Mita (P) 147/08/2003 Co. Reg. No. 52929306D
Jan-Feb
2016
A l e x a n d r a
H e a l t h
i n
Touching Lives, Pioneering Care, Making a Difference
A c t i o n
New community hospital opens in the North
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nother milestone in Alexandra Health System’s (AHS) care plan for the North has been reached with the opening of Yishun Community Hospital (YCH). On 28 December 2015, Mdm Lim SK was among the first 12 patients to be transferred over from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) to YCH. The patients received a warm welcome from staff and Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister of State for Health.
The 428-bed hospital was built in just 22 months, 4 months less than the usual time taken to build similarsized projects. The hospital provides rehabilitation, sub-acute, dementia and palliative care services. It is being opened up in phases to ensure the services and facilities match the patient load. Now that the hospital is open, Dr Pauline Tan, CEO, YCH, said the next objective is to give our patients targeted treatment goals to get them better and home as
quickly as possible and with the necessary support. Dr Tan said, “We are actively working with the community to link our patients up with resources and support once they are home.”
Thanks to the determination and hard work of our staff and contractors, the hospital opened on time and within budget. Mr Liak Teng Lit, GCEO, AHS
Mdm Lim shares her healthcare journey with Mr Liak Teng Lit, Dr Pauline Tan, Mr Chee Hong Tat, and Rachel Koh, Physiotherapist and Sharon Toh, Senior Occupational Therapist.
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Small Touches, Big Difference Yishun Community Hospital is designed to be elder-friendly and promote independence, rehabilitation and recovery. Some of the small touches include:
Communal Dining Areas
Healing Environment
Foldable Chairs
Communal dining areas encourage patients to eat their meals with family members and to socialise with other patients.
Gardens situated around the hospital create a healing environment, including the link bridge between KTPH and YCH.
Foldable chairs are placed in the ward corridors for patients to rest if they are tired from their exercises.
Reading Lights
Smart Remote
Lockable Drawers
Reading lights are placed above each bed to make it easier for patients who wish to read.
Each patient has a remote control device at their bedside that gives them independence and allows them to control their reading lights, the speed of the fan overhead or to call the nurses when needed.
A lockable drawer is provided for patients to store and manage their medication under the supervision of a nurse. This ensures that they will know how to take their medication correctly when they go home.
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Providing the right care at the right site
Admission
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lexandra Health System now has two hospitals, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital, to serve residents in the North of Singapore. The two hospitals are sited next to each other and are linked, so patients can transfer seamlessly between the two and receive the right care in the right place.
Admission
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Thanking residents for their understanding
Y
ishun Community Hospital was built in record time and with precasting to reduce the amount of noise and dust, but living close to a construction site is never pleasant. So staff visited nearby residents shortly before the hospital opened, to thank
them for putting up with the construction of Yishun Community Hospital. Yishun is named after Lim Nee Soon, who was known as the “Rubber and Pineapple King� for making his riches from these crops. Many of the plantations were located where
Dr Pauline Tan, CEO, YCH (right), making her rounds to thank residents.
Residents were delighted to receive a pineapple.
Yishun and Sembawang are today, so pineapples were presented to the residents to thank them for their patience and to wish them good health and prosperity. The Hokkien word for pineapple sounds like ong lye which means prosperity.
A/Prof Pang Weng Sun, Chairman, Medical Board, YCH (left), helping to deliver pineapples.
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Introducing YCH to the community
Y
ishun Community Hospital aims to be a community hospital in practice, not just in name so our patients can be provided with whatever support they need to manage well once discharged home.
Mr Amrin Amin, MP for Sembawang GRC (Woodlands), tries out a mobility scooter.
An Open House was held on 27 December to introduce its services and facilities to grassroot leaders from the North. Smaller engagement sessions are planned for the coming months to explore how we can link up our patients with resources that are currently in the community and to share volunteer opportunities within the hospital.
We hope to embrace and partner with the community to enable our patients and their caregivers to live and cope well at home. Dr Pauline Tan, CEO, YCH
Visitors pick up tips on ageing and coping well.
