AHA magazine Mar-Apr 2020

aha

Issue 2: March-April 2020

DESIGNING A HEALTHFUL CULTURE

MCI (P) 065/04/2019

The Yishun Health campus has been designed to drive healthy actions, habits and decisions

12 NURTURING THE ROOTS OF CULTURE

28 SLEEP APNOEA — GET IT CHECKED BEFORE SURGERY

HEALTH IN BLOOM 30

ontents

18

COVER STORY Vital Spaces: Designing a Healthful Culture The space where we work and play can be designed to promote healthy living

DESIGNED FOR HEALTH 2 |

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HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS Healthcare news and updates

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WHAT’S UP Community events, outreach efforts, and more

12 SPOTLIGHT

Nurturing the Roots of Culture

Profiling Yishun Health’s in-house landscaping team and their mission to cultivate a healthful environment

12 24 5 THINGS ABOUT…

Mala

It may be a hot dining trend, but here are points to note about mala

Part 3 of 3 The spaces in which we live, work and play exerts a subtle but significant influence on the way we feel, move and behave. Yishun Health utilises this concept of placemaking to encourage, enable and empower patients, visitors, staff and the community to make better lifestyle choices and, in doing so, nurtures and inculcates health further upstream.

PUBLISHER

26 26 MAKAN TIME

Monkey Head Mushroom Satay

Meatless satay? We say, “Mmm!” 28 DAILY DOSE

Sleep Apnoea — Get it Checked Before Surgery

Heavy snoring can lead to a host of serious health issues 30 MIND & HEALTH

Health in Bloom

Identify the different flowers blooming around our campus

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

EDITORIAL TEAM Hannah Wong Sabrina Ng Sharon Ng Albert Foo

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

The editorial committee — made up of clinical, nursing, allied health, population health & community transformation, and administrative heads of department — advises aha’s direction.

A/Prof Tan Kok Yang Bastari Irwan Chia Kwee Lee Fatimah Moideen Kutty Shirley Heng Teresa Foong

ktph.com.sg/aha aha@ktph.com.sg

PUBLISHING AGENT THINKFARM PTE LTD www.thinkfarm.sg M A N AG I N G D I R E C T O R

aha

Christopher Tay

H E A D, E D I TO R I A L

Issue 2: March-April 2020

DESIGNING A HEALTHFUL CULTURE The Yishun Health campus has been designed to drive healthy actions, habits and decisions

Chua Kim Beng

C O N T R I B U T I N G E D I TO R

Sheralyn Tay E D I TO R

Dang Hui Ling H E A D, C R E AT I V E MCI (P) 065/04/2019

Sean Lee

NURTURING THE ROOTS OF CULTURE

12

HEALTH IN BLOOM

28

SLEEP APNOEA — GET IT CHECKED BEFORE SURGERY

30

W

hy aha?

The name aha holds much significance for us at Yishun Health.

In part, it is a nod to our history; it also stands for ‘Advocates for Health in Action’.

Through these pages, we hope to empower you to take charge of your own health and discover those ‘aha!’ moments that lead to a healthier, happier you.

H E A D, C L I E N T R E L AT I O N S H I P

Jessie Kek

C O N T R I B U TO R S

Justin Loh Lee Lily Vivienne Looi

aha is the official bi-monthly publication of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (Co. Reg. No. 200717564H) and is produced by ThinkFarm Pte Ltd. 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 Mainland Press Pte Ltd. MCI (P) 065/04/2019

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ealth Highlights

BUDGET 2020:

Snapshots If you missed Minister of Finance Mr Heng Swee Kiat’s Budget 2020 that he presented to Parliament on 18 February, here are some of the goodies he announced regarding enhancing Healthcare and Aged Care Support.

Healthcare subsidies of up to

80%

at Public Healthcare Institutions and Aged Care Services

CareShield Life and Long-Term Care Support Fund to strengthen support for long-term care

80%

Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), Pioneer Generation Package (PGP), and Merdeka Generation Package (MGP) to provide greater assurance of healthcare costs

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Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund to provide support for assistive devices and home healthcare items

hat’s Up

Congratulations to Dr Wong Sweet Fun, Our Exemplary Leader!

Besides spearheading the Population Health and Community Transformation (PHCT) team, Dr Wong has been part of many noteworthy initiatives. In her work to improve population health as well as drive individual autonomy and self-care, she established the Ageing-in-Place Community Care Team and Wellness Kampung, which were not only novel for their time, but have proven effective through the years.

Dr Wong has also played a crucial role in shaping organisational culture. She respects new ideas, encourages honest conversations, and creates a safe space for her team. By challenging people to ask questions and use Design Thinking, she has helped give rise to Goldlympics, Tri-Generational Home Care @ North West Project, and Mobile Community Nurse Post.

As CTO, Dr Wong oversees the KTPH Rapid Prototyping Grant, which supports staff innovation and funds prototypes.

