Issue 05/FY10
A SingHealth S taff Publication
ONE LITTLE SPARK
IN THIS ISSUE Giving to The Body of Knowledge • We Are One Family - President’s Challenge 2010 •SingHealth Humanitarian Relief Programme in Pakistan
Contents
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Guest Editor
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Acknowledging Big Hearts SGH Volunteer Club
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SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress 2010 • Giving to The Body of Knowledge • Poster Boys • It Takes Two
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Creating a Healing Experience Arts in SingHealth
We Are One Family President's Challenge 2010
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The Giving Spirit in Every Season Medical Social Workers
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Clinicians and Their Passion for Volunteering
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Nursing Award Hat-trick Tan Chin Tuan Award Winners
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Excellence More Than a Buzzword SingHealth Ops Excellence Forum
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A Girl in Pakistan - SHRP Mission Trip
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Nursing with Tender, Loving Care - Sister Tay Ai Choo
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Duke-NUS Medical Students Run for Cancer Research Funds
On the Cover Often what spurs us on to do greater things is that one little spark – someone who inspires and stirs our spirit. The sleeve that comes with this special edition of me+SH doubles as a photo-frame. Use it to display a photo of your personal spark in life and let them shine for you!
Take a picture of our photo-frame on your desk and send it to me.sh@singhealth.com.sg by 31 January 2011 Ten best entries will win a limited edition me+SH tumbler each.
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A Sprinkling of Magic at SingHealth Disney Institute Workshops
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Sharing Fun Times at Duke-NUS’ Oktoberfest
SingHealth Editorial Team Tan-Huang Shuo Mei Amelia Champion Katheryn Maung Arthur Wong Stephanie Jade Arlindita
Pepper Global Alvin Ee Ariel Chew Michael Koek Candice Tang
me+SingHealth or me+SH (pronounced /mesh/) 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.
Copywriters: Monica Lim Debbie Chia
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As healthcare professionals, all of us in SingHealth give of our talents - to our patients, colleagues, the community at large and to the next generation of medical professionals as well. Uplifting gifts of encouragement and support that everyone can afford are just as life-impacting.
DR KWA CHONG TECK Director, SingHealth Foundation
Through our initiatives for President’s Challenge over the past seven years, we’ve touched thousands of lives with the $2million raised. Many of our colleagues go out of their way to contribute to causes they believe in, not only in Singapore but also overseas through medical missions and disaster relief programmes.
Executive Director, National Dental Centre Singapore Senior Consultant, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, National Dental Centre Singapore
All who give meaningfully receive the reward of personal satisfaction. Others like the SGH Volunteer Club and Ms Sylvia Mun, a social worker from KKH, have received the President’s accolades for their outstanding contributions. The best returns on our giving comes when we give generously and cheerfully from whatever we have or whoever we are. Let the stories of these little sparks in SingHealth inspire us to change lives for the better through our work and in the actions of our everyday lives.
One Little Spark
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Giving
to The Body of
Gues
t-of-
Honou
r Dep ut
Knowledge
y Prim e
Minis
ter T eo Ch ee
Hian
What happens when world-class research meets relentless scientific curiosity? The inaugural SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress, themed "Bridging Healthcare in the 21st Century," proved the best of two worlds as a platform for the two partners in Academic Medicine to push the frontier of healthcare and biomedical sciences. SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS BY THE NUMBERS The inaugural two-day Scientific Congress on 15-16 October 2010 proved to be a rousing success, with large crowds filling the conference halls and seminar rooms. Here are some of the numbers from the event. • More than 3,100 delegates • 97 speakers including medical practitioners, academic scholars, researchers and overseas healthcare leaders
• 16,000 man hours put in for preparation by the organising committee, SingHealth Academy, and supporters • 2,500 conference bags packed
• More than 680 posters and oral presentations
Front row seat s at the openi ng of the Cong ress
c wowed g Polytechni from Nanyan le rs mb se me or en rf sion Student pe ening percus th their op wi d ow cr e th
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DR GERARD TARULLI, RESEARCH FELLOW, NCCS Defining the origins of radioresistance in breast cancer • SingHealth Duke-NUS Young Scientist Award • Best Poster Award, Basic Sciences
Poster Boys With more than 680 research abstracts presented at the Congress, we shine the spotlight on two of the winners of the poster competition and their research.
