercising with them, ordering healthier foods when eating with them.
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If someone is very overweight, like in your friend’s case, it is usually preferable that he/she seeks help from a team of healthcare professionals consisting of a doctor, dietitian and an exercise therapist or even a psychologist who can help to assess and start him/her on a lifestyle modification programme, as well as to monitor his/her progress. Often in such situations, conditions causing unusual weight gain should be excluded as well as conditions associated with overweight/ obesity such as pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, fatty liver. Multiple modalities are required, which may entail prescription medications, supervised exercise, more prescriptive and precise dietary modifications or in selected cases, bariatric surgery. Q: My friend told me that although he is flabby, his cholesterol is very low, so he is safe from heart problems. Is that correct? Ms Lim & Dr Ong: High cholesterol level is only one of the risk factors for coronary artery disease (blocked blood vessels in the heart). Other important factors include: smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes and high blood pressure. Although low cholesterol level is considered good in terms of reducing the risk of heart disease, it is also important to look at his lipid profile in more detail. Components in the blood, which affect heart disease risk, consist of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and triglycerides. High HDL cholesterol is protective against heart disease, whilst high LDL and high triglyceride levels increase heart disease risk. So, having very low cholesterol level is not necessarily good if his HDL cholesterol level is also low. In addition, it is also important to assess Body Mass Index (indicate overweight
if 23 kg/m2 or higher). Having a high body mass index increases your risk for developing other chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which also increase the risk of coronary artery disease.
The Specialists: Dr Chua Wei Han, Consultant, Refractive Surgery Services
Lasik Lasik is one of the more popular surgical procedures to treat myopia (short sightedness), hyperopic (long sightedness) and astigmatism. Lasik can correct your eyesight to the best possible result and reduce your dependence on glasses and contact lenses. Q: I have done my Lasik surgery 4 months back. My vision is good most of the time. However, sometimes I have blurred vision when I wake up or when I stare at my computer monitor. It takes about 15 minutes before I can see things clearly again. Why is that so? Will my vision stabilise? How do I protect my eyes after Lasik surgery to prevent myopia from coming back? Can I perform Lasik surgery again if it does? Dr Chua: Fluctuation in vision after Lasik is commonly due to dry eye. Using lubricating eye drops will improve dry eye and consequently lead to more stable vision. Lasik can be performed again if there is enough cornea tissue for enhancement. Q: After my surgery, vision from my right eye is blearier than the left. It’s noticeable only when I close my left eye and try to read something far away. Will this get better over time, or is it forever? Even after stopping the other drops, my eyes still feel a little hot. How long this will last? I asked my doctor, but she kept
insisting that it is normal and that it will cease with time. Is it true? Dr Chua: The slightly blurred vision in your right eye may be due to residual shortsightedness or astigmatism that has not been fully corrected by Lasik. It is unlikely that it would improve over time. However if you are bothered by the blurred vision, you can consider Lasik enhancement to improve your vision. The burning sensation is probably due to dry eyes. This can persist can for 6-12 months after Lasik. You should continue the lubricating eye drops during this time.
Arm yourself with healthcare knowledge that caters specially to Asians Quick access to relevant healthcare information and local expert opinions – that is the goal of the newly launched Health Xchange portal. With trusted and comprehensive information from local experts on a multitude of Asian-prevalent diseases, health recipes from celebrity food expert Sylvia Tan, an interactive online support group for lifeline support to patients, caregivers and family members, a Meet the Specialist segment for members to post queries to local experts, and not forgetting the most up-to-date information on the local healthcare scene, the Health Xchange portal is tailored to the healthcare needs of Asians. Become a member with Health Xchange now and receive a special prize! Limited to the first 5,000 subscribers. www.healthxchange.com.sg
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Living the sporty life
T
he SingHealth Sports Club (SSC) helps coordinate sporting activities for staff throughout the year. You may have known or even took part in the Inter-Institution Pool Competition held in January 2010.
Taking first prize was CGH with SGH and SingHealth Corporate Office coming in second and third respectively. Ho Lian Kuang, a member of the SingHealth Corporate Office team, was there to bring us some of the action. Get up close with his photo-story:
Itching to get in on the SingHealth sporting scene? Here’s a look at the upcoming events for the year. For more updates, check out the SSC intranet at http://mysinghealth/Singhealth/CorporateOffice/Sports/
APR 2010
JUN 2010
JUL 2010
AUG 2010
• Inter-Institution Bowling Tournament • Round-the-Island Cycling
• Dragon Boat Public Service Tournament Females Race
• Inter-Institution Cross Country Run Challenge
• • • •
SEP 2010
OCT 2010
NOV 2010
DEC 2010
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• • • •
• •
• Standard Chartered Marathon
Inter-Institution Badminton Tournament Dragon Boat Public Service Tournament 5-Man Race
Inter-Institution Netball Tournament Inter-Institution Tennis Tournament Inter-Institution Futsol Tournament GCEO Sports Challenge
Dragon Boat Public Service Tournament River Regatta National Healthy Lifestyle Campaign
Civil Service Club Quarter Marathon Army Half Marathon Inter-Institution Basketball Tournament Inter-Institution Table Tennis Tournament
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Seeing JCI through In her 12 years at the Singapore National Eye Centre, one of the most exciting things nurse clinician Aw Ai Tee did was to see through the Centre’s JCI accreditation. me+SH finds out about the fruits of her labour.