But she also encourages the use of low-cost, everyday tools and methods. This includes the Share a Pot® and Able Studio programmes, and using the arts to Dr Wong Sweet Fun (left) being congratulated by Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, broach topics such as death and Yishun Health CEO, after receiving the Exemplary Leader Award at the Public Sector Transformation Awards 2020 Advance Care Planning.

More recently — highlighting her resourceful, knowledge-driven t the Public Sector Transformation Awards 2020 mindset — she supported staff in connecting with on 8 January 2020, Dr Wong Sweet Fun, Chief the American author of the Omaha System, a care Transformation Officer (CTO) and Deputy Chairman, documentation tool, to explore collaborations. It led Medical Board (Population Health), received the to a rippling effect that influenced Community Nursing Exemplary Leader Award in recognition of her leadership, practices from Yishun Health to other clusters and innovation and nurturing heart. even non-nursing staff.

A

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hat’s Up

Our Rainbow Connection: Coming Together to Support Inclusivity E

very Tuesday and Thursday, melodious piano music can be heard from the mezzanine of the KTPH lobby. The pianist, 18-year-old Chang Xun, has been performing for KTPH staff and visitors since 2017. Chang Xun, who is on the autism spectrum, has gained selfconfidence through this platform, which has helped him to self-regulate his emotions and behaviour. Chang Xun’s performances have been made possible under a partnership between Yishun Health and the Rainbow Centre, of which Chang Xun is a graduate.

Rainbow Centre is a special education school for children and youths with autism, developmental delay, and intellectual disabilities. It creates opportunities to make the most of their abilities and participate meaningfully in society through support, practical education, and training programmes.

The Rainbow Centre has been one of Yishun Health’s adopted charities for many years, and is part of our CSR outreach and commitment to build an inclusive workforce. We offer internships and on-the-job work training for students from the centre, equipping them with practical skills needed to gain employment in the future.

The Operations Department also organises an annual fundraising event. This year, we ramped up efforts to contribute to the building of Rainbow Centre’s third campus, located in Woodlands. Staff across Yishun Health rallied behind this cause and put up a Charity Concert on 17 January 2020. The event raised

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a total of $22,080, surpassing the $18,000 target.

Rainbow Centre’s Deputy Director for Communications, Partnership & Engagement, Mr Josh Lye, was heartened by the effort. Beyond the money raised, he praised the meaningful collaboration between the two organisations. “The effort Yishun Health put in to do a great job and to include our Rainbow Centre students, Unity Primary’s students and your staff, was clear. Thank you for your deep and abiding partnership; thank you for showing us what an inclusive community can look like.”

Top: Yishun Health Senior Management presenting the cheque to Ms Jessica Wee and Mr Josh Lye from the Rainbow Centre Middle & bottom: Yishun Health’s Operations Department organised the Charity Concert to raise funds for Rainbow Centre’s upcoming third campus

Light Up, Light Up: With Art from Our Patients’ Hopes and Dreams

F Top right: Kassie and Yan are volunteers who run the Japanese pastel art classes for YCH patients.

Some of the artworks created during those therapy sessions were replicated on a larger scale on the Merlion as light projections

rom 29–31 December 2019, iconic landmarks, such as the Merlion, Fullerton Hotel and the ArtScience Museum, were adorned with dazzling animated light projections, reflecting the hopes and dreams of our community.

These light projections were adapted from artworks created by the beneficiaries of four organisations, including YCH. This initiative was part of the Build a Dream campaign, a joint effort by the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown and the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre to support those in need.

Build a Dream is a collective effort to support the underserved in fulfilling their dreams and personal development. Artwork on the Merlion — featuring familiar scenes from our patient volunteer programmes, such as gardening, ukulele, befriending and Japanese pastel art — were created by YCH patients and volunteers.

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hat’s Up

Bringing the Christmas Cheer to One and All

E Top: The Hwa Chong Choir, rioHC, performing carols on 17 December 2019 to patients who were wheeled down from their wards Above & right: Members of the KTPH Christian Fellowship roved around various wards to sing Christmas carols to the patients

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ach year, as Christmas draws near, Yishun Health rolls out myriad programmes to bring the spirit of the season to patients, visitors and staff, from joyful jingles to festive foods.

Several performances were held to bring the gift of song and friendship to patients, and these were held at public lobbies as well as inpatient wards.

Last year, we continued the tradition of serving a delicious and healthy Christmas meal. On the menu at KTPH and YCH were dishes such as Christmas Chicken Roulade with Apricot Sauce, Turkey Bacon-Chicken Roulade with Orange Sauce, and Cream of Spinach.

These thoughtfully planned meals, prepared by our Food Services colleagues, gave inpatients a taste of the festive season even as they recover.

Disabled Does Not Mean Unable!

