本地两家医院联合举办第七届艺术与健康节 (Local hospitals organise seventh Arts&Health Festival)

​The seventh Arts&Health Festival organised by NTFGH and JCH is taking place from 20 to 22 September. featuring exhibitions, performances and workshops that will bring joy to patients and visitors. The six exhibitions by local artists showcase the collective creative contributions of about 500 patients, community partners, caregivers, staff and public. Mr Lee Sze-Chin, an art therapist at JCH, shared how he leveraged artificial intelligence in art therapy and generated a series of artworks which are exhibited at the festival.

National Heart Centre launches $4.7m study to tackle frailty, delay onset of cardiovascular disease

​Alexandra Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital are participating institutions in a five-year research study conducted by National Heart Centre Singapore aimed at delaying the onset of cardiovascular disease by addressing frailty in older adults. The study, funded by a $4.7 million grant from Ministry of Health, involves a comprehensive 12-week programme that includes a meal plan and customised exercise regimen to improve the cardiovascular health of participants. The study aims to recruit 400 participants who are either cardiac frail or at risk of frailty.

‘You never know when it might be the last time you see someone’: 4 S’pore healthcare workers on why they do what they do

A sponsored article by MOH Holdings featured four dedicated healthcare professionals who shared their fulfilling experiences in the challenging healthcare industry.

Ms Lau Yi Yin, Senior Occupational Therapist at Jurong Community Hospital, recounted her encounter with a patient named Jason, highlighting the significance of small wins and effective communication in healthcare.

Ms Heng Shu Fen, Staff Nurse at the Emergency Medicine Department in National University Hospital, shared a touching story of an elderly couple's devotion to each other during their hospitalisation, emphasising the importance of meaningful moments in patient care.

• The Crowd Review, 7 September 2023, ‘You never know when it might be the last time you see someone’: 4 S’pore healthcare workers on why they do what they do
  

老人跌倒如何防？(How to prevent falls in older adults?)

​Ms Elizabeth Low, Occupational Therapist, JCH, shared that in Singapore, falls are the leading mechanical cause among older adults sustaining trauma injuries as presented in the Emergency Department, with 74.1% of the falls occurring at home. Of the falls at home, 55.6% are due to accidental or environmental factors, while 33% of them may be related to medical issues. She elaborated that risk factors for falls include intrinsic factors such as poor vision, gait, as well as balance and motor weakness. There are also extrinsic factors like the choice of footwear and environmental factors which are modifiable. A list of caregiver tips with accompanying photos to minimise the potential of falls in the toilet was also included in the article.

Jurong Lake District: S$50,000 for innovation projects that reduce energy use, carbon footprint

​An innovation project from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Environmental and Water Technology Centre of Innovation, which can control air temperatures and cut energy consumption at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) and Jurong Community Hospital (JCH) by 20 per cent, was recognised at the Jurong Lake District Challenge awards ceremony. Mr Ng Kian Swan, Chief Operating Officer, NTFGH and JCH, shared that the partnership with the winning team will allow the hospitals to optimise energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. 

• The Straits Times Online, 12 July 2023, Eight winning solutions to be trialled at Jurong Lake District to create greener infrastructure
  

• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 12 July 2023, 靠空气处理调节医院室温 理工院方案或可节能三成 (Polyclinic project adjusts hospital temperature by managing air conditions)
  

• 8world, 11 July 2023, 推动裕廊湖区可持续发展 八个创新项目获奖 (Eight innovation projects recognised for advancing sustainability in Jurong Lake District)
  

髋部或膝盖关节动了手术 如何护理锻炼 (Post-surgery care and exercise for hip and knee surgery)

​Mr Chai Jie Wei, Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, JCH, explained that the typical recovery period is two to six months for a hip surgery, and three to 12 months for a knee surgery. He elaborated that most people will be walking with the assistance of a walking aid on the day after surgery, and the progression to wean off walking aids typically occurs within the first month or two. Returning to sports, hobbies or work demands may differ among individuals, and it is best to seek advice from a doctor and physiotherapist. The article also includes a list of exercises patients can do at home after the surgery to help with the recovery process. 

Ms Raiyini D/O Balu, Occupational Therapist, Department of Occupational Therapy, JCH, shared that caregivers can facilitate their loved ones’ engagement in daily living by ensuring a safer environment. Examples include widening walkways by moving furniture, removing clutter and levelling uneven surfaces to alleviate falls risks, as well as installing grab bars and applying toilet floors with anti-slip treatment. 

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Caring For Our Loved Ones After Hip & Knee Surgery” happening on 29 July 2023 are listed.

Ayah dan anak sama kerjaya, sama hobi (Father and son have the same career and hobby)

In a special Father’s Day feature, Mr Afandi Hassan, Senior Staff Nurse, JCH, shared how he turned to nursing after being laid off during an economic recession in 1997. His son, Mr Abdul Zharfan, was inspired by his father's healthcare journey and switched from an engineering course to pursue nursing instead.

