AHA magazine 2018 Issue 2

ISSUE

TWO 2018

A D V O C A T E S F O R H E A LT H I N A C T I O N

Our latest news & expert views

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY

MCI (P) 193/03/2017

GROWING A SUSTAINABLE, FUTURE-READY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR ALL

ORGANISE YOUR HOME MEDICINE KIT P4 I GET FITTER WITH STRENGTH-TRAINING P12 I KTPH WINS PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT P14 I MINI MEDICAL SCHOOL P16

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PUBLISHER

CONTENTS

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ISSUE TWO 2018

Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group in the north of Singapore. It comprises Admiralty Medical Centre, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital. It also includes extensions such as Wellness Kampung.

HEALTH BUZZ

TRENDS, TIPS AND IDEAS TO INSPIRE A BETTER YOU BREATHE RIGHT

EDITORIAL TEAM Albert Foo Sharon Ng Sabrina Ng Hannah Wong

COVER

GROWING A CARE ECO-SYSTEM

Are you often anxious, on the edge, even light-headed or exhausted? Few may realise, but the way we breathe plays a big part in how we feel. For the body to function efficiently, there must be a balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide within, and this is maintained through how fast and how deeply we breathe. Try this simple breathing technique: breathe into your stomach for four seconds, hold your breath for two seconds, then breathe out for six seconds. Pause slightly before repeating. Practise this at least once or twice a day, targeting for at least 10 breaths each time.

www.ktph.com.sg 90 Yishun Central Singapore 768828

Empowering a healthfocused community

Tel: (65) 6555 8000 Email: enquiry@alexandrahealth.com.sg

PUBLISHING AGENT

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HEALTH BUZZ Latest wellness tips

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FEATURE Strength train for better health

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NEWS & NOTES Happenings at Yishun Health

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REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR

Lee Walsh

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Sarin Wee

EXECUTIVE CONTENT DIRECTOR

Rod Mackenzie

CONTENT DIRECTOR

Ming Rodrigues CONTRIBUTORS

Janice Lin

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Ginny Gay

PROJECT MANAGER

Doreen Lau

WELLNESS Tips on storing your medication

Email:

yourcontent@publicitas.com

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INSPIRE Award-winning staff and programmes

AHa is the official bi-monthly publication of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (Co. Reg. No. 200717564H) and is produced by NewBase Content (Co. Reg. No. 200715901E). All rights to this publication are reserved and no part may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this newsletter is accurate and up to date, the editorial team will not be responsible for errors due to information received. Opinions expressed are that of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the publishers.

Printed by KHL Printing Co. MCI (P) 193/03/2017

Our need to constantly stay connected electronically can take a toll on our health and real lives. Take a digital detox – no devices during meals, or check social media just twice a day. You’ll feel relaxed, more focused, and enjoy better relationships.

Honey lemon goodness?

Hot honey lemon water is often championed as a healing elixir in wellness circles, with the ability to detox the body, melt fat, cure acne and even boost our brain functions.

Yet, there is little scientific evidence to support these claims. What this drink can do is improve your digestive health by keeping you hydrated. The vitamin C found in lemons may also boost your immunity and help you fight off a cold and other infections.

So while the beverage has some benefits, it should not replace plain water in your diet.

SKIP TO A STRONG HEART

If you have no back or other joint injuries, rope skipping can be a very efficient cardio workout. A study in The Research Quarterly, a journal of the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Research, concluded that 10 minutes of skipping is comparable to 30 minutes of jogging for cardiovascular health.

Someone who weighs 45kg can burn about 93 calories at a moderate skipping pace (100-120 skips/min). At the same pace, someone weighing 80kg would burn 165 calories.

You can also skip anywhere there’s an open space.

Just wear good shockabsorbing sports shoes.

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WELLNESS

WELLNESS

A HANDY CHECKLIST ON HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR HOME MEDICINE CABINET – SO YOU STAY SAFE AND ALWAYS HAVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT

WAYS

TO ST RE YOUR MEDICINE RIGHT

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Check labels

Do a monthly Inventory

Throw medicines you don’t need

Store in a dry place

Throw out all expired medicines, including multidose formulations such as eye drops, ointments and syrups if they are open but past the recommended use-by date

Once the recommended course is completed, dispose all medicines meant for short term use, such as antibiotics and oral steroids

Take note of specific storage instructions labelled on or packaged together with the medication. Not all medicines need to be refrigerated, unless specified

Avoid areas with high moisture level, such as toilets, as this may damage the efficacy of the medication

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Child-proof your medicine kit

Avoid direct heat

Tidy Up

Place your medicine cabinet or kit away from direct heat sources or sunlight, which can damage medication; cool, dark places are good storage areas

Organise your medication neatly so you can access the medicine you need quickly.