Mr Liak Teng Lit, GCEO, AHS, shows the expanded AHS Yishun Campus to Sembawang advisers and board members. Front row from left: Dr Pauline Tan; Mr Liak Teng Lit; Ag Minister Ong Ye Kung, MP for Sembawang GRC (Gambas); Minister Khaw Boon Wan, MP for Sembawang GRC; Mr Ramlee Bin Buang, Board Member, AHS; Dr Quek Peng Kiang, Board Member, AHS; Mr Philip Oh PBM, Grassroot Leader, Nee Soon East; Mrs Khaw Boon Wan; Ms Jennie Chua, Chairman, AHS.
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How diabetes affects men Testosterone helps the body use insulin so sugar can be absorbed easily from the blood, explains Dr Shum. But men with low testosterone levels often have insulin resistance – this means their bodies do not respond well to insulin so they need to produce more insulin to keep their blood sugar levels in the healthy range. Type 2 diabetes happens when the body cannot make enough insulin or use it so blood sugar levels rise. A loss of sex drive is not the only sexual problem that men with diabetes can face.
Not in the mood for love? Get checked for diabetes
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flagging sex drive within an otherwise happy marriage could be your body’s way of telling you to get checked for diabetes.
Research has shown that men with diabetes have a higher chance of having low testosterone levels, the male hormone that controls sexual urges. “As yet, it’s not known whether low testosterone levels cause diabetes or if diabetes causes low testosterone levels but there is definitely a link between the two conditions,” says Dr Shum Cheuk Fan, Associate Consultant, Urology, KTPH.
Dr Shum estimates that two-thirds of the men treated for erectile dysfunction at KTPH’s Urology Clinic have diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and nerves in the penis causing difficulties with erections. When a husband loses interest in sex, his wife can feel confused, unloved and question his faithfulness. “Even the strongest marriages can be rocked by poor communication and misunderstandings, so it’s important that couples talk to each other if they are facing sexual problems,” says Dr Chan Keen Loong, Head and Senior Consultant, Psychological Medicine, KTPH. “A loving relationship and supportive family and friends don’t just make life more enjoyable – they can also make all the difference in selfmanagement, helping people with diabetes manage their condition well and avoid complications.”
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How diabetes affects women While many may associate diabetes and sexual dysfunction with men, women can have sexual problems related to their blood sugar levels too. Some women with diabetes may experience decreased sex drive and vaginal dryness, which will in turn result in reduced sexual activity. In addition, diabetic women are at greater risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and vaginal yeast infections. These, together with vaginal dryness, can cause dyspareunia - pain during sex. “Many women are now being diagnosed with diabetes in their childbearing years. ‘Can I still have a baby?’ is a common question among these women, especially if they are about to get married,” says Dr Marilyn Lee, Consultant, Endocrinology, KTPH. “Many women with diabetes go through healthy pregnancies and have normal, healthy babies. However, it is important that they are aware of how to manage their diabetes to get the best pregnancy outcomes and planning should start before they get pregnant,” said Dr Lee. To raise awareness of what can be a difficult topic, KTPH held a public forum on 14 November 2015 titled “Diabetes, Sex and Relationships” in tandem with World Diabetes Day. More than 280 people attended the forum and learnt how to address common relationship challenges that people with diabetes could face, including worries over being able to get pregnant, sexual problems and how to tell people about their diabetes.
About the care team Dr Chan Keen Loong began his psychiatric career in 1992. He went abroad for one year of fellowship training at the University of Iowa from 2000-2001. His interests are in General Adult Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry and Psychodermatology. Dr Chan runs clinics at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and National Skin Centre. He sees a wide range of cases covering stress-related disorders, anxiety, depression, OCD and psychosis. He has published numerous articles in medical journals with high impact factor. He sits on the Ministry of Social and Family Developmentappointed Adult Protection Team. Adjunct Associate Professor Marilyn Lee is a consultant in the Department of Medicine. She graduated from St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry in the UK, and obtained her post graduate qualifications from the Royal College of Physicians (London). She is involved in general medicine as well as endocrinology work and her areas of interests include reproductive endocrinology as well as pituitary and adrenal disorders. Dr Shum Cheuk Fan is an Associate Consultant in the Department of Urology, KTPH. Being the youngest specialist in his department, Dr Shum is eager to find his niche and contribute to departmental development. He has a special interest in urological oncology and looks forward to the day when his cancer patients have full access to standard of care on all aspects of treatment, from molecular diagnostics to robotic surgery.
