~Apa2 pasal Hospital/Klinik/Dentist/Optician/ Sinseh dan Rawatan Tradisional

fatzcomel

Singapura : 29 September 2008        

E-SISTEM PERCEPAT PROSES DAPATKAN MAKLUMAT PESAKIT

Dipercayai yang pertama, ENR dipasang di Poliklinik Woodlands

Oleh
Azahar Mohd

SATU sistem elektronik yang mampu mengurangkan masa mendapatkan maklumat pesakit selain gim yang dilengkapi kemudahan canggih.

Kemudahan itu merupakan antara beberapa ciri baru di Poliklinik Woodlands, yang dibuka semula selepas ditutup selama tiga bulan bagi kerja-kerja ubah elok.

Sistem elektronik itu - Teknologi Rekod Elektronik Kejururawatan atau ENR - dipercayai yang pertama digunakan penyedia penjagaan kesihatan di Singapura.

E-sistem itu yang mengandungi maklumat pesakit akan menggantikan nota kes pesakit.

Menurut Cik Doris Liew, Pengarah Kejururawatan daripada National Healthcare Group, sistem ENR itu boleh meningkatkan kecekapan operasi, terutama dalam menguruskan pesakit kronik seperti penderita penyakit kencing manis.

'Jururawat selalunya tahu pesakit berada di poliklinik kerana kami boleh melihat pesakit di dalam sistem janji temu. Tetapi jururawat tidak boleh memanggil pesakit kecuali nota kes itu berada di dalam bilik.

'Lantas dengan ENR, jururawat boleh mengeluarkan maklumat daripada sistem dan memanggil pesakit. Ini akan mempercepat janji temu kerana pesakit tidak perlu menunggu bagi nota kes,' ujarnya lagi.

Selain ENR, poliklinik yang terletak di Woodlands Street 31 itu juga mempunyai gim seluas 2,000 kaki persegi.

Kemudahan itu merupakan hasil maklum balas daripada pesakit yang mahu kemudahan bersepadu di poliklinik.

Ketika merasmikan pembukaan semula poliklinik itu semalam, Menteri Kesihatan, Encik Khaw Boon Wan, mahu penyedia penjagaan kesihatan seperti hospital dan poliklinik bekerja sama bagi menawarkan khidmat yang bersepadu, mudah dan selaras.

'Kita harus mendapatkan inspirasi daripada perlumbaan Formula Satu (F1) untuk mencapai paras tinggi penyelarasan dan integrasi di kalangan karyawan perubatan seperti yang berlaku di perhentian pit F1.

'Dalam lima saat, krew pit merangkumi 20 profesional dapat menukar empat tayar, mengisi lebih 65 liter minyak, membersihkan saluran radiator dan menghantar kereta itu ke laluan trek semula,' tambahnya.

fatzcomel

Hey doc...is your tie clean?

We know that doctors and other health-care workers are meticulous about washing their hands.

What about their clothes? A recent New York Times article highlighted growing concerns in the United States about the role that doctors' garments play in the spread of bacteria.

According to the newspaper, the discussion was re-ignited this year in the US when the British National Health Service imposed a 'bare below the elbows' rule. It bars doctors from wearing ties and long sleeves, both of which are known to accumulate germs as doctors move from patient to patient.

Though it doesn't happen here, doctors and nurses in the US can often be seen wearing scrubs on subways and in grocery stores.

In Singapore, male doctors smartly turned out in ties and long-sleeved shirts and female doctors dressed in sharp suits are a common sight.

The article reported a study from the New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens which compared the ties of 40 doctors and medical students with those of 10 security guards.

It found that about half the ties worn by medical personnel were a reservoir for germs, compared with just one in 10 of the ties taken from security guards.

Dry cleaning shops here say that it is very rare for customers to send ties for cleaning after just one wear.

Mr Robert Chang, 67, the owner of Aspen Laundry, said: 'Most men will wear a tie at least twice before sending it for dry cleaning. Some will dry clean their tie only when it has a stain.'

When asked about the subject of doctors' clothes and their possible role in the spread of infections, most local doctors, and some hospitals, declined to comment.

Of those who did respond, a spokesman for the National University Hospital (NUH) said that its staff members are asked to change out of soiled scrubs before leaving the hospital premises.

Associate Professor Dale Fisher, chair of infection control at NUH, said that infection control practices are taken seriously in the hospital and staff are trained on the importance of maintaining clean hands at all times.