年长者有沟通和吞咽困难 看护者该怎么做 (What caregivers can do to help elderly with communication and swallowing problems)

​Ms Jeanette Wong, Speech Therapist, Department of Speech Therapy, NTFGH, explained that swallowing difficulties (also known as dysphagia) can negatively impact various aspects of a person’s life, and some long term effects include dehydration, recurrent chest infections, loss of weight and the inability to enjoy foods or drinks. She elaborated that a speech therapist’s intervention can diagnose dysphagia and provide modifications to diet and fluids consistencies or strategies to ensure safe swallows during meal times. Swallowing rehabilitation exercises may also be recommended to target the deficits to help improve the swallowing functions of a person. The article includes tips on what caregivers can do at home to help elderly with communication and swallowing problems.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Assisting Our Loved Ones with Communication and Swallowing Difficulties” happening on 27 May 2023 are listed.

Behind The Mask: Our Healthcare Story – Episode 2

​The second episode of this three-part documentary produced in partnership with the Ministry of Health recounted the second year of Singapore’s fight against COVID-19, and how the Delta variant threatened to overwhelm the country’s healthcare system. Clin A/Prof Gerald Chua, Chairman, Medical Board, NTFGH, shared that staff who were normally not involved in patient-fronting duties volunteered to work alongside ward staff to take care of simple duties like serving meals. This helped to lighten the load placed on frontliners.

Behind The Mask: Our Healthcare Story – Episode 1

​In this three-part documentary produced in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Clin A/Prof Gerald Chua, Chairman, Medical Board, NTFGH, shared that during the COVID-19 outbreak at foreign worker dormitories, the men required more than just medical attention. They needed assurance because besides being anxious for their own health, they were also worried for their families back home. He also stated that hospital administrative staff volunteered to work alongside the healthcare team to care for foreign workers during the dormitory operations.

Hospitals use videos, lessons to train staff to train staff on dealing with abuse

​Ms Ng Sow Chun, Chief Nurse, NTFGH, explained that healthcare worker abuse can result due to a mismatch of expectations from members of the public, who may expect more frequent updates from doctors than they are getting, to be served when they show up after office hours, or cared for by a specific staff member instead of the person they have. She reiterated that a strong message needs to be sent to deter further abuse to protect our staff from abuse when things do not work out despite mitigation efforts.

如何正确使用 鼻胃管喂食 (How to carry out nasogastric tube feeding correctly)

​Ms Nellie Tan, Nurse Clinician, JCH, explained that nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding is a method of feeding for individuals with swallowing difficulties, such as those who are recovering from a stroke or need additional nutritional supplements. The nasogastric tube is passed through the nasal, down to the oesophagus and into the stomach. The article lists the steps to carry out NGT feeding correctly, and emphasises that if the patient chokes or experiences difficulty breathing during the process, caregivers should stop feeding and call the doctor immediately.

尽早制定预先护理计划 为医疗危机做好安排 (Having an Advance Care Planning discussion early in the event of a medical crisis)

​Ms Khoo Chew Yen, Senior Medical Social Worker, Medical Social Services, JCH, shared that having an Advance Care Planning (ACP) discussion early allows your loved ones and the care team to know your healthcare and care preferences. This allows them to honour your wishes in the event of a medical crisis when you may not have the capacity to make decisions. She listed the key components of ACP and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), and elaborated that caregivers could start the conversations on ACP and LPA with their care recipients to better understand their wishes.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Start Planning with your Loved Ones – Know More About ACP and LPA” happening on 25 March 2023 are listed.

“明智养生”中文课 让丰加北居民学习管理慢性病 (Hospital rolls out “Wise & Well” preventive health programme in Chinese for Hong Kah North residents to better manage chronic diseases)

​At the Health On Track @ Hong Kah North event on 11 March, NTFGH and JCH introduced “Wise & Well 2.0”, a Chinese preventive health programme designed by dietitians, therapists and other members of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Shin Min Daily News, 11 March 2023, Page 6, 黄廷方综合医院首次深入社区 办华语健康课程教居民防慢性病
• 8world, 11 March 2023, “明智养生”中文版健康计划正式推出 丰加北居民先受惠 
  

青春期孩子行为怪异？ 家长应多聆听 少批评 (Odd behavioural traits from your adolescent child? Parents should listen more and criticise less)

​Ms Eunice Lim, Psychologist, Department of Psychology, NTFGH, shared that common behavioural traits of an adolescent child can include increased self-consciousness and self-centeredness, experiencing volatile emotions, boundary-testing behaviours with parents and school authorities, as well as wanting to try out novel things with peer groups. It is thus normal that the child wants to pull away from their parents in search of their identity, and perceives their peer groups as a safe haven to experiment new ideas. She provided some tips for parents to take note of when communicating with their adolescent children, and emphasised the importance being of a mentor-figure to them, rather than an authoritative figure.

Registration details of JCH’s virtual caregiver talk titled “Connect With Your Teen” happening on 25 February 2023 are listed.