Clutter may lead to confusion and mistakes

Keep all medication out of reach, and sight, of children – they may think medicines are sweets

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FEATURE

FEATURE

GROWING A CARE

ECOSYSTEM A HOLISTIC APPROACH IS CRUCIAL TO BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE, FUTURE-READY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM–AND A COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE

BY SABRINA NG AND HANNAH WONG, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

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adam Lim Kiang Hoa, 66, spends her days caring for her intellectuallydisabled 40-year-old son, Mr Lui, who frequently suffers from fainting and vomiting spells, and is often hospitalised.

As her son’s caregiver, it hasn’t been easy for Madam Lim, especially as she lives with chronic high blood sugar and stiff knees.

She finds it difficult to go for her polyclinic appointments to treat her conditions as Mr Lui cannot be left alone at home. Her constant worry is if something happens to him, if she isn’t around.

One day, while she was at

church, an announcement was made that changed the lives of both mother and son. Madam Lim learnt about the Share a Pot programme, and since the first session at Covenant Evangelical Free Church last April, she and her son have been regular attendees.

The Share a Pot initiative brings people together to interact, exercise, and enjoy a nourishing soup-based meal, with the aim of keeping them physically and mentally active and healthy.

But while Madam Lim exercises twice a week and participates in activities like singing sessions, proper nutrition

was lacking in her diet at the time, and that’s where Share a Pot taught her how important it is to eat well and how easy it is to ensure she and her son enjoy nutrious home-cooked meals.

“Now when I go to the market, I buy food with more protein, such as pork and chicken feet. I add red dates and carrots so my son can have it with his medication,” says Madam Lim. “I used to only cook tofu soup, or just buy noodle soup, I was too lazy to cook other soups. Then I tried the soups at Share a Pot – they are tasty and not bitter at all!

I now tell people to come and have the soup here. You can

exercise, and there’s soup to drink, and it’s free too.”

Enjoying healthy soups is not the only benefit Madam Lim and her son have gained; they have also made more friends through Share a Pot. “I get a lot of support from the community who often check on how we are coping,” says Madam Lim. Mr Lui admits that he’s more upbeat since joining the programme; he has also learnt valuable life lessons from the seniors. “I learned that people have different ways of coping with life experiences,” he says. “I also learned about being happy as one close-knit community, and how keeping active can improve your mood and make you want to help others too.”

The Share a Pot programme has not only improved their health and way of life, but brought meaning and purpose.

As Madam Lim reflects, “If we are not here right now, we would be watching TV or sleeping as we have nowhere to go. My son loves to come here. If I don’t bring him, he complains. It was raining today, but he insisted on coming.”

Beyond healing

Initiatives like Share a Pot is a critical cog in the wheel of holistic community care – it goes beyond merely healing physical illness and conditions, to enhancing health and quality of life.

On a national level, this dovetails with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH)’s “3 Beyonds” aimed at creating a sustainable, future-ready healthcare system: • Beyond hospital to the community To enable Singaporeans to receive appropriate care in the community and closer to home.

• Beyond quality to value To offer patients not just

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FEATURE

FEATURE

Top left: Through the Share a Pot programme, Madam Lim and her son Mr Lui now enjoy better nutrition, a wider social circle, and overall quality of life

quality but value in healthcare, where we can introduce new solutions that are clinically effective, cost-efficient and improve healthcare outcomes and quality of life.

Top right and bottom right: Participants enjoy soup and exercise together on a weekly basis during Share a Pot sessions

• Beyond healthcare to health To nurture a community of healthy people; an approach that goes beyond healthcare to health and focuses on early intervention and making healthy lifestyle choices.

Bottom: Volunteers from the community and hospital staff often work together to come up with activities that engage residents, especially the elderly, as part of YH’s holistic community care approach

Our community, Our health

At Yishun Health, aligning with the “3 Beyonds” vision is a collaborative effort.