Breast cancer has a 10-20% chance of returning within five years of treatment. Dr Tarulli’s research identified the cell types in the breast that are sensitive and resistant to radiation. Preliminary findings indicate that it is possible to sensitise specific breast cell types to radiation by inhibiting a particular gene. His research may eventually affect how we treat breast cancer, make treatment more effective and prevent breast cancer from recurring.
DR EDMUND SOH, CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY, SGH Image-guided versus blind corticosteroid injections in adults with shoulder pain • Best Oral Presentation, Evidence-based Medicine (Ambulatory and Clinical Support Services) Corticosteriod injections are widely used to treat shoulder pain in adults. In the first systemic review of its kind in the world, Dr Soh has found that patients who receive ultra-sound guided corticosteroid injections show a statistically significant improvement in shoulder pain and function, and receive fewer side effects, at six weeks, as compared to those undergoing blind injections administered using anatomical landmarks to guide the needle.
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It Takes Two We talk to the event committee’s co-organising chairpersons Prof Teo Eng Kiong and Prof David Matchar to find out their take on the significance of the Congress
RE-LIVE THE CONGRESS Missed out on all the scientific action? Visit the SingHealth Desktop Portal for Congress highlights and selected lectures and workshops! http://mysinghealth/Singhealth/ NewsNAnnouncement/ Scientific+Congress+2010.htm
t, Kiong ultan o Eng e, CGH r Cons Prof Te e S Medicin d nio n l a a r e f en G Chie of ment Depart
PROF TEO ENG KIONG CHIEF AND SENIOR CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL MEDICINE, CGH “The Congress is unique in that it attempts to address a wide range of topics, from healthcare policy to IT in healthcare to stateof-the-art treatment like stem cell therapy. It is about bridging and integrating healthcare in the 21st century. “The power of this Congress is that it strings the many topics together and presents to the participants an integral picture of how these pieces can and should work together to synergise and optimise healthcare delivery.”
Prof David Matc har Director, Health Services & Syst ems Research, Duke-NUS Grad uate Medical School
PROF DAVID MATCHAR DIRECTOR, HEALTH SERVICES & SYSTEMS RESEARCH, DUKE-NUS GRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL “The Congress brought together a talented pool of researchers and practitioners to discuss some of the most pressing issues pertaining to the healthcare field. By providing this open platform for discussion, the Congress was able to highlight issues for future research and collaboration among clinicians and researchers. “The meeting was also an illustration of the firm collaborative spirit between SingHealth and Duke-NUS. The grouping of the two works to ensure that education, research and clinical practice are combined in a way that will yield robust results in the form of improved health outcomes.”
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Most volunteers will tell you that the best reward is the knowledge that they have made a difference in somebody’s life. The icing on the cake? Winning the nation’s most prestigious award for social service volunteerism. ore o do m ant t s me w one e e k a m o m s award ‘Make ight) g the otto is samy (r Winnin hers. My m i Kannu n ra t a o n p m to hel ay! – Ja everyd happy I always come away after each outreach activity feeling satisfied that we have given the beneficiaries something to smile about and something to remember. – Adon Chan
The SGH Volunteer Club (SVC) was the proud recipient of the President’s Social Service Award under the Informal Group category on 15 November 2010 at the Istana. Formally formed in 2009, it comprises an incredible 800-strong team of staff volunteers from all different departments at SGH. We spoke to Jamnarani Kannusamy and Adon Chan, two active volunteers in SVC. “Winning the award makes me want to do more to help others. My motto is ‘Make someone happy everyday!” chirped Jamnarani, the spritely Senior Staff Nurse at the SGH Major Operating Theatre. Adon, a Senior Physiotherapist, agrees. “I always come away after each outreach activity feeling satisfied that we have given the beneficiaries something to smile about and something to remember.” The annual SGH Community Day sees SVC volunteers working directly with needy patients and their families from various Voluntary Welfare Organisations. This year SVC organised a charity bazaar, which raised funds for the President’s Challenge and an outing to Singapore Flyer with beneficiaries from the Society for Physically Disabled. Adon remembers fondly his first outreach activity with SVC. “It was a logistic nightmare but everyone played their part and I came off feeling great!”