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Appointment of new Chairman, Medical Board
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ith effect from 1 January 2016, A/Prof Pek Wee Yang has been appointed as Chairman, Medical Board (CMB) of KTPH, taking over from A/Prof Kenneth Mak. With A/Prof Mak’s relinquishment of his role as CMB, he assumes the role as Deputy Director of Medical Services (DDMS) of the Health Services Group (HSG), Ministry of Health (MOH), with effect from 15 January 2016 for a period of three years. A/Prof Mak will continue to maintain his clinical practice as a Senior Consultant in the Department of Surgery, KTPH.
A/Prof Kenneth Mak
As DDMS (HSG), A/Prof Mak will provide leadership to the Group and oversee the introduction of new models of care, integration of care across the entire care continuum, strategising and developing clinical services at the national, hospital and primary care levels, and championing primary care transformation efforts, to drive the sustainable provision of appropriate, accessible and safe care for patients. A/Prof Pek was Deputy CMB, KTPH, prior to the new appointment. From 2012, he was the Head and Senior Consultant of the Department of Medicine, KTPH. He is an accredited
respiratory specialist, proficient in general respiratory and critical care medicine. A/Prof Pek is the Clinical lead and Consultant in-charge of pulmonary physiology and Sleep Laboratory at KTPH. He sub-specialises in bronchial asthma, allergic airway diseases and chronic cough. An advocate in mentoring junior peers at work, A/Prof Pek is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
A/Prof Pek Wee Yang
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Mini Medical School saved my life!
M
r NS Nathan is a retired school principal who continues to make his education a priority.
“If I had not attended the programme, I would not have gone for health screening and I might not be alive today,” said Mr Nathan.
He has been a regular attendee of KTPH Mini-Medical School which runs courses to help the public better understand and look after their health.
Grateful that the knowledge learnt at Mini-Medical School had saved his life, he donated $10,000 to the programme.
“The Mini-Medical School doctors have always emphasised healthy practices and proactive measures to detect early symptoms and signs of diseases in older persons,” said Mr Nathan.
KTPH Mini Medical School delivers a unique opportunity for lifelong learners to attend classes
conducted by healthcare experts to educate and address health issues associated with ageing. Participants range in age from 18 to 80 years old proving you’re never too young or old to take charge of your health!
This prompted Mr Nathan to go for health screening. He was shocked to discover that he had a heart problem which needed urgent treatment. On 13 February 2015, Mr Nathan underwent an operation to open up his blocked arteries and insert four stents. A/Prof Pang Weng Sun, CMB, YCH, receiving the generous donation from Mr NS Nathan.
EPI DEMIC! Come and join us at our Mini Medical School and learn about Zika and other emerging infectious diseases, how disease outbreaks are managed and the basic principles of public health. The three Saturday morning sessions are designed to be fun, casual and informative. No background in science required!
Organised by:
Mini Medical School @ KTPH 30 Apr, 7 May & 14 May 2016 Kindly produce your NRIC for programme admission
9am to 11.30am Admission starts at 8.30am
TO ENROL, visit www.ktph.com.sg/mms or call 6602 3388 (during office hours)
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Auditorium, Learning Centre 90 Yishun Central Singapore 768828
ee s No Tuition F quired. Registration re . Limited seats
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A/Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Social and Family Development, checks out the recipes during the cookbook launch. Source: National Kidney Foundation
Local dishes get kidney-friendly makeover
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oping with kidney disease and its dietary restrictions can be difficult for food-loving Singaporeans. So KTPH and the National Kidney Foundation jointly launched a cookbook on 17 January 2016 to help patients enjoy local food and stay healthy. It is currently available in English and Chinese, with Malay and Tamil versions coming soon. The recipes guide patients on changing their diet at different stages to prevent their condition from worsening. For example, a kidney disease patient who has not started dialysis would
With this cookbook, which is an adaption of local recipes, they will be able to enjoy food they can eat, and reduce the burden of the disease on their lives. Ms Hazel Yeong, Senior Dietitian, KTPH require less protein than one who is undergoing dialysis. Patients with kidney disease often feel nauseous and do not have the appetite to eat. “We wanted patients to be able to eat the dishes they are familiar with but there were no local cookbooks specifically for kidney disease patients,� Said Ms Hazel Yeong, Senior Dietitian, KTPH, who led the cookbook.