Staff at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) and Yishun Community Hospital (YCH) strive not only to provide the best patient care experience, but also focus on empowering residents to take charge of their health, and help one another on the journey to wellness and a better way of life “We should not ‘push’ patients from the acute setting into the community,” said Dr Wong Sweet Fun, Deputy Chairman of the Medical Board and Senior Consultant, Geriatric Medicine, at KTPH. “Rather, the community needs to become a ‘pull’ factor that draws residents out of isolation into wellness and keeps them out of the hospitals.”

Already, this support for a ‘beyond healthcare to health’ mandate is showing some impact. Dr Wong cited insights from teams observing hospital health initiatives such as Wellness Kampungs and the Community Nurse Posts. “The Kampung buddies for instance have started their own DIY rehab sessions, and accompany each other to and from the Wellness Kampung,” pointed

Stepping out into the community is not a bridge to nowhere – we are not alone as a campus in taking care of the health of residents in the north, the community has much to teach us about what is needed to build a care ecosystem.”

Dr Wong Sweet Fun

MENTAL HEALTH

More patients with common mental conditions such as depression, anxiety and insomnia are now being managed closer to home through a collaboration between National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP), Institute of Mental Health (IMH), and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH). Patients are treated in a primary care setting, and cared for in select polyclinics. This also means that Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) can now better meet the needs of patients with more severe mental conditions. This coordinated and integrated approach lessens stigmatisation and encourages patients and caregivers to seek help in the community. Between October 2015 and September 2017, some 2,800 patients received timely interventions and effective care at Ang Mo Kio, Woodlands and Yishun Polyclinics, with over 80 per cent showing improvement.

out Dr Wong. “Some who were using wheelchairs have now started to walk unassisted.” There is also one member, dubbed “souperchef ”, who contributed 12 healthy soup recipes to the Share a Pot sessions.

As Dr Wong sees it, these inroads into the community are plugging the gaps between existing institutions to build community resilience and networks of supported self-management. “It demonstrates that it is possible and sustainable to build a personalised care plan for a patient with complex needs by tapping on support from community care partners and residents.”

She adds, “Stepping out into the community is not a bridge to nowhere – we are not alone as a campus in taking care of the health of residents in the north, the community has much to teach us about what is needed to build a care ecosystem.”

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FEATURE

FEATURE

Population health programmes at Yishun Health

COMMUNITY HEALTH SCREENING

At Yishun Health, screening for chronic disease is the cornerstone of preventive community health efforts. An estimated 40 per cent of residents in the north have an underlying chronic condition they are unaware of. Today, mass health screenings are now conducted at community centres and wet markets for the convenience of residents. Subsequently, they will get a health report and are encouraged to attend the Group Health Report Review sessions, which give a comparative report between their health status and that of others in the community to help them interpret their health better. There are also talks covering topics such as prevention of complications through management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and high cholesterol. Lifestyle changes are also highlighted so residents can take steps to reduce their risks.

WELLNESS KAMPUNG

• These are wellness centres co-located with a senior care centre that encourages ageing in place, instead of ageing in long-term care homes.

• The centres are spaces where people can dropin, hang out and take part in programmes such as daily morning exercise classes, games, arts and crafts, and healthy cooking demonstrations.

• They provide the elderly with a sense of place and belonging and empowers them to organise their own events as a way of encouraging ground-up participation.

AGEING IN PLACECOMMUNITY CARE TEAM (AIP-CCT)

• Provides medical, health and social care for patients and their caregivers at home to manage the patient’s chronic conditions, maintain their health and independence, and prevent complications – thereby reducing chances of readmission.

• Comprises a team of nurses, doctors, therapists, pharmacists, medical social workers and healthcare assistants.

• The initiative was started in 2011 to address a group of patients who were admitted almost four times a year, and who took up a total of 7,900 beds in six months.

SHARE A POT

• A weekly shared experience, especially for vulnerable seniors, through activities and soup-based meals.

• The objective is to slow physical and mental decline, and break the vicious cycle of isolation and loss of motivation to stay active and eat well.

• Through social bonding, participants feel encouraged to volunteer, whatever their physical or mental capability.

• Share a Pot now has 1,200 registered participants and 164 volunteers across 18 active sites, with six more sites coming up this year.