Dr Fisher said that ties and other pieces of apparel are sometimes referred to as reservoirs for micro-organisms that may cause nosocomial infection (infection caught while staying in a hospital) but he added that the risk of catching infections from contaminated clothes needed to be put in perspective.

'Hands of health-care workers which have not been disinfected are the major source of bacterial transmission,' he said.

Dr Fisher said that bottles of alcohol-based hand rub are located all around NUH and staff are audited on their use. Added precautions are taken where there is suspicion of infections with drug-resistant organisms when it comes to the gowns and gloves of medical personnel.

ParkwayHealth, which runs the East Shore Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Hospital, said its clinical staff are strongly advised to avoid wearing ties during ward rounds and when tending to patients. When a doctor does wear a tie, he has to wear a tie clip to prevent accidental contamination.

ParkwayHealth's dress code also discourages doctors from wearing long-sleeved coats. Additionally, staff uniforms and coats are washed daily and even identity badges are required to be cleaned regularly with alcohol wipes.

Opinions do vary on the subject in medical circles though. While some data suggest that doctors' clothes are crawling with germs, there is no evidence that clothing plays a role in the spread of hospital infections.

The New York Times also reported that some researchers have found that patients have less confidence in a doctor whose attire is casual.

'I wouldn't like to see a sloppily dressed doctor,' said Ms Jill Chng, 28.

Ms Chng, the mother of a 13-month-old baby, said she did not think it unsanitary for doctors to wear long sleeves and ties as long as they keep themselves clean and wash their hands regularly.

'I'd like to think that most doctors have clean clothes. I have yet to see a doctor wearing a tie stained with bits of yesterday's steak sandwich,' she said.

jbiston@sph.com.sg

fatzcomel

Singapura : 15 Oktober 2008         
  
LEBIH TUMPUAN MERAWAT PESAKIT DI AKHIR HAYAT

KEMENTERIAN Kesihatan akan memberi lebih banyak tumpuan kepada merawat pesakit yang berada pada peringkat akhir hayatnya.

Antara langkah yang bakal diambil ialah meluaskan penjagaan hospis, menggalak lebih ramai doktor menceburi rawatan paliatif dan merintis satu skim perancangan peringkat akhir di rumah-rumah jagaan lanjut.

Penjagaan paliatif adalah penjagaan holistik yang merangkumi rawatan melegakan masalah fizikal, sosiol dan psikologi pesakit yang menderita penyakit kronik yang serius seperti barah dan tidak ada peluang untuk sembuh.

Berucap sewaktu merasmikan Pusat Lien bagi Penjagaan Paliatif semalam, Menteri Kesihatan, Encik Khaw Boon Wan, mengaku bahawa sebelum ini MOH teragak-agak untuk menyokong bidang itu.

'Mujur, sokongan terhad daripada MOH tidak membawa keburukan besar kerana penduduk Singapura yang masih muda. Namun kita tidak boleh kekal muda selama-lamanya.

'Kita perlu meningkatkan sokongan bagi menampung penduduk yang semakin tua selain memanfaatkan kemajuan sains perubatan dalam penjagaan pesakit yang berada pada peringkat akhir hayatnya,' ujar Encik Khaw.

Tahun lalu, 4,400 pesakit memanfaatkan khidmat hospis dan MOH akan menyokong peluasan penjagaan hospis di dalam masyarakat.

'Kita juga mengiktiraf perubatan paliatif sebagai bidang khusus dan kini melatih lebih ramai doktor dan jururawat dalam bidang ini.

'Selain doktor, kita juga akan menggalak lebih ramai jururawat muda, terutama mereka yang bekerja di dalam sektor penjagaan jangka panjang, agar mengambil bidang penjagaan paliatif,' katanya.

Satu lagi inisiatif baru ialah meluaskan jagaan paliatif kepada keluarga yang sedang menjaga pesakit yang berada pada peringkat akhir hayatnya.

'Doktor turut memaklumkan mengenai kes anggota keluarga jatuh sakit kerana terlalu sedih dengan pemergian mereka yang tersayang,' ujar Encik Khaw lagi.

MOH akan cuba merintis satu skim membawa perancangan peringkat akhir di rumah jagaan lanjut untuk mengetahui apakah yang diinginkan pesakit.

'Dengan jagaan yang sempurna, ramai pesakit yang melarat boleh menjalani sisa-sisa hidup dengan lebih bermakna,' katanya.

fatzcomel

Doctor suspended for prescribing depressants inappropriately
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 November 2008 1708 hrs

SINGAPORE : A doctor has been suspended for three months for inappropriately prescribing depressants to his patients and for failing to maintain proper records of them.