BY MONICA LIM
Acknowledging
Big Hearts
“Since I’ve been fortunate in my life, I want to help others out,” Jamnarani said. May the fire for volunteerism seen in big-hearted individuals like them never be extinguished!
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Creating a
Healing Experience Arts in SingHealth A hospital may be the last place you’d go to find art. But you’ll notice many pleasant surprises between blank walls and signboards in our institutions. Other than providing a conducive environment for staff and visitors, it has been proven that art speeds up recovery and improves the patients’ sense of comfort and well-being. The Arts For Health programme in SingHealth helps create this healing environment while also providing a venue for artists to share their talent with patients and staff. It started in 1998 as a volunteer-led monthly concert and over the years, the initiative has expanded to include visual art spaces, visiting performances, community art projects and art activities in patient support groups. Music therapy programmes in KKH and SGH have also helped patients cope with their illnesses. Let’s take a look at some of these arty initiatives in our institutions...
I DREAM Canvases created by patients in the SGH Colorectal Cancer Support Group in collaboration with artist Ben Puah, where they painted dreams and experiences held close to their hearts. The works were displayed in SGH’s Arts Xpressions exhibition wall from Mar-Sep 2010
SGH NS) way in to HICKE for (THE C led their e S d m E d ti a L d w U o s LES PO kling go nch hen c a re c F a t) t n ia gh These (g 2010 and brou ov on 19 N d visitors an patients
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SGH p atien tM with h er cre s Lily Soh is port ation ra
yed h ere
BIRDSONGS Patients from the SGH Parkinson’s Support Group created paper clay birds. Combining muscular stimuli for patients, nature, and art, artist Michael Tan then used the birds in an SGH garden installation from Sep 2010 - Feb 2011
s
elodie rry M 010 g Me 2 in r e g b s brin Novem dent B on 12 u t s 5 NYP d5 H war to SG
d by create EYES C were images E C N S I L in e EDE plays ent rnal ey PSYCH ful dis ing inte ging Depar tm colour jeux us a s e Im These D ic e hthalm Isabell ar tist e's Op e Centr th m o fr
SINGAPORE DREAM Bringing an art exhibition to the most unexpected place, CGH organised this exhibition of works by young local artists at their inpatient lobby throughout August 2010.
MERRY MELODIES WITH NYP STUDENTS Don’t be surprised to hear live music playing in the wards! The 2009 H1N1 outbreak put a stop to the regular evening concert programmes for patients. So instead of bringing patients to concerts, the Merry Melodies programme, adopted by Nanyang Polytechnic, brings music directly to the bedside.