Y

ishun Health’s Rehabilitation Services marked Occupational Therapy (OT) Day on 9 January 2020 at the KTPH Lobby. This year, the team highlighted that disability does not mean total inability. Instead, it is possible to achieve independence and continue in activities again with the guidance of Occupational Therapists and other available resources. In partnership with ABLE Studio and Horticulture Therapy volunteers, they showcased mobility aids and therapeutic activities that enhance function and quality of life.

The OT team organised quizzes and exhibited OT equipment that are used during rehabilitation

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hat’s Up

Huat a Way to Celebrate Chinese New Year!

Above & left: Yishun Health volunteers and staff gathering for a festive luncheon and lo hei to kick-start the Year of the Rat

T

o ring in the Year of the Rat, Yishun Health — supported by staff, volunteers, community partners and residents — held a range of fun and meaningful engagement activities.

Below: Ms Eileen Cheah, Assistant Director, Nursing, was among the Senior Management staff who served lunch to our volunteers

Volunteer appreciation lunch, lo hei, and Lunar New Year shopping excursion On 8 January 2020, more than 50 Yishun Health volunteers and staff came together at YCH’s Level 2 Open Plaza for a New Year’s party.

2020: Time to CelebRATe was a special occasion organised to show our appreciation to all our valued volunteers from different programmes and activities. It was also a time for them to meet and make new friends.

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They were treated to a delicious meal prepared by YCH Kitchen Services, and served by Yishun Health Senior Management and staff as a way of expressing thanks and appreciation for their service and dedication. After their hearty lunch, they went on a Lunar New Year shopping trip to Woodlands Terrace Wholesale Market.

and Sunshine Buddies delivered the origami fishes to more than 800 KTPH and YCH patients. As an added reminder, the Patient Experience Office collaborated with the Nutrition & Dietetics department to attach a card with healthy eating tips to each Happy Fish, nudging the patients to eat wisely.

Wishing one and all a ‘mice’ Lunar New Year

Each Happy Fish came with a personal touch and a healthy nudge. Together with the Sunshine Buddies, Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, Yishun Health CEO (top), and Dr Lee Kok Keng, Medical Director, YCH (above), gifted Happy Fishes to patients, wishing them abundant health and happiness

Bringing well-wishes of abundant good health to inpatients Our Sunshine Buddies, volunteers who regularly engage with patients in the wards, initiated the idea of gifting hand-folded angbao fish, or ‘Happy Fish’, as way to cheer up patients spending their Chinese New Year away from home. Over two weeks in January, patients, caregivers, staff and volunteers took part in the fishfolding activity, which was held at the YCH lobby. Many were in between appointments or visiting loved ones, and found this to be a meaningful way to spend their time. The target of 800 Happy Fishes was quickly surpassed — a total of 1,200 cute origami fishes were made!

On 22 and 23 January 2020, Yishun Health Senior Management

This festive period also saw our Human Resource colleagues continue their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) tradition for the fourth year. Our HR team conducted a fun and meaningful art-and-craft session for the residents. They handfolded cute angbao mice and pandan roses specially for Singapore Christian Home (SCH) residents and Wellness Kampung participants.

Above: KTPH and YCH Food Services came up with a healthier version of popular Lunar New Year dishes, such as pencai (盆菜).

Cooking Up a Feast for Our Patients KTPH and YCH Food Services whipped up traditional meals specially for patients during the Chinese New Year festive period, including a version of the reunion seafood dish, pencai. This version of the popular dish was healthy and tasty — minus the calories, excess salt and MSG! Over at YCH Food Services, wholesome double-boiled chicken soup was served, paired with a green apple chicken roll with citrus peach and plum sauce, and side servings of broccoli and mushroom.

The Yishun Health CSR team and volunteers joined the HR team to visit SCH on 16 January 2020

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potlight

NURTURING THE ROOTS

Mrs Rosalind Tan, Mr Simon Chan and Mr Mark Lim lead Yishun Health’s in-house landscaping team

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OF CULTURE Sustainable growth starts with deeply rooted foundations.

This is where gardens and organisational culture dovetail. A dedicated in-house landscaping team leverages greenery as a platform for healthful engagement, supporting Yishun Health’s mission of healing and health.

T

he signature greenery of KTPH and YCH is a nod to Yishun Health’s heritage from its Alexandra Hospital (AH) beginnings. It was there that Mrs Rosalind Tan, then a veteran Occupational Therapist, was tasked to beautify the grounds.

At the time, in 2002, she had already served 39 years in healthcare and was approaching retirement. Taking up the unique challenge, she began to integrate plants, flowers and even fruit orchards into the landscape. In the beginning, she did not know very much about plants, but was unfazed. “I had no horticulture or botany training, just an interest and willingness to work and do hands-on work,” she shares.

Since then, Rosalind has spent close to two decades tending to the

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potlight

“We act as champions to ensure that the culture of greening, healing and sustainability is carried on and nurtured.”