According to a statement from the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), Dr Fong Kok Weng had pleaded guilty to 11 charges of professional misconduct under the Medical Registration Act.

At an inquiry on October 9, SMC's Disciplinary Committee found that Dr Fong had acted in disregard of his professional duties by prescribing benzodiazepines as hypnotic medication for patients who had insomnia or as anxiolytics for the short-term relief of anxiety.

The committee said long-term consumption of benzodiazepines and hypnotics may lead to drug dependency and tolerance.

The committee also found that Dr Fong failed to record or document sufficient details of his patients' diagnosis, symptoms, conditions or management plan - which are necessary to help him properly assess his patients' medical condition over the period of treatment.

Dr Fong, who had been practising at Cambridge Medical Centre in Block 302 Woodlands Street 31, was also censured.

The committee said that such inappropriate prescription of hypnotic medication warranted a period of suspension.

It, however, noted that in view of Dr Fong's cooperation with the authorities and strong mitigating factors of his record of public service and testimonials from patients and his peers, the committee was prepared to depart from the usual imposition of a fine.

Dr Fong, who has voluntarily ceased private practice, also has to give a written undertaking to the SMC that he will not repeat his misconduct in future.

He also has to pay the costs and expenses for the council's proceedings against him. - CNA /ls


gara2 ekonomi, doktor pun nak cari extra

fatzcomel

Nov 26, 2008
Institute for men's health

MEN die at a younger age than women, and have higher rates of diseases such as cancer. They also suffer from a higher rate of sports and workplace injuries and motor accidents.

Men also tend to shun the doctor.

To raise awareness of men's health issues among the public and the healthcare sector, a group of doctors have come together to set up the Institute for Men's Health - a first for Singapore.

Besides developing programmes, driving research and pushing for more healthcare policies for men, the institute also hopes to build up a pool of general practitioners with diplomas and master's degrees in men's health.

There are national-level schemes in place to cater to women's health, such as breast and cervical cancer screening programmes, but none for men, said Prof. Chin Chong Min, vice-president of the Singapore Urologogical Association.

Currently, programmes for men, such as prostate cancer screening, are still being spearheaded by societies.

'Men usually think they're invincible and not ask for help. They should start taking charge of their health,' urged Prof Peter Lim, president of the Society for Men's Health here.

Men's health issues will be be raised at the three-day Third Japan-Asean Men's Health Conference to be held here from Dec 1 to 3, where topics like prostate cancer and andropause will be discussed.

fatzcomel

New heart centre to handle 45% of outpatient cases by 2015
By Cheryl Frois, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 December 2008 2123 hrs


National University Hospital

SINGAPORE: Heart disease is the second biggest killer in Singapore. By the year 2015, outpatient attendance for heart disease is projected to increase to 320,000 from 200,000 last year.

And to meet the needs of a growing number of heart patients here, there will be a second heart centre at the National University Hospital (NUH).

The new National University Heart Centre will focus on four core clinical programmes -- heart attacks, heart failure, congenital heart disease and vascular medicine.

揂mong the core clinical programmes, the area of heart failure is of particular importance. As our population ages, more and more patients are going to be down with this condition,

fatzcomel

Thomson Medical, oncologist to set up Thomson Women's Cancer Centre
By Timothy Ouyang, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 December 2008 1945 hrs


Thomson Medical Centre

SINGAPORE : Thomson Medical Centre has partnered a well-known senior gynaecological oncologist, Dr Tay Eng Hseong, to set up Singapore's first oncology centre specialising in women's cancer treatment.

A joint venture company will be set up to own and operate the new Thomson Women's Cancer Centre that will be located at Novena Medical Centre.

Thomson Medical will own a 55 per cent stake in the joint venture, while Dr Tay will hold the remaining 45 per cent.

Both parties intend to invite other specialists to participate in up to 15 per cent of the joint venture, which Dr Tay will sell. He will eventually still own at least 30 per cent of the joint venture.

The joint venture is not expected to have a material impact on Thomson Medical's earnings for the financial year ending 31 August 2009. - CNA /ls

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Public hospitals begin means testing
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 01 January 2009 0135 hrs



SINGAPORE: Means testing in public hospitals kicks in on Thursday.

And in light of the current economic downturn, the Health Ministry says it will be implemented with flexibility and compassion.

From January 1 this year, when a patient is hospitalised in Class C and B2 wards, his income levels will be checked upon his consent, using a computer system linked to his Central Provident Fund records.

If he earns more than $3,200 a month, he will get less subsidies as his income increases.

