On the front lines of a pandemic

​This photo essay on The Straits Times follows the life of Dr Lawrence Lam, Family Physician, Pioneer Polyclinic, depicting his experience of working in the frontline to manage the coronavirus outbreak.

Two new polyclinics to open in Kaki Bukit and Tengah by 2025

Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor shared more details about Tengah Polyclinic at a community event in Bukit Batok on Saturday, 23 November 2019.

No detail is too small

​This article features Sister Diana Ong, Nurse Manager, Jurong Polyclinic, who is involved in the development of the upcoming Bukit Panjang Polyclinic, which will open in 2020. She shares about what her role entails and what her career in nursing has been like thus far.

Docs involve patients in clinical process to spur lifestyle changes

In conjunction with World Diabetes Day, NUHS shared several of its initiatives across its member institutions to improve diabetes care. One of them is the Year of Care programme, which involved transforming consultations into meaningful dialogues to motivate diabetes patients to self-manage their condition. Patients will also receive their test results prior to appointment, enabling them to take control of their lifestyle habits. Since being piloted at NUH in 2018, the programme yielded positive results which was shared during the NUHS media briefing last week.

Time to redefine the doctor-patient relationship in diabetes management

​Penned by Dr Lew Yii Jen, Chief Executive Officer, National University Polyclinics and Dr Sue-Anne Toh, Chief Executive Officer, NOVI Health, the article urges readers to re-think the relationship between diabetic patients and primary care doctors to ensure the success of managing the disease as a community.

植入心脏监视器 阻止无声杀手 “行凶” (Using Insertable Cardiac Monitors to detect Atrial Fibrillation, a condition that is commonly referred to as a ‘silent killer’)

The Heart Rhythm and Stroke teams at National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) and National University Hospital (NUH) conducted a multidisciplinary, four-year study to better detect Atrial Fibrillation (AF) using Insertable Cardiac Monitors (ICMs) in cryptogenic stroke patients.
 
The study found that ICMs are seven times more effective than traditional methods in detecting AF. Ng Teng Fong General Hospital will be introducing the use of ICMs to detect AF in cryptogenic stroke patients from December 2019.
 
National University Health System (NUHS) also embarked on its first-in-Asia pilot study of a nurse-led, integrated care clinic in the community for AF patients with multiple chronic conditions at Bukit Batok Polyclinic. The clinic helps such patients to monitor their blood pressure and sugar levels, and educates them on managing their weight, diet and lifestyle habits. It gives patients a one-stop location to visit to manage AF and other chronic conditions, reducing cost and time. Till date, the clinic has seen about 80 patients and will expand its operating hours to cope with increased load.

武吉巴督东成为第八个失智友善社区 (Bukit Batok becomes the eighth dementia-friendly community)

​NUP in collaboration with the Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Centre (SHATEC) developed healthy recipes that are good for the brain and can help seniors prevent dementia. At HeARTS!, the health and wellbeing carnival organised by Bukit Batok East grassroots and Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) on 3 November to promote active ageing and awareness of dementia, NUP Senior Dietitian Janie Chua and the students of SHATEC conducted a cooking demonstration for the seniors to share the recipes. 

• Lianhe Wanbao, Sunday, 3 November 2019
  
• Shin Min Daily News, Sunday, 3 November 2019

Tiny device detects heart problems, alerts doc immediately

The Heart Rhythm and Stroke teams at National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) and National University Hospital (NUH) conducted a multidisciplinary, four-year study to better detect Atrial Fibrillation (AF) using Insertable Cardiac Monitors (ICMs) in cryptogenic stroke patients.
 
The study found that ICMs are seven times more effective than traditional methods in detecting AF. Ng Teng Fong General Hospital will be introducing the use of ICMs to detect AF in cryptogenic stroke patients from December 2019.
 