MRS ROSALIND TAN

plants, shrubs and gardens of AH, then KTPH and YCH. Today, she and her small but efficient team oversee the landscaping needs across KTPH and YCH. Not surprisingly, Rosalind is fondly known as Yishun Health’s ‘Chief Gardener’.

The team has done extensive work. Although the hospital grounds are a third the size of AH, it has achieved a similar extent of greenery. “We went upwards, utilising the rooftops and walls,” explains Mr Simon Chan, who works closely with Rosalind in the landscaping team. From rooftop farms, window boxes, vertical greening and pocket gardens, the development has achieved an impressive green plot ratio of 3.92*.

There are 13 gardens across the hospital campus, including eight rooftop gardens, where more than 50 varieties of fruit trees and 51 types of vegetables and herbs are grown. Upon harvesting, some of

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The fruit of the landscape team’s labours

A volunteer tending to her vegetables

these are used in meals served to patients, while the rest is sold, with the funds channelled back to the gardens.

A COMMUNITY EFFORT To keep all this greenery costefficient and sustainable, the team has made the distinct move to engage volunteers. While manual and heavy-duty work is done by contractors, a dedicated group of some 20 community volunteers work almost daily to tend to crops.

Mr Mark Lim, who is in charge of ground operations and volunteer management, ensures that these volunteering sessions are meaningful so that the hard work of keeping the gardens going can be sustained over time. “Our volunteers are a critical part of our operations,” he says. “Their service and dedication to this programme help us be as selfsustainable as possible.”

THE GREEN CULTURE CONNECTION Simon, who used to volunteer at AH and now works for Yishun Health, sees the connection between his work and passion for gardening and the larger operational mission of the hospital. While his primary role in the team is in administration and procurement to keep things running smoothly, it is more than just paperwork or planting to him; it is an effort that aligns with the big picture of driving healing, sustainability and wellness.

*A green plot ratio is the amount of greenery in relation to the built environment.

At 3.92, KTPH has nearly four units of green area for each unit of ground area.

Greenery is not confined to the gardens in Yishun Health

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potlight

“The community engagement of volunteers in the maintenance of the gardens is a healthy physical and social activity that also supports the hospital’s health-promotion efforts.”

MR SIMON CHAN

He notes, “The community engagement of volunteers in the maintenance of the gardens is a healthy physical and social activity that also supports the hospital’s health-promotion efforts.”

As Rosalind puts it, the team does more than oversee the landscaping maintenance of

the entire hospital. “We act as champions to ensure that the culture of greening, healing and sustainability is carried on and nurtured,” she explains. “As an in-house team, we understand the history of our greening efforts and support the whole integrated picture.”

This idea of integration has led to a campus-wide ecosystem that has become home for birds, butterflies, fishes and other animals.

The ponds are teeming with more than 100 species of fish, while more than 99 species of butterfly and 88 species of bird have been spotted within the hospital grounds.

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM Rare insects have been spotted at KTPH, much to the delight of nature enthusiasts.

In December 2019, two species of dragonfly were seen at KTPH: Sultan (Camacinia gigantean) and Spoon-tailed Duskhawker (Gynacantha basiguttata)

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In October 2017, the locally extinct Clipper (Parthenos sylvia lilacinus) was seen in the Medicinal Garden

Influent Royal (Tajuria dominus dominus) has been spotted frequently

Mark, a bird enthusiast, points out that birds such as the Peregrine Falcon, Common Kingfisher, Blue-winged Pitta, as well as Herons and Egrets can be frequently spotted. Recently, a Dusky Warbler — last seen in Singapore in 1995 — landed in the KTPH gardens, attracting hordes of bird enthusiasts and avid photographers.

“We want to bring nature to the doorstep of our patients. It helps support their overall wellness,” Rosalind says. “Our greenery attracts not only wildlife, but people who come for leisure. It is all part of placemaking.”

Adds Mark, “It is rewarding to bring nature to patients and people, and connect them with not only the beauty of nature, but its benefits.”

GREEN AND GREEN Yishun Health’s greening efforts are designed to be as self-sustaining and cost-efficient as possible. Apart from recruiting volunteers, the following are other ideas that have been implemented: • Water from the pond is used for irrigation, thereby saving resources • Native plants across the hospital have been selected for their hardiness and their ability to form symbiotic relationships with each other and reduce the need for maintenance • Urban farming innovations, such as aquaponics and hydroponics systems, have been integrated into the gardens to ramp up agricultural output, with the goal of growing more vegetables for patients • Composting and food digesters are used to produce in-house fertilisers • Recycling is prevalent: banana trunks are used to make strings, disposable pillow cases are turned into bags, plastic bottles are upcycled to house seedlings • A portion of the harvest from the gardens is sold to the public at a mini fruit and vegetable market held along the KTPH link bridge three times a week, with proceeds channelled back to the green fund for the maintenance of the gardens

“It is rewarding to bring nature to patients and people, and connect them with not only the beauty of nature, but its benefits.”

