me+SH (October 2008)

October–December 08

A SingHealth staff magazine

Unraveling Ranga

At Home With Professor Ranga

Lessons Beyond The Classroom It’s All About Giving

H ave a fabulous

Features

Labour Of Love Dr Celia Tan shares aspects of her humanitarian work with SIF and her contributions to Cambodia.

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Four Questions To Ask… What every healthcare staff should know but is afraid to ask.

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At Home With Ranga Unraveling the life of Prof Ranga Krishnan, Executive Dean of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School.

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Health Manpower Development Plan 2008 Matters of the heart— new interpretations of our staff motto MICO—On a mission to improve clinical outcomes Clinical governance— a drive for quality improvement SingHealth shines at the awards News-in-brief

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Foreword by Prof Ivy Ng Our contributors and cover models

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SingHealth Nurses Sparkle On A fitting tribute during Nurses Day Celebration 2008.

SingHealth Editorial Team Tan-Huang Shuo Mei Amelia Champion Katheryn Maung Jeanie Cheah Arthur Wong

Regulars 01-02

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year-end & New Year!

Snapshots of staff in action at major events

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SingHealth gives back through community services

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This quarter in history President’s Challenge 2008

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Lifestyle • •

Nutritional analyses of festive goodies Holiday plans shared by staff

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Mediactive Pte Ltd 65 Ubi Crescent #06-07 Hola Centre Singapore 408559 T: 6846 4168 | F: 6846 4768 info@mediactive.com.sg www.mediactive.com.sg

Recharge with nature escapades Bavarian brownies recipe Sweat it out with SingHealth Dragon Boat Team

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Mediactive Editorial and Design Team Lyon Low Florence Long Janalin Tan Alythea Ho Belinda Au Yong Shelly Sim Susan Leong Eunice Gracilia Jonathan Cai Zili

The Lighter Side Patients. At the Heart of All We Do. me@SingHealth

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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) 234/03/2008

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 is a platform for staff engagement and a magazine to keep you informed about happenings within the SingHealth group and the healthcare industry.

Patients. At the Heart of All We Do.

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D ear colleagues, We are already into the last quarter of 2008 – how time flies! So much has taken place this year and I am heartened by the exciting developments and progress made by our various institutions and across the group.

At the SingHealth Leadership Retreat held in August, Group CEO Prof Tan Ser Kiat candidly shared how we can embrace change with Cha Cha Cha! We heard first-hand how he envisioned SingHealth to be moving forward in three sure steps – CHAnce, CHAllenge, and CHArge – adapted from Daniel Koshland’s Cha-Cha-Cha Theory of Scientific Discovery. Read more about it on page 9, and I am sure you’ll be able to find practical ways to Cha Cha Cha in your area of work.

As a group, one of the things that binds us together is our staff motto: “Patients. At The Heart Of All We Do”. Although we’ve only launched it recently, it articulates a belief we have long practised and underpins the spirit of serving and giving that SingHealth staff are already known for.

In this issue of me+SH, you’ll read about inspiring life lessons by our doctors in Behind The Stethoscope and share the experience of Dr Celia Tan, Deputy Director of SGH Allied Health, who gave her time and knowledge by training fellow physiotherapists in Cambodia. SingHealth staff have also gone the extra mile as volunteers in humanitarian relief missions and in the annual President’s Challenge (PC) for the needy and disadvantaged. I think the theme we’ve adopted for our PC charity event this year couldn’t be more apt – Healthcare, I Care!

Thank you all for being shining examples of caring and giving in the community. I am personally encouraged by your many efforts and I urge all of you to keep up this excellent culture of giving.

In closing, perhaps I’ll add on to what GCEO has shared, and bring in another Cha for us to focus on as we advance together­—and that is, CHArity.

As SingHealth gears up for our President’s Challenge event on 15 November, let us once again demonstrate our solidarity in serving the less fortunate and make this year-end a memorable one for both staff and the many beneficiaries whose lives you’ll touch.

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Prof Ivy Ng Deputy CEO, SingHealth CEO, KKH

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Hear Our Staff

In the spirit of serving and giving, we ask our staff to recall their earliest memory of benevolence.

Q

What is your first memory of giving?

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Ms Grace Ng Yi Lin, Senior IT Executive, SHS

Dr Celia Tan, Deputy Director, Allied Health, SGH

My first memory of giving was raising funds for a school rebuilding project through a funfair.

As students of a mission school, we visited churches to sell funfair tickets and set up a stall selling cookies and ice kachang. It was great fun and all for a worthy cause. Read about Grace’s involvement in SingHealth’s Dragon Boat team on page 33.

My first lesson on giving was taught to me by a young handicapped boy when I was a 19-year-old physiotherapist trainee in Cambodia. Although he was unable to speak properly, he was able to use other ways to give and share. He did not let physical handicaps reduce his quality of life. Read about Dr Tan’s compassion for helping others in the field of physiotherapy in Cambodia on page 20.

Professor Ranga Krishnan, Executive Dean, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School I would say that my first memory of giving was influenced by my dad who is my greatest role model. He grew up with the philosophy that there is only one thing in life, and that is doing one’s duties in life with little regard to its rewards. Get up close and personal with Prof Ranga on page 30.

On The Cover In this issue of me+SH, we cover some of the defining moments in the journey of medicine and lifelong learning that our esteemed colleagues have taken. The photos of the past remind us that the lessons and values imparted by mentors and teachers have not been forgotten. We feature the translation of these lessons and values into tangible actions for the good of the community in this issue of me+SH.

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Who’s on the cover 1 Dr Celia Tan, Deputy Director and Senior Principal Physiotherapist, SGH 2 Prof Ivy Ng, DCEO, SingHealth and CEO, KKH 3 Prof Tan Ser Kiat, GCEO, SingHealth 4 Ng Wan Bee, Senior Staff Nurse, SHP-Sengkang

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HMDP 2008

– More Funds, More Training, Better Eldercare SingHealth Health Manpower Development Plan 2008 gets more than $5 million in funding that will boost staff training and create programmes for an ageing population.

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his year’s SingHealth Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) reception, held on 24 July, saw a total of 145 awards handed out to our healthcare staff from diverse medical fields like surgery, ambulatory care, nursing and allied health across SingHealth institutions. The award ceremony was officiated by guest of honour, Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Health (MOH).

The annual HMDP is part of SingHealth’s longstanding commitment to the training and continual upgrading of our staff. HMDP awardees will undergo basic specialty training, advanced skills training or refresher training to further develop and refresh their clinical capabilities.

Regular training adds depth and breadth to our clinical expertise and services, and equips our staff to meet the evolving healthcare needs and challenges of our society.

Thanks to funding from MOH ($2.87m) and SingHealth Foundation ($2.5m), a total of $5.37million will go towards staff training in reputable medical centres around the world.

These platforms of learning and sharing

will greatly enhance clinical capabilities and healthcare delivery, thus enabling us to raise standards of care and contribute to building a quality healthcare system for Singaporeans.

This year we see two new awards—mental health, and strategic nursing development —established to enhance expertise in these areas. There was also an increased national focus on our team-based awards, which we started last year, to strengthen and expand services concentrating on holistic care and management of patients. Fourteen of these awards were given out this year, and budget allocation for this area will be increased from 2008’s one-third to half of the total HMDP budget by year 2010.

The main challenge this year is for us to meet the needs of our rapidly ageing population. HMDP 2008 highlights the importance of having geriatric programmes at both tertiary and primary care levels, to provide our elderly with high quality integrated care from coordinated teams of doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals. An example is the new “Elderly Care” programme – a collaboration between Changi General Hospital and St Andrews’ Community Hospital – which has a multi-disciplinary team comprising a geriatrician, an orthopaedic surgeon, a medical social worker and two nurses, to help integrate psychogeriatric services and the implementation of Aged Care Transition Teams to coordinate care and manage discharged patients.

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he next time you get that stuck-in-a-rut feeling in your job, pause a while, and think about what you’re doing. Patience, especially in trying times, certainly matters in our line of work; as do the patients under our care. Each one of us has a special role to play; but ultimately, what truly matters is keeping our patients at the very centre of all we do, and discovering how we can make this practice a way of life.

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Most of us should be well acquainted with the phrase “Patients. At the Heart Of All We Do” and those colourful staff motto designs on our SingHealth Desktop Portal. me+SH takes a look at how SingHealth staff have quickly taken the motto to heart (and work!).

Birth of our Staff Motto

A simple yet brightly coloured design with a scarlet vector heart, this is based on a personal interpretation of the staff motto

by Gilbert Fan, Deputy Chair, Patient Education and Manager, Department of Psychosocial Oncology, NCCS: “My area of work is to make every conversation a therapeutic alliance between my clients and me. It is to apply theory into practice diligently and think out of the box.”

A fun design that exudes cheer and a positive outlook, this is based on a quote

by Rachel Woon, a youthful-looking play therapist from KKH: “Having patients at the heart of all I do is about putting myself in the shoes of the children and helping them understand that it is OK to cry and OK to feel angry when they are sick or in pain.”

Flex Your Creative Muscle When you think of our staff motto, what imagery comes to mind?

Do you see the beaming smile of a patient like sunshine after the rain?

Does it make you think of hearts amidst white clouds and blue skies?