National University Health System (NUHS) also embarked on its first-in-Asia pilot study of a nurse-led, integrated care clinic in the community for AF patients with multiple chronic conditions at Bukit Batok Polyclinic. The clinic helps such patients to monitor their blood pressure and sugar levels, and educates them on managing their weight, diet and lifestyle habits. It gives patients a one-stop location to visit to manage AF and other chronic conditions, reducing cost and time. The clinic is expanding its operating hours to cope with increased load.

National University Health System (NUHS)’s multi-disciplinary team study on 205 patients over four years, saw early detection of Heart Rhythm Disorder – a major cause of Fatal Stroke

Singapore hospitals take steps to protect patients from haze; air quality forecast to improve

The National University Health System (NUHS) – which manages several hospitals, including National University Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Alexandra Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital – has implemented measures to maintain indoor air quality amidst the haze.

They include shutting windows in the naturally-ventilated patient areas, deploying portable air cooling and purifying units and installing filters to the air-conditioning systems in the buildings to minimise pollutants and smell in the air.

Senior security officer Haron Jasmin, 65, who is currently warded in Alexandra Hospital commented on how he found the air in the ward smells fresh and nice despite having the windows being closed.

Staff who are susceptible to the haze condition will be redeployed to work indoors. At Alexandra Hospital, security personnel wear masks when deployed outdoors for patrolling and the daily frequency for groundskeeping such as portering and landscaping has been reduced.

At NUHS polyclinics, the elderly, pregnant women, children and those with existing chronic respiratory and heart diseases will be given priority for consultations and treatment.

• The New Paper, 24 September 2019
  
• Channel News Asia Online, 24 September 2019
  
• Berita Harian Online, 24 September 2019
  

免更快变质 储存食物有方法 (Ways to store food to prevent spoilage)

​Lynette Goh, NUP Principal Dietitian, shares the dangers of consuming food that has gone bad and some of the proper ways to store food to prevent undue spoilage.

最佳食用期限 有效期限 有什么不同 (What is the difference between ‘best before’ dates and expiration dates?)

Lynette Goh, NUP Principal Dietitian, explains the difference between the ‘best before’ dates and expiration dates found on food labels. She also shares that rather than relying solely on these dates, it is more important to store the food properly.

Doc Talk: Don't let yourself get frail with age

​Dr Richard Hui, Head, Choa Chu Polyclinic, sheds light on frailty, a condition that affects about 10% of patients with multiple illnesses. He highlights that frailty can be managed or reversed through regular exercise, avoiding unnecessary medication, a healthy diet, good control of chronic diseases, adequate rest, an active mind and strong social support. He explains how the polyclinic works hand in hand with other agencies in the community to help patients with frailty, and encourages readers to build up their physical, mental, emotional and social reserves by adopting a healthy lifestyle at a younger age.

Five nurses get President’s Award for their contributions

​Ms Jancy Mathews, Chief Nurse, National University Polyclinics was one of five nurses to receive the highest honour in the local nursing profession, the President’s Award for Nurses at the Istana on Wednesday, 24 July 2019. Established in 2000, the President’s Award for Nurses recognises nurses who have been exceptional in patient care, leadership, mentorship, research and administration, and engage in continual learning to develop the nursing profession and nurture young nurses. 

• Lianhe Zaobao, 25 July 2019, Page 10

MOH to ban key source of artificial trans fat in food like cookies and pizzas from June 2021

​Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Home Affairs Amrin Amin announced that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the main source of artificial trans fats, will be banned as an ingredient in all foods sold in Singapore from June 2021, as part of ongoing efforts to encourage healthier eating habits among Singaporeans. Ms Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian, National University Polyclinics, weighed in on the harms of trans fat and why it is important to remove it from our diets.

• The Straits Times, 7 June 2019, Page A3
• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 June 2019, Page 1
• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 June 2019, Page 10
• Channel 8 News, 6 June 2019 (9:40 to 11:43)
  
• CNA Singapore Tonight, 6 June 2019 (5:05 to 8:17)
  
• News 5 Tonight, 6 June 2019 (8:11 to 11:29)