MR MARK LIM

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Cover Story

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DESIGNED FOR HEALTH PART 3 OF 3

VITAL SPACES:

DESIGNING A HEALTHFUL CULTURE From our genes and lifestyle to accessibility and affordability, health stems from a multiplicity of factors. Even the environment we live in can support healthy choices in more ways than we think. At Yishun Health, we have created intentional spaces that drive healthy actions, habits and decisions, nurturing a culture of wellness that goes beyond medicine.

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Cover Story

H

ealth stems from the spaces and places in which we live, work, play and interact. As a hospital, it was only natural to build a place that supports health in all its facets — from seamless, integrated care to engaging multipurpose public spaces that facilitate exercise, offer sanctuary and drive social connections.

This is what led to the vision of a multifaceted Healthropolis, which the pioneering team conceptualised as a healing environment designed not just for quality healthcare, but also overall health of individuals, organisation and community. Since the early planning stages, Yishun Health has aimed to build more than just a healthcare facility that treats disease reactively.

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The cornerstone of a preventive approach had to encompass education and engagement, and the right environment to support this. To be a Health-Promoting Hospital, we had to start from the ground up.

In designing for sustainability and the environment, we design for communities and for health.

FROM PLANTS TO PLACEMAKING Mrs Rosalind Tan, Yishun Health’s ‘Chief Gardener’, notes that the hospitals’ gardens and landscaping is greenery with a purpose. “It has always been planned and integrated into the development from Day 1 as part of our mission

of health.” (Turn to page 12 to read more about Rosalind and her landscaping team’s work in keeping our grounds green).

Apart from the emotional wellbeing that comes from being in nature, this greenery draws in the community, making the hospital more than a place for the sick.

To maximise the shared value of public spaces and the opportunity to engage the community, subtle messaging and passive design have been used to promote health and well-being. These attract residents to make use of the hospital grounds and benefit from the space as well.

Take Yishun resident, Mr Daniel Chan, 58, a former patient who returns to KTPH for more than

DESIGNED FOR HEALTH PART 3 OF 3

“We use behavioural economics to add more layers to what we can do as a healthcare organisation. This is where the idea of stealth health comes in, nudges that subtly remind and reinforce positive and healthy choices.”

DR WONG SWEET FUN CHIEF TRANSFORMATION OFFICER & DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, MEDICAL BOARD (POPULATION HEALTH) medical treatment. He frequently has breakfast at Foodfare@KTPH after his morning exercise around the pond. “It’s a nice area. And it’s convenient for me to grab a bite after my walk,” he says.

Another visitor, Mr Ahmad Farid, loves the “healing oasis that heals everyone who enters”. “Who says hospitals can’t feel like gardens or resorts?” he challenges. “This is so much more than a hospital. It is for people to relax, pursue passions and be healthy.”

USING SPACES TO SHIFT FROM HEALTHCARE TO HEALTH Dr Wong Sweet Fun, Chief Transformation Officer and

Deputy Chairman, Medical Board (Population Health), points out that Yishun Health’s person-centred approach is applied to not just healthcare delivery, but also in the promotion of health. “Patients are at the centre of what we do and how we develop processes that make a difference to their care,” she says.

This also means looking at how to keep people healthy when they are not sick. “We use behavioural economics to add more layers to what we can do as a healthcare organisation. This is where the idea of stealth health comes in, nudges that subtly remind and reinforce positive and healthy choices.”

For example, the environment and physical infrastructure have

been thoughtfully designed to facilitate an active lifestyle. The site of the hospital, located next to a storm pond, was deliberate.

What was an unattractive body of water — once filled with rubbish and surrounded by sparse vegetation — has been transformed and integrated into the development as a lush, enticing promenade with a running track and an exercise corner.

“We encourage staff to be positive role models in encouraging and motivating healthy habits,” says Dr Wong. This role-modelling builds social norms, she elaborates.

“When they saw people exercising around the promenade, residents began to join in; now there is a buzz of activity around the pond.” Across the hospital, a similar approach is seen in health messages, which encourage people to take the stairs, make healthier food choices, and be mindful of one’s weight.

Other touches come in the form of subliminal design. For example, to nudge people towards healthier choices, beverages with the Healthier Choice symbol are placed prominently at eye level, while higher-sugar and lowerfibre items are priced higher than their healthier counterparts. The menu boards also highlight the calories of dishes for customers to make more informed choices.

These efforts shift behaviour in small but significant ways, augmenting the health-promoting initiatives that Yishun Health does as a healthcare provider.

“Championing a healthy lifestyle has always been part of NTUC Foodfare’s DNA. We are pleased to partner Yishun Health in providing a wider range of healthier food options for the hospital staff,

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Cover Story

patients and visitors in a clean and sustainable environment,” reveals a spokesperson for NTUC Foodfare.

HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, HEALTHY BODY

This conscious effort to create a welcoming environment for our residents and design public spaces as health-promoting platforms is strongly linked to Yishun Health’s sustainability efforts. There is an intimate relationship between environment and human health.