Q: How did you ensure that all the standards were met? A: We had to give out educational pamphlets and run road shows every week for six months, so everyone at SNEC knew what the JCI was about and how to prepare for it. The Chairman also had to meet up with staff including the housekeeping crew and security staff.
Nurse Clinician Aw Ai Tee (Right)
Q: Was it a challenging process? A: There were 858 standards we had to meet! We had to read through every line of the JCI document to make sure we were on board. I started getting involved in December 2008 after I returned from my postgraduate studies in Sydney. The JCI doesn’t just apply to doctors, but also people like the cleaners and the medical director. It’s tough. Nobody is spared. Fortunately, I had very good support from our management and my supervisor, Ms Low Siew Ngim, Director of Nursing.
The main message we had to communicate was that the JCI is not just about what you say, but what you do. For example, as part of the standard on the prevention and control of infection, nurses are required to adhere to the 7 Steps of proper hand-washing to prevent the spread of germs etc. - before instilling eye drops, before and after cleaning the eye. It also came down to showing the JCI auditors minutes of our past meetings, so they could see what had been done. Q: Does that mean you had to literally “know” every job in SNEC? A: Oh yes. One of the challenges was I did not know much before. A cleaner’s job, for instance. All I
knew before was what time they came to work. The process of the JCI meant I had to know what kind of mop or cleaning cloth they used, where to park the trolley, what cleaning solutions to use, etc. I could literally become a cleaning supervisor! Q: Communicating is one thing. How did you get buy-in? A: Initially it was difficult as some could not understand why we had to do this. Through our series of roadshows, we explained that this is not just for name or reputation, but that our efforts would ultimately benefit the patients. Q: The JCI process was an administrative one. What else are you involved in? A: I am also involved in facilitating research at SNEC, and I still spend 10 per cent of my time with patients. There are very few nurses who specialise in ophthalmology and for many of the nurses here, our job is a calling.
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Congratulations! Prof Ranga! Prof Ranga R. Krishnan, Dean of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, was presented with the Award for Geriatric Psychiatry by The American College of Psychiatrists. The award honours individuals who have contributed to advancement in the field of geriatric psychiatry. Prof Ranga is widely recognised for his contributions to the understanding of the neurobiology of late life mental disorders. He was among the first investigators to establish a link between “silent” strokes and depression in the elderly. In addition, his work as key investigator in the SADHEART study demonstrated that post-myocardial infarction depression is a serious and treatable psychiatric disorder. SingHealth congratulates Prof Ranga on his achievement.
CONTEST 1. Which anniversary is SingHealth celebrating this year? 2. Who are the two research administrators in this issue who have worked 10 years at NCCS? 3. Name SingHealth's first Group CFO, who has served ten years. Email your answers (together with your name, designation, institution, department and contact number to me.sh@singhealth.com.sg by 19 April 2010.
Three lucky winners will each receive a $20 shopping voucher.
Here are the answers to last issue’S quiz: Q: What are the names of the SingHealth staff sent to Indonesia by SHRP in October last year? A: Dr Gene Ong (KKH), Dr Teo Eng Yee (CGH), Nurse Clinician Neo Soon Keow (CGH), and Staff Nurse Fazslinda Bte Mohamed. Q: Name one change made to the EXSA training modules by the SingHealth Academy team. A: (Either one of) (i) a new curriculum; (ii) more fun and interactive lessons; and (iii) equipping trainers from healthcare institutions with relevant skills.
Q: Name three of the 14 forces of Magnetism. A: (Any three of) (i) Quality of nursing leadership; (ii) organizational structure; (iii) management style; (iv) personnel policies and programmes; (v) professional models of care; (vi) quality of care; (vii) quality improvement; (viii) consultation and resources; (ix) autonomy; (x) community and the healthcare organisation; (xi) nurses are teacher; (xii) image of nursing; (xiii) interdisciplinary relationships; and (xiv) professional development. And here are our lucky winners! 1. Joey Chang, Medical Social Worker, NHCS 2. Ho Aun Nah, Senior Staff Nurse, SGH 3. Goh Lee Huang, Senior HR Specialist, SGH Each of them will receive a Gourmet Coffee Voucher worth $20 from Highlander Coffee! me+SH will be contacting the winners shortly with prize collection details.
and stand a chance to win an iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle & Golden Village Movie Tickets
What would you wish for tomorrow's healthcare? The future starts with you. Think of your wish and stay tuned for details in the next issue of me+SH and the SingHealth Desktop Portal.
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