TAXI DRIVER PROGRAMME • In the last three years, Yishun Health, together with SMRT and the Health Promotion Board (HPB), has run a preventive health screening and coaching programme at the SMRT Taxi Customer Service Centre to encourage workplace health. When taxi drivers bring their vehicles in for servicing, they can use the wait time to screen for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. Yishun Health nurses are also on site to advise on diet planning, as well as teach exercises customised for drivers and their individual ability.

COMMUNITY HOME EYE SCREENING SERVICE (CHESS) • CHESS provides early detection and management of eye conditions in residents living in the north, especially the elderly, uneducated and frail.

• Eye screening is a twopart strategy: a nurse-led Community Eye Screening (FiLCES) at the first level, followed by second-level optometrist-led Eye Consultation (SeLEC).

If required, coordinated referral of SeLEC patients to polyclinics for specialist follow up will be carried out.

• Based on a projected screening of 10,000 residents at nominal fees of $2 for FiLCES and $8 for SeLEC, CHESS is a cost-effective, sustainable eye care model.

Plans are underway to integrate CHESS into more community outreach programmes and Wellness Centres.

COMMUNITY NURSE POSTS (CNPS)

CNPs were set up in 2013 to open up access to screening and encourage residents to regularly monitor their health. Here, residents can seek chronic disease management and education, blood pressure monitoring and blood glucose checks, and access health indicator surveys, geriatric assessments and referrals to community resources.

DIABETES MANAGEMENT • Admiralty Medical Centre (AdMC) Diabetes Centre patients are also regularly referred to a CNP where the community nurse helps patients with blood glucose monitoring and counselling.

COMMUNITY FALLS PREVENTION PROGRAMME • Falls among the elderly are a common problem and have a significant impact on their wellbeing, quality of life and life expectancy. However, many falls, especially those that occur at home, can be prevented.

• Since July 2015, Yishun Health has implemented a Community Falls Prevention Programme at CNPs for seniors aged 65 and above living in the north.

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WELLNESS

WELLNESS

GET STRONG! The secret to boosting your fitness and health lies in strength-training

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ost people start an exercise programme feeling confident and positive, but often after a few weeks into the routine, their motivation starts to falter. Work and personal commitments make it difficult for them to stick to long workout sessions, and inevitably, keeping fit stops becoming a priority.

Keeping up with regular exercise, however, doesn’t have to be a challenge. In fact, an effective workout can take as little as 15 to 20 minutes just three times a week. What’s more, “a simple workout routine can be easily done at home with minimal or no equipment – think body weight exercises such as wall push-ups, planks and squats,” says Dr Ong Joo Haw, consultant sports physician at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital’s (KTPH) Sports Medicine Centre.

Building strength through weight training is as important to keeping fit and overall health as cardio exercises like running, swimming, brisk walking, cycling and aerobic dance. Your body loses anywhere from three to five per cent of muscle mass each decade from the age of 30 – so strength training is a key weapon against age-related physical, and even mental, decline.

“Strength training should be part of any fitness programme, together with cardiovascular fitness and flexibility,” says Dr Ong. Acknowledging that weight-training can be an intimidating experience, Dr Ong has this advice for those starting on such a programme: “As with everything else, start low and go slow. If you approach it with an open mind and are willing to learn, there are lots of people willing to help you out.”

Fun, easy strength-training

• Build strength using household items. Simple weight lifting can be done in your home, even if you do not own any dumbbells or have a gym membership. Household items like laundry detergent bottles, plastic bottles filled with liquid, books, and canned food can help strengthen and build your muscles. As you grow stronger, add on heavier items to challenge your muscles and make them work harder.

• Try High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).

HIIT involves alternating short, intense bursts of exercise with equal periods of rest, done

repeatedly in under 30 minutes. Jumping lunges, squats, push-ups are common moves incorporated into a HIIT programme, which help strengthen and condition the body.

These exercises can be done anywhere, from playgrounds to the convenience of your living room. If you are fitter, try a Tabata routine, which is another form of HIIT. It features eight 20-second rounds of different exercises done to maximum effort, with 10 seconds of rest in between. Overtime, you can progress to more challenging moves or increase the number of sets. “This form of training has been shown to have similar benefits, such as an improved heart and recovery ability, an increased metabolism, and better management of diabetes,” says Dr Ong. Ideally, exercises should be structured to allow variation across training intensity zones, so that you gain maximum benefits. And remember not to push yourself – your body also needs to recover, so make time for rest as well.