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We Are One Family Supporting President’s Challenge 2010
th with you t Istana entation to a le a in F es – Grand eque pr 15 Oct ances and ch m n r per fo nt S R Natha Preside
For the seventh consecutive year now, we have raised funds in support of President’s Challenge in various ways and efforts. This year, the SingHealth group raised $380,000 for the beneficiaries, far exceeding the target of $250,000. With the theme of “We are One Family, One Community” we have gone one step further to add joy to the beneficiaries’ lives through activities organised by members of our own SingHealth family of Institutions. By touching the lives of the beneficiaries, we strengthen families to grow together and in turn, build up a strong community. 12 Jun – A charity movie screening for 105 children and youths from the Jamiyah Children’s Home and Gracehaven gave a rousing start to the effort
16 Jul – The elderly from St Luke’s Eldercare enjoyed quality time and activities with NNI volunteers
Casa Raudha ily m hildren from 13 Aug – C e and Marine Parade Fa oryWomen’s Hom were spellbound at a st H KK tre Service Cen by DCEO Prof Ivy Ng in n telling sessio
Jul-Sep – Youths from Beyond Social Services learned dance moves with SingHealth Corporate Office and performed at the finale at Istana. Volunteers also shared life-skills at sessions in September
28 Aug – Ch ild Empowermen ren-at-Risk t Association had a fun day at the pool with NH CS
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Sharing sm iles at th e Istana with the be neficiaries
We raised 11,034 smiles in 2009 In 2004, SingHealth debuted in the President’s Challenge with the first-ever around-the-island overnight relay run. We went the extra mile and ran a total of 375 kilometers over the last few years. In 2009, we launched the 10K Smiles Project to bring cheer to beneficiaries, staff, and public despite the gloomy H1N1 climate. ment Manage Senior h lt a e , SingH Nathan nt S R mittee om Preside C g anisin and Org 29 Aug – Members
7 Aug – Children from the New Hope Community Services were treated by SingHealth Polyclinics to a fun-filled day at the Jurong Bird Park and a trip to the cinema
of the Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) enjoyed a tea party with NDC
11 Sep – Membe rs of the Society Physically Disa bled went on an of the ex on the Singapo re Flyer with SG hilarating ride H volunteers
Other fund raising activities done include charity car washes, food bazaars as well as dishing out specialities cooked by the management team. Total funds raised now exceed $2 million. Our efforts have helped more than 40 needy beneficiary organisations and touched thousands of lives.
First overnight relay run in 2004
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Reflecting on her experience, Suraidah shared, “It is not the magnitude of assistance that counts; but the little efforts that matter.” Suraidah, a Staff Nurse in SGH Ward 17, treated some 500 displaced families at the tent city with medical illnesses ranging from malnutrition to skin diseases. The team of medical professionals, who provided relief between 11-30 October 2010, saw an influx of close to 300 patients each day, many of whom came from afar seeking medical treatment. To cope with the demand, improvisation was key: “Innovation was crucial and especially so at a disaster site. With limited resources, we had to find other ways to solve problems.” Despite the challenges, Suraidah’s experience was ultimately fulfilling. “We received great satisfaction from seeing wounds that we had dressed get better and in some cases, healed. Moments like these kept us going,” she shared. Many of the cases that Suraidah attended to were of women and children
A Girl in
Pakistan
“Our contributions may be small and the effects may not be immediate, but we are able to better lives; no matter how small the effort.” Speaking on the teamwork displayed by the medical team, A/Prof Mark Leong, head of SHRP, is very much encouraged by the display of professionalism despite the circumstances.
BY DEBBIE CHIA
Every small effort counts. That was what Staff Nurse Suraidah bte Selamat, one among 15 staff volunteers sent by the SingHealth Humanitarian Relief Programme (SHRP), learnt during her medical mission trip to Sukkur, Pakistan this October.
“They are united by their resolve to bring hope and relief to the unfortunate victims of natural catastrophes. What struck me is the camaraderie and bond amongst the team members that is so visible and strong even though some of them are meeting each other for the first time.
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”These ‘little efforts’ from the medical volunteers are supported by the behind-the-scenes members of SingHealth Corporate Office and institutions’ staff. We would not have been able to carry out the mission without the great teamwork by all of them.” • A total of 3 doctors and 12 nurses were sent to Sukkur, Pakistan • The first team was deployed on 8 Oct, the second on 22 Oct
Dr Eleanor Lim (left) from Team One attending patient at the to a Singapore field medical facility
• 4,217 cases were seen • 90% of patients have not received medical attention before arrival of the teams • The most number of cases seen in a day was 341
SINGHEALTH HUMANITARIAN RELIEF PROGRAMME (SHRP)
• 50% are paediatric cases o
• The average temperature was 38-40 C
Drawing from our SingHealth institutions to create a ready pool of healthcare volunteers, SHRP is poised to take humanitarian work to new frontiers to help communities in need. Since its launch, SHRP has gathered a ready pool of more than 100 volunteers, and have been involved in several meaningful missions with our Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) partners to provide medical aid to needy communities in disaster-stricken countries. SHRP – THE MISSIONS SO FAR
ers r our volunte y in camp fo A typical da
Dec 2004
Oct 2005
May 2006
May 2008
Asian Tsunami (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand)
Pakistan Quake
West Java Quake
Myanmar Cyclone Nargis
Oct 2010
Oct 2009
Nov 2008
Pakistan Flooding
Sumatra Quake
Yemen Floods
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The Giving Spirit in Every Season
JANELLE’S STORY Janelle Chan, a Medical Social Worker in SGH, has been volunteering at the Centre for Family Harmony (CFH) since 2009, handling cases of child abuse and broken families. “As a volunteer, I provide support to families and children during transfers, supervision and counselling.