Students from the applied food science and nutrition programme in Temasek Polytechnic also contributed to the development of the recipes. The cookbook has more than 40 recipes ranging from breakfast ideas to main dishes and desserts. If you would like a copy, please contact the National Kidney Foundation at 6299 0200 or contact_us@nkfs.org.
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Creating teams that work
D
r Teoh Chin Sim is a Senior Consultant and Director of Sports Medicine at KTPH. She has been involved as a Chief Medical Officer for Team Singapore athletes at SEA, Asian, Commonwealth and Paralympic Games over the past two decades. In her most recent stint, she was providing care to Team Singapore athletes at the 8th ASEAN Para Games from 3-9 December 2015.
Every Games brings me lots of joy and satisfaction. From caring for the athletes, to dressing their wounds, getting to know more people, watching athletes compete. All of these add up to the experience. Dr Teoh Chin Sim, Senior Consultant & Director of Sports Medicine, KTPH Dr Teoh has a wealth of experience at the Games. AHa! Speaks to her to understand how she led the different healthcare teams. Recognise that they are elites Congratulate and acknowledge the individual expertise of the team. Emphasise how each person is critical to the delivery of the best care to the athletes.
Catherine Choong, Physiotherapist, KTPH providing pain relief to visually handicapped football players.
Set rules and expectations Everyone needs rules to guide him or her. Let them know your expectations. If you want some things to be done a certain way, communicate clearly.
Empower and trust While I may be the overall in charge, we work in small groups at different locations. As such, it is important to identify who among them has the experience to lead and empower them. As a team member, we must always have an open mind and be prepared to learn from one another. We trust that our colleagues will always render the best treatment possible within their skill set. And if in doubt, always ask.
Dr Teoh Chin Sim (Chief Medical Officer, Team Singapore) examining a player from the Cerebral Palsy football team.
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GROWING IN THE NORTH
Yishun Community Hospital – Braving the elements
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onald Wai, Director, Hospital Planning had a chat with AHa about the joy and challenges of planning Yishun Community Hospital (YCH). 1. How did you decide on where to locate the facilities and services? Location depends on the flow of patients, visitors and staff. The subsidised wards need to have natural air ventilation so are housed on the higher floors at levels 4-9. The pharmacy, patient service centre and foodcourt are located on the lower floors (levels 1-2) for ease of access via escalators and lifts. 2. Why is the hospital only 10 floors high? As we are close to Sembawang Military Airbase, the aviation authorities have a height limit for buildings in the vicinity of the airbase. Buildings cannot exceed 10 storeys. 3. What challenges did you face with the construction of YCH? It was a very tight construction schedule for a 10-storey with 2 basement floors - we only had 22 months to build the hospital. Fortunately, we only had a few days of heavy rain where we needed to stop work, but we also had to stop construction for a couple of days because of bad haze conditions. To meet the tight deadline we employed state-of-the-art building methods. The superstructure was built with steel, a lighter and more durable material as compared to concrete. The columns, floors in the inpatient block, and some of the walls and the staircases were pre-fabricated onsite and installed like Lego blocks to save construction time as well as to minimise noise and dust. In the process, manpower was also reduced
as cement didn’t need to be poured by workers on-site to form the various structural components. In addition, the use of pre-fabrication technology helped to mitigate manpower shortages due to the tightened Government rules on hiring of foreign workers. 4. What are some interesting features of YCH? We have installed huge ceiling fans that are about 2 metres in diameter at the lobby and plaza outside the foodcourt. They provide excellent cooling on warm humid days due to the large cooling coverage by just a few fans. In some areas of the hospital, we have used leaf-patterned tiles which can be traced back to our Alexandra Hospital days. Back then, we tried pressing leaves on wet cement floors. The imprints of the leaves give an aesthetic look and also provide an anti-slip feature. These imprints were used in KTPH and have now been further enhanced for the YCH floor.
5. Have you installed any green technology? We have installed solar hot water tubes on the rooftop to harness solar energy to heat up water for patients’ showers and washing dishes in the kitchen. We also tap on the Yishun Pond to provide treated pond water to irrigate our gardens within YCH, so we don’t need to use tap water that is more expensive.
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GROWING IN THE NORTH
Thank you for building YCH
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ishun Community Hospital managed to be built on time because of the labour and commitment of 1,500 construction workers who were involved in some or all parts of the project. To thank the men for their work, a lunch was held on 17 January 2016. YCH senior management and heads of department served lunch to the 350 men who were working on the project in the final stage. The menu included a range of healthy Asian dishes and all workers received a thank you T-shirt.
