A ‘buddy’ for workers

​JCH Dr Scott Wong, Medical Officer, designed and built Covid Buddy to enable patients – the majority of whom are foreign workers – to communicate better with healthcare staff.

All in the same fight

​This photo story shares the measures that Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) and Jurong Community Hospital (JCH) have taken to combat a surge in patient numbers at NTFGH emergency department since March 2020 when the SAFRA Jurong cluster emerged, and more recently, migrant workers from the dormitories in the West. The Community Hub at JCH was converted to house patients awaiting their COVID-19 swab results. In addition, six floors of wards were converted to cohort wards to house patients who are mostly clinically stable.

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
  

Weaving Together Tales of Dementia

NTFGH embarks on a community sensory sewing project designed to help reduce agitation and restlessness in dementia patients, and features 200 of these sensory mats in the three-day Arts&Health Festival at the Level 2 linkbridge between Towers A and B of the hospital

Dedicated nurses’ contribution to community recognised

Leveraging technology to improve rehabilitation

​​Head & Senior Principal Physiotherapist, Qiu Wenjing, and Head & Senior Principal Occupational Therapist, Chen Changwu from JCH explained how rehabilitation can leverage on technology to improve patient care. Through the use of smart robots such as SynPhNe and Andago, patients can expect better outcomes and regain their confidence faster. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists can also track and prescribe treatment better.