We have — since our early days — endeavoured to nurture a culture that sees health and environment as one.

While the greenery and biodiversity in the campus are

the most obvious marks of Yishun Health’s commitment, the effort stems from the ground up, and is built into our very operations, where environmental responsibility is emphasised in daily actions and mindsets.

This is exemplified in the Yishun Health concept of the ‘sustainability Rs’ [see illustration below].

Apart from ‘reduce’, ‘reuse’ and ‘recycle’, the organisation strongly emphasises a fourth R: ‘refuse’.

There is a waste hierarchy that takes a preventive approach to waste. By first refusing non-biodegradable or single-use items, it addresses the root of the problem, consuming less right from the start.

HOW CAN YOU GO GREEN WITH US? • Bring your own bags to collect your medicines or purchases from the pharmacy • Go straw-free and drink straight from the cup • Bring your own cups or take-out containers to receive a discount from most eateries on campus • Refuse paper receipts • Donate carrier bags to the Pharmacy or ABLE Studio for others to reuse

YISHUN HEALTH’S WASTE HIERARCHY: SUSTAINABILITY Rs

Refuse

1ST • Refuse the consumption of things we do not need, especially single-use and/or nonbiodegradable consumables.

Reduce

2ND • Reduce the consumption of resources and utilities through frugality.

• Reduce the volume of items disposed through prudent consumption.

Most Frequent

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Reuse

3RD • Reuse items to maximise their lifespan.

• Repair items, if required, to continue reusing them.

Recycle

4TH • Recycle whenever and wherever possible instead of discarding into general waste streams.

Least Frequent

DESIGNED FOR HEALTH PART 3 OF 3

Besides medical appointments, the open and healing environment of KTPH encourages the community to visit for leisure!

This approach paints a larger picture about how being green is a way of life and a part of culturebuilding. This means driving sustainability from the ground up in everyday actions and reinforcing it actively across organisational practices.

At the institutional level, for example, Yishun Health’s Green Philosophy is formalised in internal procurement practices and tenancy contracts. There are policies in place to ensure that environmentally hazardous consumables are neither purchased nor used in the hospital. Tenants, too, are encouraged to adhere to the hospital’s Green Policy, which sets out guidelines for sustainable, resource-efficient practices.

GROUND-UP SUPPORT Green behaviour is also encouraged throughout the hospital. Patients,

visitors and staff are reminded to make sustainability a way of life through awareness campaigns, posters, as well as various 4R initiatives. Such initiatives include reusing plastic bags and the reducing of single-use plastic consumables. A small charge for plastic bags has been levied since 2010 and, in 2017, the hospital’s pharmacy began encouraging patients and visitors to donate carrier bags for reuse. Hearteningly, many of these initiatives are being driven by our vendors, who have taken ownership and implemented their own sustainable practices, showing how Yishun Health’s culture of sustainability has expanded.

In solidarity with our efforts, our tenants, Subway and FairPrice Xpress, charge $0.10 for a plastic bag to discourage the use of nonbiodegradables. Ollo, the automated laundromat service, has replaced plastic bags with reusable woven

bags. All our F&B partners have come aboard our straw-free initiative, which began in September 2018; this means more than 800 plastic straws a month are saved from ending up as waste after one use. On the back-end, even our linen laundering partner, Zero Spot, has implemented various energy- and water-saving measures to reduce its carbon footprint.

These actions, taken daily in ways big and small, all add up.

And it is an ongoing journey to inculcate a culture of sustainability and appreciate its link to health and well-being. Ultimately, says Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, CEO, Yishun Health, these efforts not only reduce operating cost and carbon footprint, but also profoundly impact the quality of care for patients. “We do all this not to take away from the clinical work we do, but to drive healthcare value.”

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Things About...

5 Things About...

Mala

The hottest food trend has been, well, a hot one. But go easy on the mala, especially if you are watching your weight or have a sensitive tummy.

In consultation with Ms Seow Vi Vien, Dietitian, Nutrition & Dietetics, KTPH

T

he addictive tingle and burn of the Szechuan pepper can be found in everything from hotpot to potato chips these days. While the spice can add an intoxicating kick to your meal, Ms Seow Vi Vien, Dietitian, KTPH, highlights five important things to note even as you get your mala (麻辣) on.

1

SPICY FOOD IS GOOD FOR YOU…

Spicy foods such as chillies are concentrated sources of fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Capsaicin, the chemical compound that gives spicy food its punch, is also associated with small increases in temperature and metabolism.

Some studies indicate a positive correlation between spice-heavy diets and longevity. A 2015 study by a group of researchers for China Kadoorie Biobank observed that spicy food consumption was inversely associated with the risks of death due to cancer, ischaemic

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heart diseases, and respiratory diseases. Another study in 2017 by the University of Vermont found a 13% lower risk of death among chilli lovers and lower rates of inflammatory disease.