me+SH speaks to two inspiring individuals, Janelle Chan and Sylvia Mun, on how the spirit of volunteerism is an all-year-round commitment.
“Although the challenges are difficult, there is much satisfaction to be had. Most of the children I help are socially withdrawn and seeing little improvements in their behaviour gives me great inner joy.
BY DEBBIE CHIA
“Parenting is never an easy topic to deal with, but it is a challenge that I am happy to overcome with my work.” Janelle Chan
SYLVIA’S STORY Sylvia Mun is the Chief Medical Social Worker in KKH. She is the youngest person to head a medical social work department in Singapore and Winner of the Outstanding Social Worker Award 2010. “I have always been concerned about child abuse. Many children are in homes that are damaging. Sometimes, removing them for their home environment can cause further trauma. “I feel that there needs to be more concerted effort in protecting these children. As ground workers, we can highlight the problems, but we need the right authorities to believe that something can be done. If we do that well, we can prevent a vicious cycle.
Sylvia Mun receiving the Outstanding Social Worker Award 2010
My wish is that all children are able to have the happy childhood that they rightfully deserve.”
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ll the fu "Read n the o story alth e H g n i S e!" k pag o o b e c fa
(L-R) Andy, Joanna, and Sister Tay Ai Choo
BY JOANNA PHONE KO AND ANDY CHUA, SGH
Sister Tay Ai Choo, a Senior Nurse Clinician in SGH, showed us pictures of the medical mission trip to Pakistan that she had participated in. She showed us a tent with a shelf full of little boxes and trays containing packets of pills and medicine bottles of all shapes and sizes. This was the pharmacy and it was in this little tent that people would walk for miles and queue to see a doctor. Some of them have been ill for months and not seen a doctor. According to Sister Tay, it must have been at least 38-39 oC in that tent and the air was unbreathable. There was limited food and water and they had to eat rice with sand in it. Yet it was really fulfilling – they had a great sense of accomplishment knowing they had helped some of the people there.
She emphasises the importance of a positive working attitude tan. to Pakis ion trip s . t is f m le l m Medica 2nd fro Tay is Sister
Nursing with Tender, Loving Care
An attachment stint in wound management for two SGH nurses, Staff Nurses Joanna Phone Ko and Andy Chua from SGH Ward 64, turned out to be an inspirational experience with life-long lessons in giving. They write about their experience.
and inspires nurses to love what they do for their patients. – Andy and Joanna
We greatly admire Sister Tay for her humanitarian spirit. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty and help in places that not many people would choose to go to. Those who do not know her well think she is strict and serious but after observing her, we realise she is a compassionate and magnanimous person. She emphasises the importance of a positive working attitude and inspires nurses to love what they do for their patients. We feel she is creating a legacy of high standards in nursing and wound care, and she is truly a role model for younger nurses like us.