You are what you eat Exercise alone cannot help you lose weight. A proper diet is equally, if not more important, in ensuring you reach your fitness goals the healthy way. But eating well doesn’t mean you should feel deprived; it should be enjoyable, says Senior Principal Dietitian Ms Gladys Wong. Below is a recipe for a delicious high protein meal you can try at home.

Why Strength-Train?

• It increases muscle mass. “Having more muscle means you burn more energy during rest – also known as resting metabolic rate,” says Dr Ong. “This can fight weight gain, especially as you age.”

• It helps prevent osteoporosis, as it not only slows bone loss but increases bone density.

• It decreases the risk of arthritis, by strengthening the muscles around the joint, providing more support.

• You are less susceptible to falls, as you gain more muscle and strength.

• It reduces the risk of diabetes. Says Dr Ong, “Increased muscle leads to better insulin resistance, thus reducing the chance of Type 2 diabetes.”

• It boosts both physical and cognitive brain function, improving quality of life

EAT WELL

CHICKEN & VEGETABLE BUCKWHEAT NOODLES

PRODUCED BY KTPH NUTRITION & DIETETICS AND FOOD SERVICES

Ingredients (Serves 4)

Method

250g uncooked buckwheat noodles

1. Cook buckwheat

250g lean chicken, sliced into strips 2 cups seasonal vegetables, sliced 2 tsp ginger, minced 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp light soy sauce 2 tbsp rice bran oil Spring onions and sesame seeds, to garnish NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (PER SERVING) Energy 261kcal Carbohydrates 18.2g Protein 16g Total fat 12.8g Saturated fat 1.6g Cholesterol 49mg Dietary fibre 4.5g Sodium 396mg

noodles according to package instructions.

Once cooked, rinse with cold water and drain thoroughly.

2. To make sauce, combine

soy sauce, sugar and two tablespoons of water.

3. Heat one tablespoon of

rice bran oil in a frying pan, add chicken strips and stir fry over high heat until cooked through. Set aside.

4. Add remaining oil to

the frying pan, fry ginger until fragrant. Add mixed vegetables and continue to stir fry until vegetables are tender yet crisp. Add cooked noodles, chicken and sauce mixture. Toss until combined.

5. Garnish dish with

spring onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

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NEWS & NOTES

NEWS & NOTES

KTPH AWARDED HIGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOLADE

From left: Mr Ho Hua Chew, Mr Stewart Tai, NHG CEO Prof Philip Choo, Mr Chin Yew Leong, Mr Ng Hak Hai, KTPH CEO Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, Chief Gardener Ms Rosalind Tan, Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, NHG Chairman of the Board Mdm Kay Kuok, Mr Tan Wee Lee, Former Alexandra Health System (AHS) Group CEO Mr Liak Teng Lit, Dr Tan Hua Luck, Mr Loh Lam Soon, Ms Kathy Low

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hoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) was honoured with Singapore’s highest environmental accolade – the President’s Award for the Environment – on 22 October 2017. The award was presented by President Halimah Yacob at a ceremony held at the Istana.

The President’s Award for the Environment, established by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), recognises individuals, educational institutions and organisations that have made outstanding contributions towards environmental and water resource sustainability in Singapore. KTPH, together with Anchor Green Primary School and Dr Shawn Lum, President of Nature Society

(Singapore), was conferred this prestigious award, beating a field of 48 outstanding nominees.

KTPH was recognised for building a strong foundation in sustainability by instilling green values beyond its staff to engage patients and the wider Yishun community. As a champion for biodiversity, KTPH conserves and documents about 700 local and native trees, 700 indoor potted plants, 70 species of birds and 80 species of butterflies, all of which, in turn, enhance the natural environment of the hospital.