Or does it make you want to break into song?

Email us at: me.sh@singhealth.com.sg For more information, check out the SingHealth Destop Portal http://mysinghealth/singhealth

We want to hear from you!! You can flex your creative muscle in TWO ways: 1. Tell us all about what “Patients. At the Heart of All We Do.” means to you and how it applies to your work. Better yet, design your own version of our staff motto and send it in to us. The winning contribution will be used cluster-wide as the corporate email footer for the next quarter.

2. Share your ideas on how we can promote the staff motto.

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Here are some examples:

Our staff motto has come a long way since the idea was first mooted at last year’s Board Advance where we saw a need to have a unifying motto to articulate our group’s vision and mission. Dr Kwa Chong Teck, Executive Director, NDC was tasked to spearhead this effort. Along with SingHealth Group Comms, the team put together staff suggestions and feedback.

We received positive responses all round before the overwhelming number of votes pointed towards this meaningful phrase, “Patients. At The Heart Of All We Do”. Thus, our staff motto was born.

Far from being just another feelgood corporate slogan, this motto is a collaboration amongst staff within the SingHealth family. Over the last few months, our Desktop Portal was home to numerous designs submitted by various SingHealth staff, along with heartfelt quotes of what the motto meant to them. As Prof Ivy Ng, DCEO, SingHealth, and CEO, KKH, aptly puts it, “These words have given expression to what we already believe in and hold dear to our hearts. It is truly something we can be proud to call our own.”

Since 18 August 2008, our staff motto has been automatically included in all outgoing SingHealth email footers.

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MICO— On A Mission To Improve Clinical Outcomes Extract from guest editorial in Life at SGH (Aug-Sep 2008 issue) by Dr Wong Yue Sie.

As we roll out the MICO project, we look forward to better patient safety and more efficient clinical outcomes. Dr Wong is Co-Chairman, SingHealth MICO (Mission for Improving Clinical Outcomes) Project Steering Committee and Division Chairman, Ambulatory & Clinical Support Services, SGH.

IT for patient safety The past few months have been gruelling for everyone in SGH and NHC who have worked hard to prepare for their respective JCI Renewal Audits this year.

The JCI auditor’s observations have given me greater insight into why electronic medical record (EMR) systems are so important in healthcare systems around the world.

At SingHealth, we are migrating from our current iSoft Clinical Manager to Sunrise Clinical Manager by the end of the year.

This major software upgrade will provide us with a technologically up-to-date platform with a wide range of functions relevant to our needs for patient care.

Teamwork is key To leverage on the opportunity provided by the EMR system to improve our care management processes, we will need to find new ways of working together and to reexamine the following areas: • How patient care orders are communicated effectively between

different care providers (doctors, nurses and allied health personnel) • How clinical information is documented so that all providers can efficiently retrieve the right information at the right time in order to understand a patient’s current care plan • How medication safety is reviewed so that patients are able to access appropriate medication anywhere on the Outram Campus • How we ensure that patients receive the right medication at the right time For this massive undertaking, we need our doctors, nurses, allied health staff, healthcare managers and IT staff to work together, as well as work with colleagues across all institutions to ensure a seamless flow of healthcare from one location to another.

We need staff to be active project partners, activists, leaders, participants and supporters in this clinical transformation effort to improve the care of our patients!

MICO Is Underway For regular updates on MICO, please refer to our SingHealth Desktop Portal at http://mysinghealth/ Singhealth/MICO/

On 25 October 2008, we rolled out our MICO project with the migration of the entire SingHealth EMR platform from our iSOFT platform to the Eclipsys Sunrise Manager (SCM) 5.0. The exercise had an EMR downtime for about 16 hours from 6:00pm on Saturday 25 October 2008 to 10:00am on Sunday 26 October 2008. Command centres were set up to coordinate and oversee the data migration and SCM deployment.

In the week following the migration, instructions were carried out as planned. Electives were reduced and all our institutions were prepared to activate their business continuity management plans. The SCM Migration has been put in motion, and the implementation of limited CPOE (Computerised Physician/Provider Order Entry) at CGH will be completed by year end and the Pharmacy CLMM (Closed Loop Medication Management) at KKH by April 2009. The rest will be carried out in varying phases.

~ A Drive For Quality Improvement

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Clinical Governance, as a concept, is nothing new. For years, most people involved in clinical practice essentially have had mechanisms to help ensure quality of care and standards of practice. However, what is new is the emphasis that is being placed on clinical governance for all healthcare providers. We need to ask ourselves how it applies to us today and what systems are being put in place to support it.

In essence, clinical governance is a framework to ensure the quality of our services and hold us accountable to the Board and ultimately to our patients for quality. I like to think of it as “a process/way by which doctors, healthcare workers and managers work together to give the best possible quality care with no (or minimal) errors through continuous improvement.

It is not a tool for managers or other healthcare workers to control or govern doctors with, and vice versa!”

The SingHealth Board of Directors has decided to establish a separate SHS Clinical Governance Council that reports to the Board of Directors through the Audit Committee. This distinct “high-level” committee highlights the importance of clinical governance to the Board.

We want everyone to be committed to clinical governance so that we do not have to endure such tragedies as the “Bristol babies” in the UK or “Dr Death” in Australia. Instead we can learn from these tragedies. Basically, lapses in clinical governance can be overcome when everyone – from health

department officials to CEOs, managers, doctors and nurses – is held responsible and shares the common goal to work together.

In terms of key clinical governance activities in SingHealth, you will be hearing about: • Cluster-wide patient safety goals; there will be regular reports on our performance against these as well as results of patient satisfaction surveys.

• Quarterly reviews of clinical governance activities by the Audit Committee who will then report to the Board.

• Institutions’ annual submissions of a Statement of Clinical Governance.

• External accreditation of all institutions.

• Training/education in key areas of patient safety and improvement.

If you want to know more about clinical governance and what it means for you, feel free to contact the Clinical Governance and Quality Management team based at SingHealth at 65574940 or email linda.xue.s.w@singhealth.com.sg

Prof Fock Kwong Ming

Board Advisor, Clinical Governance Chairman, SingHealth Clinical Governance Council

Cut along perforated line

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WIN! GV Movie Gift Card

worth S$28 (500 Winners)*

20 October 2008 to 12 November 2008

The Clue is “SINGHEALTH PATIENT SAFETY GOALS”.

Name:

Employee Number:

Institution/Department: Contact:

Email:

Follow these 3 steps to win STEP 1 Read the articles published weekly in SingHealth Clinical Governance and Quality Management intranet at http://mysinghealth/Singhealth/ CorporateOffice/QM between 20 October and 12 November 2008.

STEP 2 Answer the questions and search for 17 answers in this puzzle. Words can be found horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.

STEP 3 Complete the word search and mail in by 12 November 2008 to “The SingHealth Clinical Governance Contest” SingHealth Clinical Governance and Quality Management Department, No. 7 Hospital Drive #01-12 Block B, Singapore 169611.

* Terms & Conditions Apply.

This contest is open to all staff across SingHealth Institutions, except for staff of SingHealth Clinical Governance and Quality Management Department. Only one entry per staff. The completed word search must be cut out and submitted to SingHealth Clinical Governance and Quality Management Department, No. 7 Hospital Drive #01-12 Block B Singapore 169611. All correct entries are eligible for a lucky draw held on 19 November 2008. Winners with correct answers will be notified by email or phone. Prizes to be claimed personally between 24 November 2008 and 5 December 2008. Winners must produce staff card to collect the prizes. Answers will be available at me+SH Online (http://mysinghealth/singhealth/mesh) from 21 November 2008 onwards.

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A Personal Note On Clinical Governance

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SingHealth Shines at the Awards me+GROUP

SingHealth staff have been on a winning streak as all the hard work towards healthcare excellence earns accolade.

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SINGAPORE NATIONAL DAY AWARDS These public service awards are conferred by our nation to outstanding SingHealth staff who have made significant contributions in various forms of merit and service to the country. We congratulate the following recipients who have done us proud in winning these prestigious accolades.

The Public Service Star (BBM) Mr Bernard Chen Tien Lap, Chairman, SingHealth The Public Service Medal (PBM) Ms Kuah Boon Theng, Chairman, Hospital Medifund Committee, NCCS The Public Administration Medal (Silver) Mdm Lim Swee Hia, Director, Nursing, SGH The Commendation Medal • Ms Hasliza Bte Abdul Majid, Senior Manager, Administration, SHP • Mdm Lim Peng Hoon, Chief Radiographer, KKH • Mrs Sylvia Mun Tan Bee Suan, Chief Medical Social Worker, KKH • Ms Tan Ai Leng, Deputy Director, Operations, CGH The Efficiency Medal • Mrs Magdalin Cheong, Senior Manager, Dietetic & Food Services, CGH • Ms Ong Siew Yit, Senior Nurse Manager, CGH • Miss Wee Seok Choo, Senior Nurse Manager, CGH • Mdm Giam Poh Eng, Senior Nurse Educator, KKH • Mdm Lim Geok Hoon, Laboratory Manager, KKH • Mdm Nooraini Bte Jaffar, Manager, KKH • Mdm Tay Bee Choo, Nurse Manager, KKH • Mdm Tor Sow Khim, Senior Nurse Manager, KKH • Ms Ng Choo Khong, Chief Medical Technologist, NHC • Mdm Chan May San Linda, Assistant Director, Nursing, SGH • Mdm Kuttiammal d/o Sundarasan, Assistant Director, Nursing, SGH • Miss Jarojah d/o S Narayanasamy, Senior Nurse Manager, SGH • Mdm Ng Siew Keng, Nurse Clinician, SGH • Mdm Poh Siew Tin, Senior Nurse Manager, SGH • Mdm Susan Loh Yit Lan, Senior Nurse Manager, SGH • Ms Wong Lian Choo Caroline, Manager, Housekeeping, SGH

SINGHEALTH-LEE FOUNDATION NURSING EXCELLENCE AWARD Initiated in 2004, this award is SingHealth’s highest honour for nurses. Open to those with three years’ experience or more, nominated nurses are role models with good work performance who have made significant contributions to the organisation and participated actively in community services.