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Clinicians and their Passion for Volunteering Despite hectic work schedules and personal commitment, our doctors and Residents find time to volunteer in community work overseas. BY MONICA LIM
Using his expertise and skills, Dr Sean Yeoh from KKH Women’s Anaesthesia (O&G) Department went on a medical mission with Singapore International Foundation (SIF) for Emergency Obstetrics & Paediatrics Training of Trainers Project in Laos in Oct 2010. The team helped train the local medical staff in the areas of resuscitation and acute management of both obstetric and paediatric emergencies. “Mission trips have always been one of the reasons why I wanted to become a doctor. Such missions give me a very different view of how lucky I am to practise in Singapore, where we have enough resources to provide optimal care to every patient. I would like to go back to Laos to follow up on this project.” Mission trips have always been one of the reasons why I wanted to become a doctor. Such missions give me a very different view of how lucky I am to practise in Singapore – Dr Sean Yeoh
Dr Peh Wee Ming, his teammates and villagers at Project Sabai
Dr Peh Wee Ming has been volunteering for medical missions since he was a medical student with NUS. Now a SingHealth Resident, he co-founded Project Sabai and Project Lokun in Cambodia some four years ago. Under Project Sabai, the medical students installed a water filtration system to provide fresh water to Phun Chreh school and the surrounding villages. Project Lokun involved providing basic health care to some villages in Cambodia. The project aims to contact more free hospitals there and improve the logistic network so that more villagers can have access to the free services and facilities.
local (left) with Dr Sean Yeoh als in Laos on si es of pr healthcare
Dr Peh Wee Min g
“I recall a man with bad wound on his calf crawling to see the doctor. The doctors and students did some debridement of the wound and arranged for urgent transport to the main city hospital. Six months later, I saw that man walking, though with some difficulties, to thank the doctors.”
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On 21 November 2010, 28 Duke-NUS medical students from all four cohorts participated in the annual Run for Hope charity event at East Coast Park with a common objective to support cancer research. Run for Hope is an annual charity event organised by the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) with Four Seasons Hotel and The Regent Singapore to raise needed funds for cancer research. Since the inaugural class of 2007, Duke-NUS medical students have given tremendous support for this charity run every year. “Run for Hope was a great event. Due to our busy schedules, it was particularly nice to see so many students and professors gather outside of school for a good cause. The other 1st year students and I were particularly motivated to finish the run quickly because of an exam the next day. I am definitely looking forward to participating in Run for Hope next year.” DAVID TAINTER (1ST YEAR DUKE-NUS MEDICAL STUDENT) Run for Hope ch arity event at East Coast Park
“Seeing so many people united in a common cause spurred me to the finish line. Run for Hope is a great way for us [students] to take a break from our daily activities and at the same time allowing us to support our passions - fighting diseases and helping others.” PIPPA GUADALUPE VIEGELMANN (3RD YEAR DUKE-NUS MEDICAL STUDENT) 0730 hours: Meeting point at East Coast Park for a group photo and a quick warm up.
Duke-NUS Medical Students Run for Cancer Research Funds
0800 hours: The students had embarked on their respective run routes (4km or 10km). They take a respite from their busy schedule of tests and clerkships, stay healthy and raise funds for a worthy cause. With hearts racing, muscles aching and heads pounding, everyone completed the meaningful race with tenacity. The students will definitely be back next year and every year!
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Q: What made you take up nursing? PEN Ang Eng Hong (EH): My best friend encouraged me to sign up for it with her but ironically enough, she was not selected. PEN Rokiah binte Sulaiman (R): When I was young, I used to accompany my mother to the clinic for checkups. I admired the nurses and joined nursing because of the satisfaction of helping others. PEN Ang Eng Hong (Left) SGH Urology, Top Winner PEN Rokiah binte Sulaiman (Right) Ward 56, NHCS, Second Runner-Up
Nursing Award
Hat-trick
For the third time since its inception, SingHealth has brought home the challenge trophy for the Tan Chin Tuan Award for Enrolled Nurses. With two of the top three winners this year, it appears our enrolled nurses are nothing short of talented. We have five questions for Principal Enrolled Nurses Ang Eng Hong of SGH and Rokiah binte Sulaiman of NHCS.