KTPH’s vision of “Hospital in a Garden, Garden in a Hospital” was conceived back in 2005. Former Alexandra Health System (AHS) Group CEO Mr Liak Teng Lit led a capable team of staff and partners,

including external “Hospital in at KTPH continues consultants, on an this legacy by pushing a Garden. uncharted journey. The the boundaries of Garden in a sustainability and mission was to build a Hospital” hospital that will be a innovation. healing environment for In 2016, KTPH patients, while also contributing implemented the first Energy to the biodiversity of its Display Dashboard in the surroundings. healthcare industry to measure The award, thus, is a strong unusual energy usage and promote affirmation of the contributions energy conservation among of many individuals who helped staff. An efficient irrigation and conceptualise and build KTPH. condensation system implemented We would like to thank former in the hospital has also reduced AHS Chairman Ms Jennie Chua, water consumption by three per Ms Mavis Khoo and all board cent. Looking ahead, KTPH will members for their enduring continue to optimise its energy support. We are also grateful to usage through a renewable solar our Chief Gardener, Ms Rosalind thermal system, and encourage Tan, and our corporate volunteers staff, patients and the community for their time and labour of love. to embrace our 4R values – Reuse, Twelve years on, the team Reduce, Recycle and Refuse.

KTPH WINS FIRST EVER STEPHEN R. KELLERT BIOPHILIC DESIGN AWARD

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he first ever Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award, organised by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and International Living Future Institute (ILFI), has been awarded to KTPH, out of 21 entries from around the world.

An emerging field, biophilic design promotes health and well-being by creating connections between people and nature in the built environment. The award was presented to Mr Donald Wai, Director of Hospital Planning at KTPH and Mr Jerry Ong, Senior Vice President of architect firm CPG Consultants Pte Ltd, in Boston, USA, in

Mr Donald Wai (right) and Mr Jerry Ong with the Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award

recognition of the innovative and extensive use of biophilic design in KTPH. Making nature a part of the patient’s experience, KTPH is designed to stimulate our five senses. Its rainforest-like landscaping – including a storm water pond transformed into a lake feature – imbues the hospital with natural sights, sounds and scents. It is also a natural habitat for butterflies, birds, dragonflies, and fish. Patients and visitors can wander along the sky bridges, and the open concept design makes waiting a more relaxing experience. Patient rooms also include natural ventilation.

In her evaluation, Ms Amanda Sturgeon, FAIA, & CEO of ILFI said that, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital “opens the door towards a new kind of building type for the healthcare industry, which considers how the built and natural environment can become part of the healing process.”

Added Mr Stephen Kieran, AIA, of Kieran Timberlake, a juror for the award, “What’s most impressive is its postoccupancy evaluation, which sampled a group of 200 users, comprising patients, staff and visitors, 80 per cent of whom responded ‘yes’ to hospitals investing in implementing biophilic elements.”

OUR PLEDGE TO SUSTAINABILITY Key vendors and partners who have renewed their commitment to work with KTPH

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n tandem with the launch of Singapore’s Year of Climate Action, Yishun Health kicked off its own Sustainability Movement on 29 January 2018. A total of 200 people attended, along with 18 key vendors and partners.

Organised by the Green Committee, the event mapped out our sustainability

framework – which is centred around three key pillars: healthy community, sustainable environment and healthy workforce – and our commitment to be an environmentally-friendly hospital for our patients, staff and visitors. In the spirit of the event, a healthy Meatless Monday lunch

was served, with fruits and vegetables from our own rooftop garden. Staff and partners also brought their own reusable lunchboxes and utensils.

In her opening address, Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, CEO of Yishun Health (YH) and Khoo Teck Puat Huat (KTPH), talked about the impact of climate change and emphasised the need to tackle this challenge together. Said Mrs Chew, “We want the Yishun zone to become a Healthropolis where people can find healthcare accessible. Our hospital is designed to be a healing hospital – when patients come, they actually feel a sense of calm, that they’re in a very good environment.”

Mr Chin Yew Leong,

Chairman of the Sustainability Committee, shared how the Committee will focus on reducing energy and water while continuing recycling efforts, and collaborating with partners.

Team learnings from a study visit to Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital and the Green Hospital Asia Conference 2017 was also shared. At the pledge ceremony, our key vendors and partners renewed their commitment to work with us on our sustainability journey. Staff who contributed to our sustainability efforts also received tokens of appreciation.

As part of the launch, exhibition booths were set up at the KTPH lobby showcasing our various initiatives and how staff can participate.

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NEWS & NOTES

NEWS & NOTES

SHARE A POT SCOOPS IF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE 2017

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ishun Health’s Share a Pot – an initiative that addresses frailty in Singapore – has emerged as one of six winners, from a field of 150, at the annual iF Design Award.