We congratulate the following nurses who each received a plaque, collar pin and a $2,000-cash prize.

Alice Lee Institute of Advanced Nursing (IAN) Scholarship This scholarship, established in 2005, enables SingHealth nurses to pursue undergraduate and/or post-graduate education in local or overseas universities, in areas that will make a significant contribution to patient care and management in Singapore.

This year, SingHealth gave out 11 scholarships to nurses across its institutions. Nine of these nurses will be pursuing their Bachelor’s degrees, while two will be embarking on their Master of Nursing degrees. We congratulate the following scholarship recipients: Basic Nursing Degree Scholarship • Mohamed Farnil Bin Mohamed Fahmy, Senior Staff Nurse, SGH • Tan Si Lin, Staff Nurse, SNEC • Noel Loke Wi-Soon, Senior Staff Nurse, SGH • Andrea Choh Chau Lin, Staff Nurse, SGH • Lim Yee Ting Ethel, Staff Nurse, SGH • Lilis Irwani Bte Mohamad Yusri, Senior Staff Nurse, KKH • Loi Foo Chin, Staff Nurse, CGH • Soh Chia Yee, Staff Nurse, SGH • Chuah Pei Fen, Staff Nurse, SGH Masters Nursing Degree Scholarship • Gan Pei Ying, Staff Nurse, CGH • Sin Irene, Staff Nurse, SGH

Singapore HR Awards 2008 These awards are presented by the Singapore Human Resource Institute in recognition of leading Human Resource personnel and sound people management practices. The recipients are an inspiration and have set the benchmark for industry standards.

SingHealth GCEO Prof Tan Ser Kiat won the Leading CEO Award in 2005. This year, SingHealth DCEO and CEO, KKH, Prof Ivy Ng, has been awarded this remarkable accolade.

Category

Recipient/s

Leading CEO

• Prof Ivy Ng, KKH

Leading HR Leader

• Ms Anna Fok, SGH

Strategic HR

• SGH (Leading)

Performance Management

• KKH (Special Mention)

Learning & Human Capital Development

• SGH (Special Mention)

Talent Management, Retention & Succession Planning

• CGH (Special Mention) • SGH (Special Mention)

Employee Relations & People Management

• SGH (Special Mention)

Registered Nurses Category 1. Lew Lian Choo, Senior Staff Nurse, SGH 2. Agnes Ngoh Soh Heng, Senior Staff Nurse, SHP 3. Amy Ong Su Ting, Senior Staff Nurse, SGH 4. Siah Chiew Jiat, Staff Nurse, SGH 5. Chong Lai Foong, Senior Staff Nurse, KKH. 6. Gillian Wee Hwei Li, Senior Staff Nurse, NHC

Compensation & Rewards Management

• CGH (Special Mention)

E-Human Resource Management

• SGH (Leading)

Quality–Work Life

• KKH (Leading) • SGH (Leading)

Health & Employee Wellness

• KKH (Leading)

Workplace Safety & Health

• SGH (Leading)

Enrolled Nurses Category 1. Puspha d/o Meenachi Sundaram, Principal Enrolled Nurse, SGH 2. Manogary Thangavelu, Principal Enrolled Nurse, KKH 3. Loh Khuan Tai, Principal Enrolled Nurse, SGH 4. Tan Meu King, Senior Enrolled Nurse, NCC

Corporate Social Responsibility

• SGH (Leading)

Fair Employment Practices

• KKH (Special Mention) • CGH (Special Mention)

Corporate HR Award Winners

• SGH

Nursing Leaders Category 1. Chua Siew Mui, Senior Nurse Educator, SGH 2. Ong Lay Teng, Nurse Clinician, KKH 3. Kaneswary d/o Kandasamy, Nurse Manager, CGH

SINGHEALTH CORPORATE OFFICE SINGHEALTH LEADERSHIP RETREAT The leadership retreat, held on 2 August 2008, was attended by management staff from SingHealth institutions and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. In his opening speech, Group CEO Prof Tan Ser Kiat shared the importance of moving forward as a group adopting a three-step strategy adapted from the Cha Cha Cha Theory of Scientific Discovery by Daniel Koshland (Science Journal, Volume 317).

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In The News

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MOVING FORWARD IN 3 SURE STEPS—CHA CHA CHA CHAnce: To solve problems that are quite obvious What it means to us: To be an academic health cluster To be an unbeatable medical hub in the region and beyond CHAllenge: To be able to re-interpret dissociated information What it means to us: Reinvent our organisation so we can take hold of the opportunities before us now.

CHArge: To seize serendipitous situations with a prepared mind What it means to us: Identify key areas and position ourselves to achieve.

NEW APPOINTMENTS (w.e.f. 1 September 2008) Dr Low Cheng Ooi as Chief Medical Informatics Officer (CMIO), who will continue as Chairman, Medical Board, CGH. Prof Fong Kok Yong as Group Director, Clinical Research, who will continue as Division Chair, Medicine, SGH and Acting Chair, Research, SGH. A/Prof Colin Song as Group Director, Education, who will continue as Head, Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, SGH and Director, PGMI, SGH. A/Prof Lim Swee Hia as Group Director, Nursing, who will continue as Director of Nursing, SGH and Director of Nursing, NHC. Mr Foo Hee Jug as Group Chief Operating Officer, who will continue as Chief Operating Officer, SGH. Dr Jeremy Lim as Director, Research and Education, who will continue as Director, Health Services Research.

‘DOT’ GOES NATIONWIDE SingHealth’s “Delivering On Target” (DOT) programme has now been implemented on a national level to benefit more patients.

NHG is also adopting the DOT programme. This collaboration allows chronic disease patients to have easy access to an enlarged pool of well-trained GPs located in close proximity to their neighbourhoods. We hope to double the current count of 195 GPs and discharge about 400 patients to GPs in the first year of implementation. Resources can also be shared between SingHealth and NHG chronic disease management programmes to tackle diseases on a national scale.

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BEHIND THE STETHOSCOPE

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A compilation of personal journeys, reflections and defining moments of 56 doctors from across SingHealth’s institutions.

Contributors bare their souls on memorable behind the patients, inspirational Stethoscope teachers, and even melancholic and angry moments. The book carries a common theme of humanity and what it means to be a doctor. The book was launched on 10 September 2008 at the College of Medicine Building Auditorium with Minister of Health Khaw Boon Wan as the Guest of Honour. Behind The Stethoscope is available at all SingHealth retail pharmacies, NUS Co-op and Kinokuniya bookstores at $14.90 each.

Personal Reflections on Life in Medicine

DUKE-NUS GMS UPDATES COMPLETION OF STRUCTURAL WORKS The Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore completed structural works on 22 July 2008, marked with a symbolic “Topping Up Ceremony” graced by Minister for Health Khaw Boon Wan. The new 24,000 sq m landmark, named the Khoo Teck Puat Building, will house 500 researchers, faculty, staff and students next August when the 2009 term begins.

ORIENTATION 101 Prof Ang Chong Lye, CEO, SGH and ACEO (Clinical Services), SingHealth and A/Prof Lim Swee Hia, Director of Nursing, Outram Campus, met with second year students at an orientation session on 11 August 2008. These students began their clinical rotation in KKH and SGH wards this year, guided

by SingHealth staff who took on roles as tutors and mentors, with additional guidance from nurses and allied health professionals.

SingHealth also played host to the incoming batch of 49 first-year students in a half-day introduction programme which began with an informal gathering with senior management, followed by a tour of SGH’s

facilities and wards, and wrapping up with a short visit to the SGH Museum and a tea reception at the Bowyer Block Housemen Corner.

NEW DUKE-NUS DEAN Esteemed neuropsychiatrist, Prof Ranga Krishnan, MB, ChB, was appointed Executive Dean of Duke-NUS on 1 July 2008 and will continue to serve as chair of psychiatry at Duke over the next year. Having served as Executive Vice Dean for the past year, he succeeds Dr R Sanders Williams, MD – who was Dean of Duke University School of Medicine and will now assume his role at Duke as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

(Read more about Prof Ranga in an exclusive interview on pages 30 and 31.)