Q: How does it feel to be named a top enrolled nurse? EH: I am happy and appreciative of SGH, Dept of Nursing and Urology Centre bosses for nominating me for the award. R: I am very grateful to the organisation for the nomination it is an honour. It motivates me to work even harder and do well in my work. Q: What are some of the ‘high points’ in your career? EH: Being acknowledged and respected by patients, doctors, peers and internal customers. R: Receiving compliments from patients who have been discharged. And of course, this award! Q: Can you tell us about the most interesting patient you have nursed? EH: I had a patient who remained positive even though he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Despite his condition, he still helped support his two daughters in their studies. R: A patient had forgotten to inform us that she did not want fish and was upset when she was served fish. Fortunately, there was an extra dinner set with chicken so I gave it to her and she was delighted. She was also surprised that nurses would shampoo and wash patients’ hair if they were too weak to do these for themselves. These little things give me a sense of satisfaction. Q: What advice would you give to aspiring enrolled nurses? EH: Always be positive and put your patient first. Seek continuous improvement so that you can continue to deliver excellent nursing care to patients. R: A nurse is a healthcare professional who manages patients, their families and communities. Through a nursing care path, you can upgrade your skills to provide the best patient care.
About the Awards The Tan Chin Tuan Nursing Award recognises promising and talented enrolled nurses who are dedicated to advancing the nursing profession locally. Founded by the DS Lee Foundation, the award is open to enrolled nurses working in all public and private healthcare institutions in Singapore.
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A Sprinkling of
Magic
at SingHealth Disney magic was in the air! The entertainment giant shared with SingHealth its success in leadership and service. Through leadership workshops and Energiser sessions with the Disney Institute between 11-20 October, we had a glimpse of how Disney creates that sparkle in the eyes of every park visitor. More importantly, we learned how each SingHealth staff can impart that same “magic” in our role as healthcare professionals. The sessions also raise awareness of the importance of developing systematic building blocks that promote internal service quality through Leadership Excellence and Cast Excellence. Moving forward, these strategies would be adapted and adopted by various SingHealth Institutions.
“I learnt how to recognise the hidden meaning behind a patient’s question based on their needs.” - Senior Staff Nurse Arumugam Vasantha, Ward 64C, SGH
BY MONICA LIM
“I learned that being positive and delivering good service can really make a difference, and a little can go a long way.” - Eva Loh, Principal Scientific Officer, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, KKH
“Very useful! It brings the heart of each of our role in relating to people as people.” - Staff Nurse Rechelle Caluza, Major Operating Theatre, CGH
“A very interesting course. We now know for service quality to happen, we need to look at people, system and process.” - Mr Loh Yong Ho, COO, SGH
Almost 2,500 staff attended the Disney Institute's Energizer sessions in all 3 Campuses
s are proud Our senior leader Disney graduates of the Institute
“A very interesting and informative presentation! By knowing my patients’ needs and wants, I can serve them better.” - Senior Staff Nurse Cai Jiana, Coronary Care Unit, NHCS A three-day Operations Management workshop was conducted for middlemanagement staff
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Excellence —
more than a buzzword Mr Peter Seah, Chairman of SingHealth Board, provided the spark to ignite the evolution of operations at the inaugural SingHealth Ops Excellence Forum, where the focus was Growth Through Operational Innovation & Integration. “Trophies and medals are only good for the day you receive them. True success is what you accomplish in your daily journey. Excellence is not just a buzzword or a fullday seminar, it’s an on-going mindset and philosophy that we have to adopt,” said Mr Seah In his opening address, he gave his vision of an effective cluster – one that has centralised operations and promotes change through quality control circles and sharing of best practices. In the forum, Acting GCOO Mr Tan Jack Thian shared various group integration efforts since clustering, including the Group Procurement Office, facilities development & management, and call centres. Institutions also shared their projects and best practices in operations excellence, such as battling wait times to appointment (SNEC), using LEAN techniques to determine space and design (SGH), and RFID for temperature monitoring of food (CGH).