2

…TO AN EXTENT

However, it is important to note that more research is needed to confirm the benefits of spicy foods such as mala. Many of the benefits do not translate in realistic terms.

For instance, spicy foods alone are not significant sources of nutrients, and have to be eaten in substantial amounts to confer meaningful benefits. And although there are qualitative reports suggesting that spicy foods may boost metabolism and support weight loss, the evidence to date is insufficient to warrant eating spicy food as a feasible way to lose weight.

3

4

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

The nutrition and benefits of spicy food can also be outweighed by the way that mala food is prepared.

Many of such dishes are cooked in a sauce that contains a large quantity of sugar, salt and oil.

Compared to fresh chilli, this spicy sauce is a lot more calorie-laden — a typical meal can easily exceed the recommended daily sodium intake.

In addition, the spicy sauce may not be as healthful compared to fresh chilli [refer to sidebar]. The China Kadoorie Biobank study compared the disease rate of fresh chilli and non-fresh chilli eaters, and found that death due to cancer, diabetes and heart disease was lower among the group who predominantly ate unprocessed chillies.

5

SPICE THINGS UP – IN MODERATION

THERE MAY BE MORE CALORIES THAN THE SPICE IS WORTH

If you have gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux or stomach ulcer, excessively spicy food can make the problem worse. While spicy foods do not cause ulcers or refluxes, they can irritate the stomach and gut, increasing the severity of symptoms. Over-spicy foods can also cause diarrhoea in those not used to eating such dishes.

There are ways to spice up your meal without going overboard. Use fresh chillies and low-sodium soy sauce in moderation, or use mala spices in soup rather than in a sauce. You can also add a dash of hot sauce, or sprinkle chilli flakes or ground cayenne pepper for a lower-calorie option to sodium-, sugarand oil-laden sauces.

Mala Xiang Guo seasoning (per 100g)

Chilli sauce with oil (per 100g)

Fried sambal with oil (per 100g)

Fresh-cut chilli (per 100g)

Calories

Calories

Calories

Calories

670 kcal

864 kcal

280 kcal

40 kcal

Fat

Fat

Fat

Fat

79 g

75 g

21.2 g

0.4 g

Sodium

Sodium

Sodium

Sodium

2,627 mg

2,592 mg

73 mg

0 mg | 25

akan Time

Monkey Head Mushroom Satay Make this tasty vegetarian satay as a healthy starter or snack.

Recipe provided by Chef Muazzin Shah Bin Mohd Shah, Sous Chef, Food Services, KTPH, in consultation with Nutrition & Dietetics, KTPH

26 | 26

cut & keep

Monkey Head Mushroom Satay INGREDIENTS SERVES 10 Satay sauce • 300g raw peanuts • 100g blue ginger paste • 250g lemongrass paste • 250g ginger paste • 100g garlic paste • 200g shallot paste • 1tbsp soybean oil • Salt and sugar to taste Mushroom • 700g monkey head mushroom • 30g turmeric powder • 30g cumin powder • 60g coriander powder • 30g brown sugar

METHOD

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (PER SERVING) Energy

452kcal

Carbohydrate

21g

Protein

22g

Fat

30g

• Saturated

3g

• Polyunsaturated

3g

• Monounsaturated

10g

Cholesterol

0mg

Dietary Fibre

15g

Sodium

173mg

Satay sauce 1. Pre-heat the oven to 110°C 2. Roast the peanuts for 15–20 minutes till golden brown, then crush them coarsely using a blender 3. In a medium pan, pre-heat the oil, add in all the spice paste and fry till fragrant 4. Add the crushed peanuts and continue to stir-fry for another 15–20 minutes 5. Season the sauce with salt and sugar.

Grilled mushroom satay 1. In a mixing bowl, combine the turmeric, cumin, coriander and sugar, then toss in the monkey head mushroom and marinate for 3 hours 2. Thread 3 or 4 pieces of mushroom onto each skewer 3. Grill on medium heat till mushrooms are golden brown 4. Serve with cucumber, shallots and satay sauce

| 27

aily Dose

Sleep Apnoea — get it checked before surgery

Untreated sleep apnoea is linked to an increased risk of heart problems and other health conditions. A recent KTPH study has revealed other significant implications for the condition, underscoring the need for more awareness, diagnosis and treatment.

In consultation with A/Prof Edwin Seet, Senior Consultant, Anaesthesia, KTPH

I

n the first large-scale, multicountry study of its kind, severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been linked with cardiovascular complications from surgery. Those with severe OSA were twice as likely to suffer from complications such as heart failure, damage to the heart muscle, as well as an irregular and rapid heart rate.

The Singapore cohort — led by A/Prof Edwin Seet, Senior Consultant, Anaesthesia, KTPH — studied more than 1,200 patients from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Canada and New Zealand for a few years.