CHANGI GENERAL HOSPITAL (CGH) INTEGRATED SLEEP SERVICE (ISS) It is often the butt of jokes but loud snoring, in reality, can be a sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), a condition that is no laughing matter. According to Dr Hsu Pon Poh, Senior Consultant Otolaryngologist and Director of the new Integrated Sleep Service (ISS) at CGH, “Treatment of snoring is easy, but the treatment of OSA is not. Over 60 per cent of the patients I see are sleeping in separate rooms from their spouses. There are also the risks of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease if they stop breathing during sleep.”

Besides OSA, CGH’s ISS treats many different types of sleep disorders. The service combines expertise from ENT (Otolaryngology), Respiratory Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial, Sports Medicine, General Surgery and Psychological Medicine, as well as from sleep technologists to provide patients with comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Located at Specialist Clinic R, the ISS is a one-stop referral centre for General Practitioners.

For enquiries and appointments, please call the CGH appointment centre at 68503333.

KK WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (KKH) ALPINE BLOSSOMS KK Alpine Blossoms is Singapore’s first breast cancer support group led by medical professionals to help patients through different phases of their journey, from diagnosis through to remission. It nurtures, encourages, enlightens and empowers breast cancer survivors

one’s natural body size; while the students found the therapy sessions helpful in understanding patients’ emotions and in preparing them for such disorders in the future.

NATIONAL CANCER CENTRE SINGAPORE (NCCS)

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through a holistic care path backed by evidencebased programmes and workshops. The name Alpine Blossoms reflects the tenacity of these flowers that bloom in harsh cold mountainous regions and represents each breast cancer patient’s quest to find courage and strength in the face of adversity. It was officially launched on 4 October 2008 at KKH Training Centre’s Auditorium.

ASTRAZENECA PARTNERSHIP

SINGAPORE GENERAL HOSPITAL (SGH) COLORECTAL CANCER OUTREACH To raise local awareness as well as highlight the importance of screening and early detection of the most common cancer in Singapore, SGH organised the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Outreach Event at Suntec City Mall on 16 and 17 August 2008. Minister for Health Khaw Boon Wan, was the Guest of Honour at the launch. Visitors to the event learnt about colorectal cancer and its prevention through interactive ways including a hands-on experience with state-of-the-art surgical simulators. Some 1,200 participants received free Quantitative Faecal Occult Blood Test kits (qFOBT) – a more recent method of screening blood in the stools – and those with positive results were offered a free colonoscopy performed by specialists from SGH’s Department of Colorectal Surgery.

The NCCS and the National University Hospital (NUH) have partnered major international healthcare business AstraZeneca to develop anti-cancer compounds. The collaboration, which was spelt out in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 15 August 2008, aims to further build AstraZeneca’s drug development capabilities in Asia and ultimately speed up access to new potentially beneficial medicines to patients with inoperable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).

Under MOU terms, the three parties will enter a collaboration that spans both clinical and pre-clinical development activities – NUH will be in charge of the former while NCCS, the latter. There will also be a Training Programme placement with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (supported in part by the Singapore Economic Development Board), which seeks to train a pool of clinical research professionals for both the private and public sector research labs.

Moreover, NCCS and NUH will have access to AstraZeneca compounds which have been clinically tested in the West. Two of these compounds have already been identified for clinical screening in inoperable HCC during 2008 and 2009, while further compounds will be made available at a rate of one per year for the duration of the partnership until 2012.

ART TIE-UP WITH DUKE AND SGH Mirror, Mirror On The Wall – an exhibition held at Arts Expressions between 25 July and 30 September 2008 – showcased artwork by patients recovering from eating disorders. Collages, paintings and T-shirt designs were created over several weeks of art therapy workshops conducted by art therapist Lim Wee Kuan and 13 medical student volunteers from the inaugural class of Duke-NUS GMS. The exhibition offered insights into the artists’ world and increased public awareness of eating disorders and poor self-esteem among today’s youths. The artists were challenged to see beauty in the form of accepting

NATIONAL DENTAL CENTRE SINGAPORE (NDCS) FASTER, MORE ACCURATE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES The New Cone Beam CT Scanner (CBCT) – a high-precision dental diagnostic tool – generates three-dimensional radiographic images of patients’ jaws, teeth and surrounding soft tissue, providing

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clinicians improved imaging of the oral condition. Patients undergoing dental implant therapy and corrective jaw surgeries for facial deformities will particularly benefit from the new technology as it enhances treatment planning and accuracy for more complex oral conditions. Diagnostic services have also gone filmless or electronic, and this will further streamline delivery, resulting in time savings for patients and quick accessibility to patients’ information.

NATIONAL HEART CENTRE SINGAPORE (NHC) EARLY PAD DETECTION The NHC Vascular Lab has two state-of-the-art duplex ultrasound machines to provide diagnostic services for patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) as well as examination of the carotid arteries, renal arteries, abdominal aorta and the venous system (e.g. deep vein thrombosis). PAD develops when arteries in the legs become clogged with plaque – a major cause of limb loss in Singapore. The disease is often “under-diagnosed” because of the lack of routine checking of arm and ankle pressures.

NATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE (NNI) NEUROSURGERY INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM On 5 August 2008, NNI hosted a two-day symposium on intra-operative imaging in neurosurgery for more than 90 clinical experts from 19 different countries. It focused on advanced information processing and intelligent integration of surgical and diagnostic tools to treat complicated neurosurgical cases. The meeting, organised by BrainLAB, gave leading surgeons, radiologists, anaesthesiologists, imaging physicists and engineers the opportunity to discuss the latest techniques in neurosurgical treatment while sharing their experiences and knowledge, and strengthening long-term relationships.

SINGHEALTH POLYCLINICS (SHP) HMS – A BOON TO HEALTHCARE Health Monitoring Stations (HMS) were launched two years ago to help doctors make more accurate diagnoses and provide better care to patients with chronic diseases by measuring their blood pressure, weight, height and other health indicators while waiting for their appointments. HMS is not only a time-saving

boon to SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP) patients, but also reduces human error in data entry which is transmitted directly into SHP’s Chronic Care Management (CCM) system.

Feedback from both patients and doctors using HMS has been positive. SHP doctors are able to use the CCM’s special Cardiovascular Disease Risk (CVD) Calculator to compile information such as demographics, blood pressure, cholesterol and family history, in order to assess patients at risk of a heart attack. It also serves as a powerful counselling tool to persuade patients to adopt healthy lifestyles. Asthma sufferers can now benefit from the HMS by doing its Asthma Control Test. The results are then used by doctors to customise treatment plans based on individual asthma control levels.

INDUSTRY NEWS IN BRIEF ASIA’S FIRST ICCN The 15th International Conference on Cancer Nursing (ICCN), was held on 18 August 2008 at the Suntec Convention Centre. This was the first time the conference was held in Asia. ICCN is a premier event where oncology nurses worldwide meet, learn from and share with one another in areas that impact cancer nursing education, practice, administration, research and policy formulation. Such specialty nurses play a critical role in cancer prevention and enhancing the quality of the patient’s life. Senior Parliament Secretary Hawazi Daipi was the Guest-of-Honour at the Opening Ceremony co-organised by NCCS and SingHealth combined nursing committee and the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC).

ORGAN TRADING MODEL IN THE WORKS According to details of a closed door Professional Women’s Dialogue Session with Minister Khaw Boon Wan released in an official PAP newsletter published on 8 August 2008, the Minister’s preliminary idea is for the government to set up a professional and independent kidney bank and to perform kidney matching for patients and donors. In addition, the government may also consider letting patients with higher income pay more while subsidising patients with lower income to provide them with chances of having a kidney transplant.

It was reported that the Minister would engage in further discussions with other groups on legalising organ trading to address the severe lack of kidneys available for transplants. In the next one to three years, relevant authorities will test out the implementation of selected aspects of organ trading proposal, and continue to have dialogues to understand the people’s concerns.

me+HIGHLIGHTS What:

SingHealth Nurses’ Day Celebration – SingHealth Nurses, Sparkle On!

Where: Outram Campus When:

1 August 2008

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What:

KKH Nurses’ Day Celebration

Where: KKH When:

31 July 2008

What:

SHP Celebrities-Look-Alike Contest, SHP Nurses’ Day

Where: The Grassroots Club When:

2 August 2008

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What:

President’s Challenge 2008 “Healthcare, I Care” Campaign Launch

Where: SNEC Auditorium When:

6 August 2008

me+HIGHLIGHTS

What:

Where: Ministry of Education Co-Curricular

Activities Branch

When:

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SingHealth Foundation “All For Cure, Cure For All” Corporate Games

3 August 2008

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SingHealth Gives Back!

In keeping with the culture of serving and giving, we come together in solidarity through our charitable acts and volunteer efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of the needy and less fortunate.

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s a healthcare organisation, SingHealth believes in the civic duty of giving back to the community in a way that it knows best: Providing the direct benefits of healthcare and health education to those in need. It has not only raised funds for service, education and research, but also organised medical missions and corporate games. For the fifth year running, SingHealth is playing an active role in the annual President’s Challenge to help the needy and disadvantaged. To date, we have clocked in over 375km and raised more than $1million from charity events.

President’s Challenge 2008 18

This year’s theme “Healthcare, I Care” breaks away from previous years’ tradition of health relays or runs, by meeting the needs of beneficiaries in tangible ways and by doing what we all do best— providing healthcare.