Highlights of Operational Excellence Institution Biosafety Committee Standardisation and facilitation of consistent research lab safety management for all SingHealth institutions for a Total Risk Management Framework through: • Risk Management Policies • Sharing of Best Practices • Incidents Investigation & Follow-up • Workplace Safety Surveys • Risk Assessment of Research Projects, Lab Design, Operations & Commissioning Phased Implementation
Oct 2010 onwards Research Labs under SingHealth Office of Research & SingHealth Experimental Medicine Centre
Jan 2011 onwards Research Labs under NCCS & NHCS
Apr 2011 onwards Other Research Labs under SingHealth Information Technology An example of various cluster members piloting different IT projects in phases • Closed Loop Medication Mgmt Syst (CLMMS) • Inpatient Pharmacy Automated Syst (IPAS)
• Computerised Physician's Order Entry (CPOE)
• Outpatient Pharmacy Automation Syst (OPAS)
KKH
CGH
SGH
subsequent cross sharing
To the 114 operations professionals attending the forum, it was recognition of the work done, and also a call for further improvement. With our pursuit of Academic Medicine, our efforts will enable us to evolve from good to great. And from the looks of these projects, we’re heading in the right direction.
Nursing Integration and Achievements: a. Standardised core job descriptions for nurses and APNs b. Standardised uniforms to reflect institutions’ identities c. Training programmes for various grades of nursing and healthcare support staff d. Nurses’ Day Celebrations since 2003 e. Publication of 8 Nursing handbooks f. Nursing Awards to recognise nurses cluster-wide
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With beer mugs in hand, the Duke-NUS students gave a toast to the faculty members at Oktoberfest 2010 to thank them for their mentorship.
Chee ring f Chal leng or the Be e con er Ch test ants ugging
A special tradition for SingHealth and Duke-NUS, Oktoberfest is a night of celebration and mingling between staff, faculty and students from the two institutions. This year, the event took place on 29 October at the Duke-NUS courtyard. The students did not hold back their sincerity and creativity in the faculty appreciation. Meaningful messages and humorous video clips featuring spoofs of their mentors contributed to an entertaining night. Traditional Oktoberfest activities saw participants challenge one another in contests like beer chugging (all-time favourite), culinary and a watermelon hunt – the C. Kwa race, as named after Dr Kwa Chong Teck from NDC – around the SGH Campus. Approximately 120 litres (360 cups) of beer were consumed by more than 250 attendees at Oktoberfest 2010. “Food, fun and games are the stuff for campus life – they forge camaraderie and esprit de corp that can profoundly affect lives and careers,” said Dr Mimi Yow, Chairperson of the SingHealth Epicurean Arts Team (E.A.T), who conceptualised the idea of an Oktoberfest back in 2008.
Winning Chef Retires After winning the Perfect Platter Challenge three consecutive times, Dr Kwa has decided to take a break from competitive cooking. Check out his winning recipe on the SingHealth Academy Facebook Page, along with more event photos!
CONTRIBUTED BY SINGHEALTH ACADEMY
Sharing Fun Times at Oktoberfest! SingHealth and Duke-NUS celebrate the school’s spirit of camaraderie and giving
Games Segment Winners Prof Tan Ser Kiat’s Beer Chugging Challenge Team SNEC SingHealth Perfect Platter Challenge Team NDC (comprising Dr Kwa Chong Teck and Ms Rozana Anuar) C. Kwa Race The Melon Lovers from NDC
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Save Money Save Lives GIVE HOPE TO HEAL The SingHealth Foundation looks to seek funds to assist families needing financial support for medical care for loved ones, aiming to fill the gaps in the continuum of patient care. All proceeds from Save Money Save Lives will go towards helping the needy pay for their medical care at your SingHealth institutions. With just the purchase of a $5 booklet, you not only get fabulous discounts at participating merchants but also stand to win attractive prizes in the Scratch & Win and the grand lucky draw prize of a Subaru Impreza 1.5MT worth $60,000! We need your support. Get your Save Money Save Lives booklets by calling 6377 7613.
Sep-Nov edition contest answers: 1) b. 32 beds 2) a. May 2010 Winners: VIVIENNE LIANG, Research Associate, Experimental Medicine Centre JANE ANG, Staff Nurse, SGH JOEY CHANG, Medical Social Worker, NHCS They will receive a $20 Borders voucher each. me+SH will contact the winners with prize collection details.
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