AI in Southeast Asia: Muse or menace? How artists in the region are grappling with new technologies

​Mr Lee Sze-Chin, an art therapist at JCH, explained how he used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to help recreate formative events for dementia patients. Together with his art collective Kronoscopes, he asked participants to recall happy moments from their lives and draw doodles from these occasions on small coasters. These were fed, along with information from patient-therapist conversations, into an AI art generator app known as Midjourney, which transformed the prompts into detailed visual recreations of the memories. He added that patients gained a renewed sense of identity and self-worth and were able to process the emotions the AI artworks unearthed with their art therapist, whether those were positive or negative.

邓光中受委陈笃生医院首席执行总裁 陈学扬任黄廷方及裕廊社区医院总裁 (Dr Tang Kong Choong is new CEO of TTSH, A/Prof Dan Yock Young appointed as CEO of NTFGH and JCH)

​Prof Yeoh Khay Guan, Chief Executive, National University Health System, expressed appreciation for Dr Quek Lit Sin's contributions in the past three years as the Chief Executive Officer, and shared his current appointment as the Assistant Chief Executive at the National University Health System, leading the set up of the new National University Health System Institute of Clinical Quality to champion clinical quality and patient-centred care.

A/Prof Dan Yock Young, who was formerly the Deputy Director-General of Health at Ministry of Health, Singapore since 2020, will further advance clinical excellence and outcomes as the Chief Executive Officer of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital. A/Prof Dan shared that Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital will leverage the strong integration within the community to transform and advance healthcare, to meet the needs of both staff and residents.

• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 1 April 2024, 邓光中受委陈笃生医院首席执行总裁 (Dr Tang Kong Choong is new CEO of TTSH) 
  

Ng Teng Fong and Jurong Community Hospital name new CEO

​Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital appointed A/Prof Dan Yock Young as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2024. He succeeded Dr Quek Lit Sin, who was the Chief Executive Officer since 2021. Before his appointment, A/Prof Young served as the Deputy Director-General of Health at the Ministry of Health in 2020, overseeing the healthcare services organisation and provision in public hospitals and primary care.

Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital appoint Associate Professor Dan Yock Young as new Chief Executive Officer

Everything about what MOH will do in the near future as revealed in MOH budget debate

​Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced plans for a new integrated general and community hospital in Tengah Town, geared towards serving the growing population in the west. Operated by National University Health System, the facility will complement existing hospitals in the west such as Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital.

Singapore to build new hospital in Tengah, expand home care initiatives to meet ageing population needs

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that it has begun planning for a new integrated general and community hospital in Tengah to serve the growing population in the western region of Singapore.

将韩国传统艺术带入病房 为病患打气 (Bringing cheer to patients with Korean folk art)

​Ms Min Yu, a volunteer from Korea, teamed up with her daughter and friends during an art and craft engagement session on 16 February to teach JCH patients how to make Korean dragons. She is a volunteer with NTFGH and JCH’s Art-on-the-Move programme, where volunteers engage patients in conversations and art-making by their bedside. For almost a year, the group has been bringing art and craft activities to the wards on a monthly basis. Some of these sessions incorporate Minhwa, a form of Korean folk art. The hands-on activities facilitated by the volunteers bring cheer to the patients.

Unseen Heroes: The Heartbeat of Healthcare During Festive Seasons and Beyond

​A feature article paying tribute to healthcare workers. Mr Eugene Chean, Radiographer, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), and Ms Yip Song Ling, Staff Nurse, Ward C4, Jurong Community Hospital, shared more about their jobs and why they joined the healthcare profession. The two of them were on duty during the Lunar New Year festive season.

Ms Marie Kaylin Wong, Assistant Nurse Clinician, Operating Theatre, NTFGH, explained that with the upcoming inventory management project supported by the National Trades Union Congres Company Training Committee Grant, nurses can devote more time to patient care because the system will automate the inventory management of non-stock items.

• NTUC Singapore YouTube, 10 February 2024, Always On Call: Celebrating Our Healthcare Heroes 
  

Unseen Heroes: The Heartbeat of Healthcare During Festive Seasons and Beyond

A feature article paying tribute to healthcare workers. Mr Eugene Chean, Radiographer, NTFGH, and Ms Yip Song Ling, Staff Nurse, Ward C4, JCH, shared more about their jobs and why they joined the healthcare profession. The two of them were on duty during the Lunar New Year festive season.