This year’s organising committee is led

by SNEC and comprises members from our national specialty centres, and representatives from SGH, KKH, CGH, SingHealth Polyclinics and the Corporate Office. They will work together to contribute what they do best: health screening and assessments, health talks and community outreach activities. Various fundraising activities such as the Charity Bazaar and Recycling Project will also be held at SingHealth institutions to raise the targeted sum of $250,000 for the beneficiaries of the President’s Challenge 2008.

The event was launched on 6 August at the SNEC Auditorium and attended by 100

beneficiaries from three children’s homes – Infant Jesus’ Home and Children’s Centre, Jamiyah Children’s Home and the Associations for Persons with Special Needs. After having tea with our management and staff, the beneficiaries went on a ride in the Singapore Flyer and hopped aboard the Hippo Tour with staff volunteers.

This year’s festivities will culminate on 15 November, a date specially marked as “Healthcare, I Care” Day. Celebrations will be held at the Outram Campus and graced by President S R Nathan.

For more information, visit http://www.snec.com.sg/presidentChallenge/index.asp

Needs Of Community At Large Myanmar Medical Mission 2008 Between 22 May and 5 June this year, the Ministry of Health sent a medical mission relief team – comprising five doctors, 10 nurses, one pharmacist, and members of the Singapore Red Cross and the Singapore Mercy Relief – to Myanmar to aid the victims of Cyclone Nargis.

The team treated patients who had posttraumatic symptoms such as loss of sleep, chest pain and abdominal discomfort. They also saw cases of undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension, and attended to many children who were suffering from malnourishment and scabies, and in need of medication.

Senior Staff Nurse Ng Wan Bee, one of the nine SingHealth staff who were part of this mission, shared that it was a challenging experience to work together as a team in conditions where there was no clean water supply or electricity in Tawn Te and the camp sites in Alu Sua villages in Kun Chan, Phayangi and Khaloke.

What struck SSN Ng most were the children in the orphanage: “They smiled when they saw us coming and frowned when they sang a goodbye song as we left.”

The team was welcomed home on 5 June with a rousing reception, and presented with a garland and a token of appreciation from Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Manpower & Ministry of Health.

“There is a destiny that makes us brothers; None goes this way alone… All that we send into the lives of others; Comes back into our own.” ~ Edwin Markham (1852-1940), poet.

The SingHealth Foundation, which started in 2004, is a non-profit organisation that raises funds to support healthcare programmes that can make a difference in the way people live.

Together with NDC, the Tooth Fairy Fund was set up to help needy patients who have difficulty affording basic dental treatments. It aids patients in financial hardships and those who require costly, long-term multi-disciplinary care due to complex medical conditions such as cancers, facial deformities or other inherited conditions. The fund plans to raise $150,000 to cover treatment costs for an estimated 500 patients each year.

SingHealth Corporate Games 2008: “All For Cure, Cure For All” The Corporate Games is an annual fund-raising event organised by the SingHealth Foundation. For the second time in a row, it is running the theme “All for CURE, CURE for All”.

The two-day event saw 300 staff from 14 organisations compete in sports activities such as basketball, table-tennis and netball, to promote workplace health, build up active citizenry and raise a total sum of nearly $240,000 for CURE (Singapore Cord blood bank, Understanding patient care, Research and Education).

Participating organisations that have lent support through outright donations and sponsorship included the Lee Foundation, Hewlett-Packard Singapore and Singapore Totalisator Board.

SingHealth had a good showing on 2 August, emerging among the top teams in five out of the seven games, namely, first in bowling, fourth in netball, second in basketball, tabletennis and soccer. It won the overall second position (out of the 16 corporations participating) behind KPMG, while DBS came in third.

More photos of this event can be found on page 16.

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The Tooth Fairy Fund

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20

Dr Celia Tan, Deputy Director and Senior Principal Physiotherapist at SGH, spearheaded key physiotherapy training programmes in Cambodia as part of her specialist volunteer work with the Singapore International Foundation. The President of the Singapore Physiotherapy Association muses on her ongoing humanitarian journey that has brought her strength, joy and satisfaction.

Labour

of

t was in 2004 that I had my first glimpse of physiotherapy in Cambodia. My overriding thought was that we could do so much to help them as there was a vast and pressing need for a rehabilitative programme and facilities. The idea of starting a project to train physiotherapists there burned in me, and I brought the idea to the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) upon my return.

Having a chance to visit Cambodia is in itself an eye-opening learning experience. The people there were hungry to learn. We fed off their energy and were stirred to give even more. We collaborated with local NGOs, the Red Cross and the Cambodia Trust. I feel encouraged to find people who are so willing to help, and students keen to learn and go the extra mile.

We launched the training programme in May 2007 and are training the third cohort this year. I have incorporated translation into the teaching method, as

Love

language was one of the reasons why medical staff were hesitant to receive training.

One of the students in the first cohort did not pass the language exam because he could not understand English. I said to him then, if I ever ran the course again with translation I’d invite him back to the programme.

We did that this year. However, in the midst of the course, he passed away in a motorcycle accident. It was one of my saddest moments and it made me realise that Cambodians lead a very hard life and it is never too early to start training.

Through it all, I am happy to see that we have come this far and gained much respect. Moreover, I find great satisfaction in seeing the first group of students assume leadership roles and gain recognition for their skills from their employers.

I was initially disappointed that the Cambodian Physical Therapy

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“their appreciation, generosity and responsiveness keep me going and enable me to continue giving.”

21 Association was not in the training programme as they were doubtful of our sincerity and credibility. I learnt that we needed time to build trust and prove that what we are doing is good and will yield desired results. I find my current role as a consultant to them fulfilling; their appreciation, generosity and responsiveness keep me going and enable me to continue giving.

At one of the audit sessions, I was delighted to see students putting into practice what they had learnt. One of them had been treating a lady stricken with stroke who showed visible signs of improvement after the session. Soon the patient was able to walk again and the grateful lady gave the student some money. In Cambodia, such monetary gifts are common practice as they are considered tokens of appreciation. I was therefore surprised when the student put the money into a donation box. When I quizzed him about that, his answer was: “No, I can’t take the money. You taught me, and since this is a collective effort the money should go into a collective resource.” There was no “hungryfor-money” attitude.

Although we have made some headway, there is much that remains to be done. I see my role as a pioneer and my next goal is to find a successor for the project.

Fruits of Her Labour • On 13 July 2006, the first cohort of trainees graduated, and the best five were given six-month training stints at SGH. The subsequent two cohorts steadily increased to 10 and 17 respectively.

• In 2007, Cambodia was accepted into the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), attesting to the fact that they are a professional entity – able to uphold international standards, and ethical practices and guidelines.

• In 2007, Dr Tan’s work, “Building Bridges in Asia – The Cambodian Experience”, received the Best Presentation Award at the World Physical Therapy Congress in Vancouver.

Personal Development For SingHealth Clinicians

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linicians today take on many roles.

Apart from being a healthcare services provider, they are also psychologist, mediator, counselor, confidante all rolled into one.

In our day-to-day activities, clinicians come across an array of cases and situations that are often emotionally charged. For example, they may be faced with the difficult task of breaking bad news of an incurable disease or death, or handling a patient’s outburst. Whatever the outcome – be it good or bad, happy or sad – we must learn how to deal with patients and their next-of-kin with tact, compassion and effective communication. However, it is often easier said than done.

Fortunately, help is at hand for those of us who need to sharpen our communication skills. An EQ course entitled “Communication for Clinicians by Clinicians” teaches various learning tools to expose clinicians to challenging emotional circumstances. Held as part of the 5Cs initiative by the SingHealth Corporate Office, this course provides a safe and informal setting for clinicians to learn from senior doctors (facilitators) and with the aid of professional actors for role play. These professional actors take on the roles of patients – re-enacting emotionally charged scenarios – for the doctors to respond to.

Some clinicians expressed “nervousness” during the intense and emotionally charged encounters, and admittedly so, as in the case of Dr June Lee. She felt that the realism was “like everyone did not exist… everything else faded into the background… nothing around me existed.” The engaging role-play and active identification of what the participants did well and what could

be done differently far exceeded the expectations she had at the onset of the course.

This experiental mode of learning is highly interactive and realistic. It also provides learning in the form of comments or reviews by peers and advice or input given by senior doctors sharing their experiences.

Dr Johnson Fam from SGH commented: “It is good to have a third-party view of the patient-doctor interaction, and this course has been an eye-opener for me.” Not surprisingly, all the clinicians who attended this course asserted that they would recommend it to their clinician peers who wished to improve the effectiveness of their communication skills with patients.

So is this course insync with our staff motto where patients are at the heart of all we do? One of the course trainers, Dr Tang Hui Kheng from CGH, summed it up neatly: “Most clinicians enter the profession with the genuine desire to help, and this course strikes a balance between the oft-heard assertion that ‘the customer is always right’ and the realities of effective delivery of care.”

It definitely adds to the personalised human touch by our doctors.

OOO OOO COM MUNI CATE OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO Those interested in attending the course in FY09, please call Monica @ 6557 4915.

Having difficulties meeting the demands of your patients and their families?

Having recurring service problems with no solutions? Need to tap into the wisdom of others? All you have to do is ‘ask May’, and turn your challenges into opportunities, improve upon service levels and encourage good patient relations. Look out for ‘ask May’ website/posters coming your way.