Founded in 1953, the Award is an international mark of design excellence that honours and highlights projects that contribute to solving social challenges for specific demographics. This is the first year a social impact category was added.

The Share a Pot initiative is founded on the principle of good nutrition, alongside physical activity in a social

environment to “build bones, brawn (muscle), brain (cognitive reserve), and bonds” among vulnerable elderly. It provides a safe, encouraging environment where dignity and the motivation to enjoy quality of life are restored.

The Share a Pot programme is a joint effort of teams across Yishun Health and Woodlands Health Campus, in collaboration with Advance Care Planning, AIP-CCT, Innovation and Research, Nutrition and Dietetics, Population Health, Programme Office and Wellness Kampung.

BY ONG MIN LI, ADVANCE CARE PLANNING

“S

o, how would you like to die?” Dr James Low, senior consultant with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital’s (KTPH) Department of Geriatric Medicine asked the audience.

Their options: (a) sudden death, (b) chronic degenerative disease, (c) advanced cancer or (d) end stage organ disease.

BY LEONARD LIM, HUMAN RESOURCE

Above: Staff who successfully completed the Safety Champions training and accreditation programme; below: learning skills and insights to speak up for safety

GOOD LIFE, GOOD WILL, GOOD END

Dr Low also showed graphical life trajectories of these four scenarios.

Not unexpectedly, the overwhelming choice was ‘sudden death’, preferably during sleep. The session – held at the (KTPH) Learning Centre on 6 January 2018 – was the first of a series of lectures on end-of-life

SPEAK UP STAY SAFE

matters that’s part of KTPH’s Mini Medical School (MMS) programme. Some 280 senior citizens attended Dr Low’s talk, “Dying to Live – Why Death Gives Meaning to Life”. The lectures continued for another two Saturdays with eight speakers from the hospital and community sharing on topics such as the importance

of advance care planning and understanding palliative care.

Now in its sixth year, MMS is fronted by a group of passionate educators who are also practising physicians. It aims to engage seniors with tools for successful ageing.

Participants who complete all the lectures ‘graduate’ with a certificate and a ‘graduation bear’.

Shares Dr Ong Chin Fung, a senior consultant with KTPH’s Family and Community Medicine department and member of the MMS planning team. “We knew we had made an impact on the learners, because when we re-polled their choice of death on the last day, only a handful still preferred dying suddenly.”

I

t is crucial for Yishun Health to effectively respond to demands for safer, higher quality, and more efficient patient care. To achieve this, a high standard of professionalism among staff is necessary. Failure to address unprofessional behaviour and lack of adherence to protocols and procedures can have an adverse impact on patient safety, productivity, staff engagement and retention, and ultimately, an organisation’s reputation.

On 17 February 2017, A/Prof Pek Wee Yang, Chairman of KTPH’s Medical Board and Yishun Health launched the Speaking Up for Safety campaign under the Safety and Reliability Improvement Partnership (SRIP) Framework, a collaboration between Yishun Health and the Cognitive Institute (CI) in Australia. The aim of the programme is to

build a strong and sustainable culture of patient safety and self-regulation within the Yishun Health campus.

In all, 15 staff across departments – medical, nursing, allied health, administration and ancillary – were presented with certificates by KTPH and Yishun Health CEO, Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, for successfully completing CI’s Safety Champions training and accreditation programme.

They were taught to conduct training on Speaking Up for Safety for all staff across Yishun Health. The Safety Champions were nominated for being opinion and cultural leaders and clinicians of influence with a strong commitment to safety and reliability improvement, for their capacity and willingness to coach and support teams and individuals, and their

experience and personal perspective on safety and quality improvement.

By end 2017, more than 4,000 staff had completed the Speaking Up for Safety training, as part of Yishun Health’s goal to achieve culture change by boosting staff motivation and confidence to speak up for safety, and develop insights and skills to respectfully raise

issues with colleagues when they are concerned about a patient’s safety. Senior management and heads of departments also participated in CI’s master classes on safety. In addition, posters, videos and articles on safety are regularly published on a variety of platforms to promote awareness and reinforce the message.

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INSPIRE

INSPIRE

INNOVATING FOR BETTER HEALTH

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hoo Teck Puat Hospital’s (KTPH) Community Home Eye Screening Service (CHESS) and Integrated Hip Fracture Unit (HFU) were among the seven winners of the

National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity (HIP) Medal 2017, held at the inaugural FutureHealth Conference.