Ms Marie Kaylin Wong, Assistant Nurse Clinician, Operating Theatre, NTFGH, explained that with the upcoming inventory management project supported by the NTUC Company Training Committee Grant, nurses can devote more time to patient care because the system will automate the inventory management of non-stock items.

• NTUC Singapore YouTube, Always On Call: Celebrating Our Healthcare Heroes
  

Signs are good for stronger economy in 2024: PM Lee

​On Lunar New Year eve, Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong visited healthcare workers from NTFGH and JCH, and heard presentations about NTFGH’s upcoming productivity projects supported by the NTUC Company Training Committee Grant. He was accompanied by Mdm Ho Ching, as well as NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng and other labour movement leaders. During the visit, PM Lee thanked healthcare workers for their hard work for maintaining a high standard of healthcare in Singapore. He also tossed yusheng and celebrated Lunar New Year with the staff.

• The Business Times, Singapore’s growth `ought to be stronger’ in 2024; more support for parenthood to come: PM Lee
  
• Berita Harian, PM Lee: Ekon S’pura dijangka lebih positif pada 2024 (Singapore economy expected to be more positive in 2024)
  
• Shin Min Daily News, 李总理新春献辞 鼓励‘多生早生 (PM Lee’s CNY message prompts couples to try for a baby)
  
• Lianhe Zaobao, 李总理：龙年经济表现料比兔年好 但难排除大国衰退等风险 (PM Lee: Stronger economy in Year of the Dragon; but uncertainties in the external environment may affect the economy)
  
• TODAY, PM Lee strikes optimistic tone about economy; hints at more support for parents
  
• CNA Online, PM Lee strikes optimistic tone about economy; hints at more support for parents
  
• 8world, 李总理对我国经济展望表示乐观 期待比去年来得强劲 (PM Lee expresses optimism about economy; hopes for a stronger economy than last year)
  
• CNA, Singapore's economy expected to perform better this year compared to 2023: PM Lee
  
• Channel 8 News, 李总理对我国经济展望表示乐观 期待比去年来得强劲 (PM Lee expresses optimism about economy; hopes for a stronger economy than last year)
• Berita Mediacorp, PM Lee bersikap optimis tentang ekonomi SG; beri bayangan lebih banyak sokongan bagi ibu bapa (PM Lee strikes optimistic tone about economy; hints at more support for parents)
  
• Seithi Mediacorp, பொருளியல் வளரும்; பெற்றோருக்கு ஆதரவு உயரும் - பிரதமர் லீ (PM Lee strikes optimistic tone about economy; hints at more support for parents)
  

Signs are good for stronger economy in 2024: PM Lee

On Lunar New Year eve, Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong visited healthcare workers from Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) and Jurong Community Hospital (JCH), and heard presentations about NTFGH's upcoming productivity projects supported by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Company Training Committee Grant. He was accompanied by Mdm Ho Ching, as well as NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng and other labour movement leaders. During the visit, PM Lee thanked healthcare workers for their hard work for maintaining a high standard of healthcare in Singapore. He also tossed yusheng and celebrated Lunar New Year with the staff.

• The Business Times, 10 February 2024, Page 3, Singapore's growth `ought to be stronger' in 2024; more support for parenthood to come: PM Lee
  
• Berita Harian, 10 February 2024, Page 1, PM Lee: Ekon S'pura dijangka lebih positif pada 2024 (Singapore economy expected to be more positive in 2024)
  
• Lianhe Zaobao, 12 February 2024, Page 1, 李总理：龙年经济表现料比兔年好 但难排除大国衰退等风险 (PM Lee: Stronger economy in Year of the Dragon; but uncertainties in the external environment may affect the economy)
  
• TODAY, 9 February 2024, PM Lee strikes optimistic tone about economy; hints at more support for parents
  
• Channel NewsAsia Online, 9 February 2024, PM Lee strikes optimistic tone about economy; hints at more supportfor parents
  
• 8world,9 February 2024, 李总理对我国经济展望表示乐观 期待比去年来得强劲 (PM Lee expresses optimism about economy; hopes for a stronger economythan last year)
  