Q

Quality Matters

Up Close And Personal With…

&

A/Prof Chay Oh Moh Dr Angelina Chan

“Championing Effective Communication for Clinicians”

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irst initiated in CGH as a professional communication skills course for clinicians, this programme is making waves among clinicians in KKH. KKH will be conducting its own “Communication for Clinicians by Clinicians” training programme in the near future.

A/Prof Chay Oh Moh started training in paediatrics in SGH, and has worked in CGH, TTSH and AH. Since 1997, she has been with KKH as Senior Consultant, Head of Department and Chairman of the Division of Medicine.

A/Prof Chay is a key initiator of the programme at KKH. Dr Angelina Chan is Senior Consultant at the Department of Psychological Medicine in CGH, and a pioneer master trainer of this clinician course.

“Whatever happens, be there to offer a listening ear.”

– A/Prof Chay

me+SH: What drove you to spearhead this initiative?

A/Prof Chay: I noticed that communication issues were increasingly the main cause of patient dissatisfaction.

Dr Chan: To improve the way we, as clinicians, communicate with our patients and their families so that we are able to establish better rapport with them, be a source of comfort and reassurance, and help allay their fears and concerns.

“Showing care and concern for others is part of our work as clinicians. And to truly show these qualities is through effective communication.”

– Dr Chan

me+SH: What did you learn from the course? diagnosis, I said: “Don’t you agree that the baby A/Prof Chay: It affirmed my belief in the importance of effective communication to enhance rapport with patients and relatives. Good intentions can sometimes be wrongly perceived without careful verification and listening with the third ear.

Dr Chan: As a trainer, I found the close interaction and feedback of fellow colleagues helpful in understanding some of the struggles and demands they face within the healthcare profession and the increasing service expectations of patients and their families. This enabled me to improve on the earlier course content to better suit the needs of clinicians.

me+SH: What is your most memorable incident with a patient that underlined the importance of effective communication?

A/Prof Chay: As a young enthusiastic trainee in paediatrics, I was pleased that I could diagnose an infant with hypothyroidism. I informed the father of his child’s congenital problem. He was understandably in shock and disbelief. To prove my

does not look like you?” To which he furiously replied, “My baby doesn’t look like me, then who should he look like?!” After realising what had happened, I apologised for the miscommunication and showed him a textbook picture of a child with hypothyroidism, explaining that the appearance would change once the infant started on hormone replacement.

Dr Chan: I was asked to review an inpatient who was irritable, depressed and eating poorly. This elderly patient was sitting on the bed when I saw her, looking miserably at the food before her and holding onto her left arm. After introducing myself, I asked her how she was feeling. She glared at me and said in Hokkien: “You are the first person to ask me that question. Everyone else just wants to take my blood or tell me what to do.” I later discovered that she was depressed because of family neglect and her many medical conditions.

This patient could have had her pain and suffering alleviated earlier if only someone had noticed her non-verbal cues and asked her how she felt.

“Senior doctors recognise the importance of effective communication but are still grappling with it…For many, it was difficult to embrace the concept that communication is not just giving information or instructions, it also has a lot to do with listening and empathy.”

– A/Prof Chay Oh Moh in Behind the Stethoscope

For more information on Behind The Stethoscope, turn to page 10.

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SingHealth

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Nurses,

Sparkle On!

t was a memorable sight: Two nurses ferried on a trishaw by a brow-mopping minister serenading with You Light Up My Life; followed closely by SingHealth GCEO Prof Tan Ser Kiat and DCEO Prof Ivy Ng, each peddling their own ‘vehicle’ of beaming passengers. Their entrance into the gaily decorated marquee marked the official start of the SingHealth Nurses’ Day Celebration 2008.

The symbolic role reversal, where nurses were served instead of vice-versa, was not lost among the audience of over 2,000 nurses from the nine SingHealth institutions. Guest of honour Minister Lim Swee Say, Prime Minister’s Office & Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress, as well as SingHealth’s senior

management, were there to honour the nurses on their special day.

This tribute continued as the Minister and SingHealth management donned aprons and gloves and took up positions behind various stalls to prepare and serve food such as ice kachang, kueh pie tee, fajitas, mee siam, and satay. The long queues and happy smiles said it all – the nurses were the real VIPs on Nurses’ Day! Those on duty were not forgotten.

Minister Lim, accompanied by SingHealth’s GCEO, DCEO and SGH’s CEO Prof Ang Chong Lye, had also visited SGH Ward 64, SNEC Day Ward and OT, and NHC Cardiovascular Rehabilitation & Preventative Cardiology Unit, where

1 August 2008 was a day where nurses were honoured for their care and dedication to their service at the SingHealth Nurses’ Day Celebration 2008.

The Pride of SingHealth An eight-page supplement in

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Nurses:

The Sunday Times was published on 27 July 2008 as a tribute to all SingHealth nurses.

“

I want to save the world, one person at a time, and I believe I can do this through nursing. ~ Mohamed Farnil bin Mohamed Fahmy, Senior Staff Nurse, SGH, recipient of the Alice Lee Institute of Advanced Nursing Scholarship Award. He will be pursuing the Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Gerontology) in Australia.

the Minister handed out gifts and cakes, and posed for photographs.

In his speech during the celebration, Minister Lim urged people not to take nurses for granted: “Respect them, be more nurses-centric. Celebrate Nurses’ Day 365 days a year in your heart.” From his own inpatient stay, he experienced what he termed the three Cs of local nurses – competency, confidence and comfort – in their patient-centric approach. He also reminded them about the importance of life-long learning which will further benefit patients.

GCEO Prof Tan reiterated the theme of continued learning in his address, making special mention of Mdm Lim Swee Hia, Director of Nursing, Outram Campus, who was recently appointed Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University of Technology. Complimenting her dedication and achievements, he called on nurses to “follow in her footsteps and further your vocation”.

A big

Another 53 nurses also received awards and scholarships on 1 August 2008. Mdm Tan Meu King, Senior Enrolled Nurse, NCCS, was one of 13 nurses who received the SingHealth-Lee Foundation Nursing Award. With a nursing record spanning over three decades in both private and public hospitals, she credits her knowledge and experience to the countless opportunities working with all her colleagues at these various hospitals.

Formalities aside, the crowd got down to some serious fun, waving their red pom-poms and cheering their colleagues who danced and sang their hearts out in theTalent Competition. It was SGH’s Nur Fatehah who finally won the judges over with her graceful Balinese moves. As SingHealth Nurses’ Day Celebration 2008 came to a close, echoes of heartfelt “Happy Nurses’ Day” could still be heard under the marquee.

THANK YOU

to every nurse for your selfless dedication.

Truly, you light up our lives—365 days a year!

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?? ? ?

q:

a:

Hear it from

th e

Ex p er t s

Why do medicine come in different shapes, forms and sizes, and why do they always have to taste so bad?

It will be boring for medicines to come in one standard size and colour.

Life is more interesting with variety! Moreover, it helps to differentiate the medicines and to enhance safety by preventing mix-ups and errors. As for bitterness, the Chinese have a saying: “Bitter medicines are good for treating illnesses.� In a way, they are a disincentive to becoming ill! On a more serious note, medicines are chemicals and it is no wonder they often taste bad. However, there are ways to improve palatability such as through formulation, encapsulation, coating, and the use of flavouring agents.

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SHP Pharmacists

Just because we work in healthcare...

Q: A:

Is there a difference between various colour-tinted sunglasses?

Yes, there is a difference. Green and gray sunglasses provide good contrast to the surroundings with minimal colour distortion. Orange and yellow sunglasses are good for depth perception and contrast but change the actual colour of the real object. They are suitable for golfers and shooters. Some wavelengths of blue light are harmful to the eye. Yellow lenses help filter out some of this blue light. All other colours have no real benefits apart from being fashionable.

Trista Lim Optometrist SNEC

A:

I recall, some 25 years ago, when I was a medical I have always mentioned in my lectures to students, student, a very respectable but obese (BMI of about surgeons and even the public that you can choose your 40) Professor of Medicine was giving us a bedside girl/boyfriends and spouses... but sadly you cannot choose tutorial on an average-build male patient with malignant your parents. Although we cannot change our genetic (severe) hypertension. This professor looked at the makeup, we as doctors must certainly try to do our utmost patient fiercely and said, “You must lose weight!” The to look healthy and maintain a respectable BMI. Perhaps something more important than looking healthy, patient, despite his remarkably high blood pressure, cheekily said, “What about you, Professor?” We (the is dressing healthy and looking presentable to our patients. students) could not hold back our giggles and laughter I have repeatedly asked my staff this question: Who in the when the professor sternly replied, “But I don’t have right frame of mind would want to consult a badly dressed hypertension!!” and sloppy looking doctor?

Several lessons can be learnt from this short story.

Firstly, being fat does not mean you are not healthy.

Prof Eu Kong Weng Secondly, being thin does not mean you are healthy.

Head and Senior Consultant Surgeon Lastly, if you are fat and still need to tell your patients to Department of Colorectal Surgery lose weight, then you have to be a professor!!!

SGH

...doesn’t mean we know everything

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What every healthcare staff should know but is afraid to ask.