It revealed that, compared to those who did not have the condition, adult patients with severe OSA were more than twice as likely to suffer from cardiovascular complications after surgery, and 14 times more likely to die within a month of surgery. This strongly points to the need for OSA assessment before any major surgery, and for necessary precautions during and after surgery.

However, OSA is a condition that is underdiagnosed. A/Prof Seet points out that the study found that 60% of the participants had undiagnosed OSA and 10% had undiagnosed severe and significant OSA. In Singapore, about one-third of Singaporeans in the general

28 |

population have sleep apnoea — most of whom are unaware of it.

“It is very well known that patients with severe and untreated OSA are more likely to die from a heart attack or stroke in the long term, but this is the first robust study to show that even a short surgery period will make a difference to adverse outcomes,” says A/Prof Seet. He adds that anaesthetics during surgery can worsen OSA because it increases the obstruction.

In the study, cardiovascular complications typically happened within a week for patients with severe

OSA, which underscores the need for pre-surgery assessment. At KTPH, a risk-assessment tool for OSA called STOP-Bang is mandatory for all surgical patients. Those with OSA are more carefully monitored; doctors can also opt for shorter-acting anaesthetics and/or fewer opioids.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in May 2019, will be followed up to look at possible interventions.

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA (OSA) In OSA, breathing Obstructive Sleep Normal Sleep repeatedly stops and starts during sleep because the airway muscles intermittently relax, blocking the flow of oxygen. It causes loud snoring, excessive Normal breathing, open Fully blocked airway daytime sleepiness, and airway, tongue relaxed high blood pressure. In (falling slightly back) Singapore, the condition affects about one in four men and one in 10 women.

Scan the QR code to check your STOP-Bang score and learn if you have OSA — then consult your doctor to learn how to manage your condition.

COVID-19

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF? Remain vigilant, adopt good personal hygiene practices and exercise the following precautions at all times

Do

Observe good personal hygiene

Practise frequent hand washing with soap

Wear a mask if you have a cough or runny nose

Cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing

PAS S

POR T

Dispose soiled tissue papers and masks in the rubbish bin immediately

Seek medical attention promptly if you are feeling unwell

Travellers should monitor their health closely

Inform your doctor of your travel history

Avoid

Contact with live animals, poultry and birds

Consumption of raw and undercooked meats

Crowded areas or close contact with people who are unwell

For the latest updates on the situation, you may refer to MOH’s website at https://www.moh.gov.sg/

ind & Health

1

HEALTH IN BLOOM

Yishun Health has, since its earliest days, incorporated design — particularly landscaping — as part of the healing process. The campus provides fertile ground for many flowering plants. Can you name them by sight? There are clues to help you along. Try to spot them the next time you visit KTPH!

1 Bu

er

2 F

gipa

yP

2

3 L t 4 30 |

ate

L

y

| 31

4 3

ANSWERS 1 Butterfly Pea / 2 Frangipani / 3 Lotus / 4 Water Lily / 5 Red Hibiscus / 6 Ixora / 7 Torch Ginger / 8 Heliconia / 9 Balsam Flower / 10 Lantana

10 La

5

an 6

ed H

9 7 T

ch

8 I

ra

isc s

7

ing 8

5 B

ls m Fl

6 H

lic

9

ia er 10

Community Nurse Post

Wellness Kampung

Wellness Kampung is an initiative comprising three wellness and care centres for residents in the north. They provide a suite of health and social programmes, creating a support network for residents to inspire each other to adopt healthier lifestyles in a close-knit 'kampung' setting.

Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays, 8.30am to 5.30pm (closed on Saturdays, Sundays and all Public Holidays)

115 Chong Pang

260 Nee Soon East

765 Nee Soon

Blk 115 Yishun Ring Road #01-495, Singapore 760115

Blk 260 Yishun Street 22 #01-87, Singapore 760260

Blk 765 Yishun Street 72 #01-366, Singapore 760765

6257 4702

6257 4802

6257 4842

Admiralty Medical Centre (AdMC) AdMC is a one-stop medical centre for specialist outpatient consultation, day surgery, rehabilitation and diagnostic services, as well as community health outreach activities.

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH)

KTPH is a 795-bed general and acute care hospital serving more than 800,000 people living in the north of Singapore.

It combines medical expertise with high standards of personalised care in a healing environment, to provide care good enough for our own loved ones.

Yishun Community Hospital (YCH)

YCH provides intermediate care for recuperating patients who do not require the intensive services of an acute care hospital. Situated beside KTPH, the two hospitals provide an integrated care experience for patients.

676 Woodlands Drive 71, #03-01 Kampung Admiralty, Singapore 730676

90 Yishun Central Singapore 768828

2 Yishun Central 2 Singapore 768024

6807 8000

6555 8000

6807 8800

www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg

www.ktph.com.sg

www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg

www.fb.com/admiraltymedicalcentre

www.fb.com/khooteckpuathospital

www.fb.com/yishuncommunityhospital