• TV News - Channel NewsAsia, Channel 5, Channel 8, Channel U, Suria, Vasantham, 9 February 2024
  

两医院150名医护工作者 为18户弱势家庭大扫除 (150 healthcare staff from two hospitals spring clean 18 homes of disadvantaged families)

​The 11th edition of NTFGH and JCH’s community outreach initiative “Healthy Home” was held on 27 January 2024. About 150 healthcare staff volunteers decluttered and cleaned 18 households across eight constituencies in locations like Jurong East, Boon Lay, Bukit Batok and Clementi. The majority of the residents are frail elderly living alone or with little family support, and were identified through referrals from NTFGH’s Medical Social Workers and community partners. Many of these residents are also NTFGH and JCH’s patients. Compared to 2023, about 30% more requests for spring cleaning were received this year.

Dr Quek Lit Sin, Chief Executive Officer, NTFGH shared that besides spring cleaning these homes, the staff volunteers also provided health education, as well as advice on medication management and falls prevention to ensure that the residents live in a safe and healthy environment.

• 8world, 两所医院150名职员为18户弱势家庭大扫除 (150 healthcare staff from two hospitals spring clean 18 homes of disadvantaged families)
  
• Channel 8 News, 两所医院150名职员为18户弱势家庭大扫除 (150 healthcare staff from two hospitals spring clean 18 homes of disadvantaged families)
  
• Berita Harian, Ibu tunggal dapat bantuan agar ‘Rumah Sihat’ (Single mother gets help for a ‘Healthy Home’)
  

Look ahead to 2024: Gearing up for super-aged Singapore

JCH redesigned hospital spaces by setting up model flats where patients can practise everyday activities before they are discharged. Named SPACE@JCH, these home-like environments can be used for functional rehabilitation.

Mr Abdul Rashid Jailani, Deputy Director, Allied Health, JCH, shared that these practice flats will alert patients and caregivers early to potential challenges in the home environment and allow them to work through these problems with the hospital care team.

Ms Lilian Lim, Head, Occupational Therapy, JCH, added that the flats can help prepare patients for functional living. For example, a caregiver can practise helping a patient to get up from bed, while a patient can use the items available within SPACE@JCH to practise everyday activities such as doing the laundry.

Ms Qiu Wenjing, Head, Physiotherapy, JCH, highlighted that about 80 patients and caregivers have used the first SPACE@JCH model flat since it opened in May 2023 and find that it helps prepare them for the transition from hospital to home.

JCH plans to have seven of such model flats by March 2024.

义工携手医院庆圣诞 为病患带来欢乐与温暖 (Volunteers join hands with hospitals to bring joy and warmth to patients during Christmas)

Since the beginning of December, staff from National University Hospital Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute worked with its partners and volunteers to plan a series of activities, such as Christmas-themed games, for paediatric patients to spread the Christmas cheer. Mr Giles Lim, father of a baby who had a femur fracture, said they were grateful to the staff and volunteers for taking time off to bring joy to them. Prof Lee Yung Seng, Head of Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, thanked donors and volunteers and said the greatest gift we can give to children is really the gift of time. Separately at Alexandra Hospital, Senior Staff Nurse Sun Chenlu said it was her first time participating in a Christmas choir and she is happy to celebrate Christmas with patients and her colleagues.

The other National University Health System institutions that had prepared a series of programmes with their volunteers to bring Christmas cheer to patients included Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital and National University Cancer Institute Singapore. 

• Shin Min Daily News, 24 December 2023, Page 6, 医院欢庆圣诞 病患乐过佳节 (Patients enjoy Christmas celebrations in hospitals)
  

本地两所医院准备圣诞特别活动 让义工们向年长患者传递温情 (Two local hospitals prepare special Christmas activities to send cheer to elderly patients)

To celebrate the festive season, NTFGH and JCH organised three weeks of activities for performers and volunteers to send Christmas cheer to patients through music performances and handicraft sessions. About 500 patients and staff enjoyed this year’s celebrations. Ms Tan Hwee Ping, Senior Assistant Director, Community Relations, NTFGH and JCH, noted that such activities have a positive impact on patients, and surveys have indicated that about 70% of them experience improved moods.