Q:

Why do I still have to wait even when I have an appointment at the clinics?

A:

Patients may not be able to see the doctor according to their scheduled appointment time because each patient’s consultation varies depending on the complexity of his/her condition. Priority is sometimes given to patients who need immediate attention.

Doctors could also be held up or called away from the clinic to attend to emergency cases.

Yeo Han Seng Assistant Director Specialist Outpatient Clinic-Admin SGH

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Aren’t doctors supposed to lead a good example for their patients by staying healthy?

So why are some of them fat?

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Sweet Temptations Picture source: http://www.sacatomato.com/burfi.jpg

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With the year-end festivities approaching, every culture offers tantalizing arrays of sweets. They not only look good but taste yummy too.

To help us watch our figures and calories intake, our expert team of dieticians checked out the nutritional values of some of these heavenly creations and offer us useful advice. As with all foods, moderation is the key.

What’s In A Burfi?

A traditional Indian sweet usually eaten as a snack or dessert. It is popular during Indian festivals like Deepavali. Plain burfi is made with milk/condensed milk and cooked with sugar until it solidifies. There are other variations which include kaju (cashew) burfi, badam (almond) burfi, coconut burfi, chocolate burfi and besan (gram flour) burfi. The mixture can also be flavoured with some ghee and spices such as saffron and cardamom. It can be enjoyed by all but should be taken cautiously if one has diabetes. Burfi should also be taken as part of the total carbohydrate allowance for the whole day.

Nutrient Analysis (Per Serving): Energy/Calories (kcals) Carbohydrate (g) Protein (g) Total Fat (g)

284 29 2.5 17.5

Contributor: Kala Adaikan, Senior Dietician, SGH

What’s In Malay Kueh?

Bite-sized sweets (and sometimes savouries) that include cakes, cookies and puddings, are especially popular during festivities like Hari Raya Puasa. Ingredients commonly used are coconut or coconut milk, eggs, sugar and flour. The coconut content is high in total as well as saturated fat, so we should limit the amount consumed to prevent excessive energy intake and to maintain heart-health. A better alternative is reduced-fat coconut milk or low-fat evaporated milk. The amount of sugar can also be reduced to 2/3 - 3/4 the amount stated without affecting the taste too much.

Nutrient Analysis (Per Serving of Kueh Lapis): Energy/Calories (kcals) Carbohydrate (g) Protein (g) Total Fat (g)

147 11 2 10

Contributor: Suzanne Khor, Senior Dietician, KKH

Nutrient Analysis (Per Slice): Energy/Calories (kcals) Carbohydrate (g) Protein (g) Total Fat (g) Dietary Fibre(g) Cholesterol (mg)

534 94.1 6.2 17.1 4.7 70.5

Contributor: Magdalin Cheong, Chief Dietician and Senior Manager, CGH

My Views

Spend my Christmas in Switzerland and take a good look at the Swiss Alps — possibly try skiing in winter. I would also like to visit Geneva and marvel at the Flower Clock, a symbol of Geneva’s clock-making industry, and of course, bag some Swiss Chocolates and Swiss watches. Hopefully my holiday plans will materialise as I am so looking forward to my trip to Switzerland!

Wu Ying Jie

Senior Staff Nurse, CGH

With the year-end holidays around the corner, we find out where people like to go on vacation. Be it to rest and relax, bond with the family, or seek out an adventure, it’s all about discovering new worlds. me+SH takes a peek at some of their itineraries.

Come Fly With Me

?

Q: What are my plans for the year-end holidays

I will be traveling to Australia with my family! We will be going to the Gold Coast and I can’t wait to see the fabulous scenery and take in the sights of the flora and fauna.

Alicia Chan

Administrative Assistant, Service Ops and Performance Management, SGH

I would like to spend my holidays backpacking in Japan!

Linda Xue

Executive, Clinical Governance and Quality Management, SingHealth

me+LIVING

What’s In A Fruitcake?

This dense cake is chock-full of goodies and is often served in the celebrations of Christmas and weddings. The dark colouring and moist decadent texture give it the impression of richness. Fruitcakes usually are quite rich judging from the typical ingredients used, which include dried fruits (e.g. raisins, currants, cherries), eggs, butter, flour, sugar, spices and occasionally, a little alcohol (e.g. brandy). Some fruitcakes are topped with a layer of marzipan (sugar and almond paste) or dried fruits and nuts; while others are served with brandy butter sauce, custard sauce or ice-cream.

To reduce the high calorie and sugar contents, take half a slice of cake.

Eating the occasional fruitcake is okay but always remember to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

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me+LIVING

Unraveling

Ranga

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He takes the public transport to work every day and remains unassuming in his ways despite garnering prestigious biomedical awards and taking the helm at Singapore’s first graduate medical school. me+SH catches up with Professor Ranga Krishnan as he reflects on his life, his family and the one person who inspired him to become who he is today.

brain worked since the tender age of 16. In 2007, he decided to make the big move from North Carolina, where he is currently Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science at Duke University Medical Centre, to Singapore with his family. It was a big change for everyone, but judging by the enthusiasm in his eyes, it is the passion and desire to learn new things that keeps the professor going.

“I like what I do; and when you like what you do, it really helps,” explains Prof Ranga. Even the occasional family holidays to exotic locations like Egypt are opportunities to gain new perspectives on life and people. He recalls a situation that left a great impression on him: “There was a cafe in Egypt where you could sit on cushions to watch people go by. It was like a meeting of humanity flowing through that market – such experiences come but once in a lifetime.”

It’s no wonder then, that Prof Ranga finds immense satisfaction in imparting his knowledge.

When asked if he does it because he sees it as a duty to give back to society, Prof Ranga opines: “Basically in life, don’t expect anything; for all is one in nature. Just do the right thing (in life) without expecting anything back. That’s what giving is all about.”

Growing slightly wistful, the good professor cites his father as his greatest role model. “My dad lost his mom when he was seven days old. A wandering Sanyasin (priest) saw him and adopted him. So my dad grew up with the philosophy that there is only one thing in life, and that is doing one’s duties in life with little regard to its rewards,” says Prof Rangga, before leaning back and unraveling yet another of his quiet, unassuming smiles.

Six Things You Didn’t Know About Prof Ranga: 1. He nearly went into engineering.

2. He plans to visit Kusu and St. John’s Islands on his next family trip.

3. His wife is an art lover and a volunteer guide at the Singapore Art Museum.

4. He used to play hockey, soccer and cricket.

5. He likes roti prata, though he professes it to be “far too dangerous for me after seeing them throw in so much clarified butter!”

6. He was an avid photographer during his early 20s.

me+LIVING

T

he first thing you notice when you step into Professor Ranga Krishnan’s home is that there’s nothing remotely ‘professorish’ about the place. No over-stuffed bookshelves loom in sight; the only scholarly hint is a copy of Charles Darwin’s The Origins of Species subtly lodged in a side dresser, but even that is in paperback version clad in casual bright colours.

What you’ll find instead, is an unbelievably neat apartment filled with an eclectic array of furniture and modern Asian art pieces.

Home to Prof Ranga is located in the posh district of Nassim Road. Yet there are no airs about this talented professor who jostles for seats on the train, like any other commuter on his way to work in the morning. He walks the remaining four kilometres, adding: “I make exercise a part of my life, as much as I can.” Little unexpected surprises like these make him popular among his staff. You wouldn’t think that the executive dean of DukeNUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, with a slew of international biomedical accomplishments under his belt, actually loves having a humble morning cuppa at a local coffee shop; or that he enjoys building radios with his teenage son, and prefers spending his free time with his family ‘exploring things’ around Singapore.

“We go to East Coast, the Botanic Gardens, even Pulau Ubin,” enthuses the 52-year-old academic, on how he typically spends time with his wife and two kids. “I built a radio with my son last year, and now he’s saying that we should try building a television set. I haven’t bought the parts though!” chuckles the doting father.

Born in India to a family of mostly lawyers, Prof Ranga found his calling in medicine at a young age, and was particularly interested in how the

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me+LIVING 32

MacRitchie Reservoir A picturesque haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers. Jog, practice taichi or even kayak on the placid waters of the scenic lake. Explore the 11-km trek into Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or try the vertigoinducing “Tree-top Walk”, a suspension bridge spanning two of the highest points in the area. Refuel with… goreng pisang, chicken rice and Portuguese baked rice at the Longhouse on Upper Thomson Road, just a short bus ride or drive away.

You might spot your favourite MediaCorp artiste!

Fort Canning Hill A verdant hill amidst the city, magically untouched by the hustle and bustle.

Rich in history, it was once known as the Forbidden Hill accessible only to the Malay royalties who ruled the then Kingdom of Singapura. Past relics add a touch of mystique to the tranquility. The hill now serves as the perfect setting for wedding shots or a slow leisurely evening stroll. Refuel with… a decadent feast fit for royalty at the Legends Fort Canning with a panoramic night view of the city as the backdrop.

Nature

Escapades Stressed at work? What you need is a breath of fresh air to recharge your mind, body and soul. Dr Vincent Lim, Medical Officer, Medical Board, SGH, shows you some great nature spots (and eating stops!) to soothe your frazzled nerves and help you unwind.