Organised by the Ministry of Health, the annual awards

acknowledges, showcases and celebrates teams from healthcare and community care institutions that have achieved excellence in care redesign, automation, information technology, robotics,

and workforce transformation.

CHESS was recognised for providing an accessible and cost-saving solution for early detection and management of eye conditions in residents living in the north.

From February to September 2017, more than 1,200 residents were screened.

Meanwhile, the Integrated HFU was lauded for providing coordinated, trans-disciplinary hip fracture care for elderly patients. The team enables a quick and smooth care path for patients, from preparation for surgery, to convalescence and rehabilitation. This, in turn, has led to lower mortality and complications. The average length of stay also dropped significantly from 15.2 days in 2015 to 10.6 days in 2017.

EVERY CHILD MATTERS K

hoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) was presented with a trophy for its Sight for Students programme run by the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (OVS). It was a gesture of appreciation from ACE (Admiralty Community’s Experience) The Place Community Club, Woodlands, during the WeCare @ Admiralty – Ready for School event on 25 November 2017.

Sight for Students – initiated by Dr Benjamin Chang, senior consultant at OVS and former KTPH medical officer Dr Ong Ee Lin – provides free eye prescription checks and spectacle vouchers worth up to $80. The programme, funded by the Alexandra Health Fund, identifies and helps children aged 5 to 12 years with subnormal vision from underprivileged families living in the north.

Since it was launched in 2015, the programme has sponsored eye health screening for about 140 students and handed out 120 spectacle vouchers.

Mr Sebastian Yue, KTPH Orthoptist, receiving the award from Mr Vikram Nair, MP for Sembawang GRC

A CHAMPION OF QUALITY, PATIENT-CENTRIC CARE A /Prof Yip Chee Chew is a man on a mission. His aim: to transform healthcare and take it to the next level through medical education and quality improvement.

From assessment of learning to assessment for learning, A/Prof Yip created the MicroCEX for the next generation of clinicians – an innovative new method of assessing and teaching medical undergraduates (MG) during their ophthalmology posting.

Conventionally, MGs are tested using the Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) developed by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Mini-CEX is a 15- to 20-minute practical assessment test involving traineepatient interaction. Micro-CEX, a highly focused and faster CEX, has now replaced Mini-CEX. These days, MGs receive more frequent, short, rubric-based Micro-CEX that involves skill competency demonstration, focused history taking and feedback.

This new practice, adopted by NUS and implemented across all restructured hospitals, was well received by MGs who gave positive feedback, and it even led to improved academic results. In recognition of this innovation, A/Prof Yip received the gold medal in the 2017 Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress (SHBC) Health Professional Education Research Prize category.

In striving for medical excellence to improve patient care, A/Prof Yip also obtained his black belt certification for Lean 6 Sigma management. For patients undergoing cataract surgery under topical anaesthesia (where numbing eye drops are administered), he developed two nurse-led care models to enable a streamlined care path.

First, the Pre-Operative Assessment Nurse model involves a trained nurse to provide same-day medical assessment at the eye clinic, instead of a doctor at the anaesthesia clinic. Patients are carefully screened and selected (under a stringent protocol) for surgery to optimise safety and quality. Second, the Nurse-led Peri-Operative Anaesthetic Care (NPAC) model involves a trained nurse to monitor and hand-hold patients throughout the cataract surgery, so that they feel reassured

A/Prof Yip’s aim is to transform healthcare and take it to the next level through medical education and quality improvement

and will comply with the doctor’s instructions during the procedure.

With the implementation of these two quality improvement initiatives, patients benefit by enjoying an earlier surgery appointment, lower medical bills, a safe surgery and faster recovery.

This care path is extended to Admiralty Medical Centre and to selected patients undergoing cataract surgery under regional anaesthesia.

To top it off, A/Prof Yip’s quality improvement projects have won several accolades, among them, the AHS Kaizen Competition 2016 for Best Oral Presentation (Nursing Category); 2016 National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Award (Workforce Transformation Category); 2017 Alexandra Health System Kaizen Team Award; and the 2017 Alexandra Health System Kaizen Nurturer Award.

A/Prof Yip with his SHBC Gold Medal Award

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