The workers and contractors were committed to complete and deliver the community hospital on time. They slogged day and night, week in and out to keep to the 22-month timeline. Our staff and patients are appreciative of all the workers’ efforts and determination. Mr Donald Wai, Director, Hospital Planning, AHS
YCH Senior management serving healthy Asian dishes to workers. Dr Pauline Tan, CEO, YCH, manning the chicken curry station.
We are very happy and satisfied with the lunch the management and everyone from the hospital prepared for us. Mr Roy, a worker who built the hospital from its groundbreaking to the opening on 28 December 2015
Workers enjoying the their lunch and the breeze at the hospital’s plaza.
The team that built Yishun Community Hospital.
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HEALTH TIPS
Protect your family from dengue
Source: National Environment Agency
M
ore than 6,200 people came down with dengue in the first three months of this year and Government agencies are warning that 2016 could set a new high of 30,000 cases unless more is done to prevent the disease.
If you have plants or a garden, take these extra steps:
The high dengue is mainly due to warmer than usual weather, resulting in faster breeding cycles for the Aedes mosquito which spreads the disease.
• Keep the water level in terrariums below the soil or pebble bed level.
The majority of breeding sites are found in homes, with the top breeding spots being domestic containers and flower pot plates or trays. If you or your family members have had dengue before you can still get it again because the strain of virus seen this season is different from the one seen in the past few years. So stay safe and protect your family and friends from dengue!
• Ask a family member to check on your plants if you are going away for more than two days. • Loosen top soil frequently to prevent water from pooling. • Put anti mosquito pellets on parts of bromeliad plants that collect water. • Clear blockages and put insecticide in roof gutters monthly.
Zap dengue, zap zika too! The Aedes mosquito spreads both the dengue and the zika viruses. Preventing the mosquito from breeding protects our families from dengue and will also prevent the spread of zika if the virus comes to Singapore.
• Put fish in pots that contain aqua plants – the fish will eat up mosquito larvae and prevent them from breeding. • Keep unused gardening tools such as pots and spades out of rain prone areas to prevent stagnant water. These tips were provided by Ms Rosalind Tan (Chief Gardener) and Mr Simon Chan (Senior Executive, Operation Admin), KTPH.
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ECO BUZZ
Let’s Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!
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ecycling is a great way to turn junk into something useful and to save money. Here are some of the projects our Green Committee has worked on:
Once a saline bottle, now a handphone charging holder.
The table and seats were recycled from old cable reels.
Convert a milk carton into a plant pot or spade Don’t throw away your disposable plastic milk cartons - try converting them into a useful pot or spade!
Step 1: Wash and dry a plastic milk carton. Do not discard the cap.
What you need
• A disposable plastic milk carton • A pair of scissors
Plant Pot
Spade
Cut the bottle along its length, at the two third mark, be careful not to damage the handle. Discard the half without the handle. Don’t forget to pour away water to prevent mosquitos breeding!
Cut the bottle at its mid-length mark, curving towards the edge furthest from the cutting point.
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Continuing Medical Education for Doctors Continuing Medical Education (CME) plays an important role in keeping medical professionals current with changes in medicine.
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital organises regular Continuing Medical Education Programmes to update you of the latest trends and practice. Venue: Kaizen 1 or Auditorium Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, 90 Yishun Central S768828 For more information, please call our GP Engagement Office at 6602 3016
Scheduled CMEs for 2016* Date (Sat, 1pm - 5pm)
Presenting Department
19 March 2016
Sports Medicine
26 March 2016
Geriatric
2 April 2016
Cardiology
9 April 2016
Diabetes Centre Symposium
16 April 2016
ENT
23 April 2016
Psychological Medicine
28 May 2016
General Surgery (Upper GI)
9 July 2016
General Surgery (Breast)
23 July 2016
Endocrine
30 July 2016
Urology
20 August 2016
DDR
3 September 2016
Orthopaedic Surgery
10 September 2016
Renal
17 September 2016
Family Medicine
1 October 2016
General Surgery (Endocrine)
8 October 2016
Nutrition and Dietetics
22 October 2016
General Medicine
*Info correct at time of publishing. For an updated listing, please visit https://www.ktph.com.sg/gpcme.