Photos by Dr Vincent Lim Kranji Countryside Go into the big wide open! Caress the necks and stroke the foreheads of endearing little goats at Hay Dairies, and try some chilled goat milk for a change. Meander through rows and rows of exotic cacti-like dragonfruit plants at Spring Orchard and shop for fresh lettuce, kang kong, alfafa and dou miao at Fireflies Organic Farm. Refuel with… homecooked dishes such as curries, cakes and thirst-quenching fig tea at celebrity Ivy Singh-Lim’s Poison Ivy Bistro. Dine al fresco in a sunlit terrace.

Cut out and present this coupon to enjoy ONE of the following items on the house: • Warriors Chicken Curry (one small serving) • Famous Bollywood Banana Bread (one serving) • Signature Iced Fig Tea (one glass) Terms and conditions apply:

One coupon per family/group. All other food and drink orders will be charged accordingly. Promotion not valid on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Bollywood Veggies and Poison Ivy Bistro (A 10-acre organically grown vegetable farm in the Kranji countryside.)

Address: 100 Neo Tiew Road Tel: 6898 5001 Open 9:00 am- 6:00 pm (Wed-Sun and Public Holidays)

Ingredients: 1 egg 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 packet chocolate cake mix 1/4 cup butter 1 cup milk chocolate chips 1/3 cup milk

Method: 1. Preheat oven to 177˚C. 2. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

3. Put the milk, butter, cake mix and egg into a medium bowl and mix together until well-blended. The batter will be thick.

4. Stir in the chocolate chips and the chopped walnuts. Pour mixture into the baking dish.

5. Bake for 30 minutes. Chill and cut into squares.

me+LIVING

Bavarian Brownies are a very popular dessert that are easy to make. Whip up these tasty treats for your family and friends this Christmas! Here’s a step-by-step recipe to show you how it’s done.

Easy Non- Vegetarian

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To Go Sweat it ut

W SingHealth

Dragon Boat Team Wants You!

By Mr Mahmood Bin Idrose, Nurse Clinician, SGH Urology OT

onder what some of our SingHealth staff do to unwind outside of work? Come down to the Kallang Dragon Boat Water Sports Centre on Sunday afternoons from 4.00pm to 6.00pm and you’ll see. Formed in 2005, the SingHealth Dragon Boat team comprises staff from various institutions, ranging in age from 20 to early 50s. We train along the Kallang River with family members joining in as this helps build up, physical fitness, friendship and understanding. Dragon boating is not easy, but it has its share of funny moments like the time the team came close to winning the semifinals, only to be disqualified for entering the wrong lane! We are seeking new members to join us for future races if you love the sun, the sea, and can swim or tread water in a life jacket for five minutes, join us!

To join The Dragon Boat Team, contact Mahmood at 9736 4865.

Credit: www.indobase.com

Level of Difficulty: Recipe Type:

me+SMILES

The

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Lighter Side Wry And Dry With just a few rough bold ink strokes, artist Dan Perjovschi reduces his observations of the idiosyncrasies of man, the economy, politics and the environment to satirical essentials. And, by adding his dry one-liner captions, his biting humour delivers messages that pack a punch!

The cartoonist is also an artist and writer who was born in 1961 in Sibiu, Romania. For the past decade he has been creating drawings in museum spaces. His most recent work is in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, in which he drew on a multi-storey wall, graffiti-style, during business hours, so all visitors could catch an artist at work.

What might seem to be casual off-the-cuff doodling has been highly sought after by the art world. Perjovschi was even invited to showcase his particular brand of ironic humour at the prestigious 2007 Venice Biennale and 2008 Sydney Biennale.

All drawings by Dan Perjovschi

Doodle Like Da

n!

ing ealth ve been resist Arts For H school and ha in r le od do a en your If you have be walls, send us affiti onto ward gr d new ad to ch ge the ur even laun a 00!!! You might $5 in w d an drawings rtoonist. career as a ca sgh.com.sg by

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30 November

PERFECT IQ AND EQ “I am writing to congratulate SHP-Geylang on having a most wonderful Senior Staff Nurse Ong Kok Huay. I had brought my five-month-old daughter to Geylang Polyclinic for her vaccination and Ms Ong is by far the best nurse I have ever met in my life. She was very empathetic and answered all my questions on vaccinations with precision, based on all the knowledge and experience she had. In all my years of visiting polyclinics, I have never seen a nurse serve with such passion and vigour. Congrats on having such a fine member of staff on your premises. I am sure she will keep the Geylang Polyclinic flag flying high.”

J Loh

QUICK THINKING NURSES “My family and I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Senior Staff Nurse Fazila Bte Nual of Ward 63, SGH. My father was admitted to SGH but none of my family members knew about it. We had to lodge a missing person’s report with the police and even sought help from the public by placing a missing person’s ad in Berita Harian (the Malay-language newspaper). It was actually Ms Fazila who had read the article and notified her supervisor. Without her, I’m sure we would not have been able to locate my father for the eight days when he was in hospital. We would also like to thank Nurse Clinician Seow Kah Hiang of Ward 63 for explaining the whole situation to us, as well as for the care and concern rendered to my father during his admission.”

Miss Ong

me @ SingHealth

Man On A Mission After last July’s SingHealth Board Advance, Dr Kwa Chong Teck spearheaded efforts to engage SingHealth employees in a shared vision. me+SH speaks with the man who helped to develop the staff motto. me+SH: What is the first thing you do when you step into your office each day?

Dr Kwa: I switch on my computer and go through my emails, organising them in the respective folders.

Dr Kwa Chong Teck, Executive Director, National Dental Centre Director, SingHealth Foundation

me+SH: “Patients. At the Heart of All We Do.” How does this statement come alive for you?

Dr Kwa: Patients are the reason I got into healthcare in the first place, hence it serves as a reminder to me in what I do and the role I am in. me+SH: If you were to compare working in SingHealth to a type of food, what would it be?

Dr Kwa: Chocolates – We cure sometimes, relieve often, but comfort ALWAYS.

me+SMILES

There are heroes and heroines among us who, through their words or actions— and sometimes, a listening ear—make a difference in the lives of others. me+SH recognises such heroes.

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me+HORIZON

Medical Milestones

In History

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Through the years, the passion and determination of doctors and those in the medical community have resulted in countless medical contributions benefitting the lives of fellow human beings.

Here are some significant events that serve as inspiration to our medical community.

In recent years...

2006

2005

The NHC performed a record number of six heart transplants and one lung transplant in a single year with the revised HOTA. The SGH Museum was officially opened by President S R Nathan.

From not too long ago...

1996

1992

On 18 December, the new CGH opened its doors at its present premises. It received its first patient at the Specialist Outpatient Clinics.

Construction of the new KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital building at Bukit Timah Road began.

Healthcare and sports come full circle

1905

The first cornea transplant was performed by Eduard Zirm, making it the best gift of sight at that time. Advances in microscopes enabled surgeons to get a better view of the surgical field; while advances in materials science enabled them to use sutures finer than a strand of human hair.

1136

One of the earliest charitable organisations, the Hospital of St Cross in Winchester, UK, was founded by Bishop Henry de Blois, the grandson of William the Conqueror. Till this day, the hospital still looks after old people and provides bread and ale to passing travellers.

500 B.C.

The earliest recorded forms of donation were the valuables that were contributed to the Delphic Oracle, a religious site dedicated to the worship of the Greek god Apollo.

Source: www.wikipedia.com

Healthcare, I Care! is a community service and fund-raising initiative

by SingHealth in support of President’s Challenge 2008. Our total funds raised will be presented to His Excellency, President S R Nathan on 15 November 2008 at the Outram Campus.

So give generously and show You Care!

For more details of the event, visit www.snec.com.sg/presidentchallenge/index.asp

Your

Q THIS ISSUE’S QUIZ:

1. What is the new staff motto?

2. Prof Tan Ser Kiat, Group CEO, SingHealth, urged all staff to move forward in three sure steps adapted from Daniel Koshland’s Cha-Cha-Cha Theory of Scientific Discovery. What do the three Chas stand for?

Have an

opinion?

Please email your answers to me.sh@singhealth.com.sg by 15 December 2008. Three lucky winners will each receive a Golden Village gift card worth $28.

We want to hear from you!

Here are the answers to the last ISSUE’S quiz: Q1. What is the theme of this year’s GCEO Excellence Awards celebration?

Ans: An Evening Celebrating Staff Excellence.

Q2. Which Nobel Laureate did SingHealth host on 5 and 6 May?

Ans: Dr Lee Hartwell, President and Director of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Q3. How many times do endorphin levels rise when we are running?

Ans: Five times.

And the winner is...

We want to hear from you!

Are you a wizard of words? Do you have a keen eye for capturing images? It’s time to unleash the writer or photographer in you!

Your contribution may just find its way onto the pages of me+SH. What are you waiting for? Release your inhibitions and let your creativity flow. We have the perfect outlet for you here in me+SH!

Nur Farhana Binte Saripin, Enrolled Nurse, CGH

Send your comments, feedback, story ideas and contributions to me.sh@singhealth.com.sg

The winner will receive a pair of flight tickets to the Singapore Flyer worth $59.

Check out me+SH online for more news and promotions. Just log onto

http://mysinghealth/Singhealth/MeSH/

15,000 staff

One Commitment