At the highest bracket, patients with a monthly income of $5,201 and above will receive subsidies of 65 per cent for Class C wards, and 50 per cent for B2 wards.

If a patient do not give his consent for his income levels to be checked, the subsidy numbers will also apply to him.

Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, said: "I hope means testing will be implemented flexibly, because next year is the year where people will be losing their jobs, where people will be faced with wage cuts. And then of course for those who are marginal cases, you need the social worker to say whether this person will be paying more or paying less, so there are issues to be ironed out."

The Health Ministry has said that a patient retrenched at the time of hospitalisation will enjoy full subsidy.

If his income has shrunk, means testing will be based on his latest income.

As for other forms of financial hardships, for example huge losses in property and stock markets, a medical social worker will assess his situation on a case-by-case basis. But they have been told by the Health Ministry to err on the side of compassion.

Ahead of the roll-out of means testing, public hospitals report no increase in the number of elective surgeries in the months of November and December 2008. - CNA/de

fatz2

Trial drug for cancer
By Liaw Wy-Cin
THE National Cancer Centre of Singapore (NCCS) is embarking on one of its most ambitious trials to test how a drug works in humans.

It is coordinating a trial for an experimental drug for head and neck cancers involving 700 patients from 22 institutions over 12 countries.

The clinical trial will test how effective this new drug, called nimotuzumab, is, compared with the standard treatment for the disease now.

Head and neck cancers are one of the top 10 cancers in Singapore, with some 200 new cases every year. Without treatment, patients die within year.

Of those who receive the standard treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for this disease, half of them do not live beyond five years.

Director of NCCS, Professor Soo Khee Chee is hoping to extend this figure to 60 per cent with this new drug.

fatzcomel

Better and more efficient healthcare service with larger healthcare pool
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 January 2009 2153 hrs



SINGAPORE: Patients in Singapore can expect better and more efficient healthcare services with a larger pool of professionals to be hired in the coming years.

In its latest update to bring forward recruitment plans, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it now has 6,200 job vacancies. Of these, 4,500 will be filled in the next two years.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan revealed this at the opening of the Queenstown Polyclinic on Tuesday.

Shorter waiting time and longer consultation periods with doctors are some improvements patients can look forward to now that MOH is intensifying recruitment to create more job opportunities for Singaporeans.

Mr Khaw said: "Previously, I had planned for it over five years and gradually we build up. Now that there is the economic downturn and there will be people who will get retrenched, we thought we might as well accelerate it. The will is there, the money is there and now it is just the people."

Other than doctors, nurses and pharmacists, more support and administrative staff are also required.

Mid-career professionals wanting to enter the sector can also take advantage of more career conversion opportunities. Other than nursing, they can now explore career conversion opportunities to become therapists, radiographers and many other jobs in the health sector.

For 2009, the ministry has already set aside a budget to fund 250 mid-career conversion opportunities.

Students interested in healthcare will also be able to take advantage of some 250 scholarships offered by the ministry this year. Should there be a stronger demand, the ministry is willing to offer more scholarships.

In these hard times, Mr Khaw said the ministry is also studying how the Medisave scheme could be liberalised to help reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of patients. More details will be disclosed during the upcoming Budget debate.

Separately, he welcomed the strong public support for one of the changes to be made to the Human Organ Transplant Act - that is, paying living donors.

He said: "I'm glad Singaporeans understood the reason for the amendments and strongly support it. I know there are some concerns about terminologies. For example, they worry about the term ‘compensation’ which would suggest organ trading, but is not. So we will try to avoid the use of the word compensation."

Mr Khaw said the Amendment Bill will be introduced in Parliament soon. - CNA/vm

fatzcomel

No doctor, just the nurse
By Lee Hui Chieh
NURSE clinicians are taking over from doctors, treating chronically ill patients, and freeing them up to deal with more serious cases in some polyclinics.

SingHealth Polyclinics began rolling out this programme, in phases, to its nine polyclinics here more than a year ago.

The programme also aims to help patients better manage their conditions, and to offer more challenging careers for nurses.

The nurse clinicians are senior nurses, who are trained further with six sessions on chronic diseases, and sitting in with doctors to get hands-on practice in attending to patients.

They see patients suffering from asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, whose conditions are stable and do not need adjustments to their medication.

Instead of being seen by a doctor for each visit - usually every three months - these patients now see a doctor on one visit, and a nurse clinician on the next.

But if the patient becomes unwell, the nurse can refer the patient to the doctor, who will attend to him on the same day.

Seeing a nurse saves waiting time and money, said Ms Jasmine Heng, a nurse clinician from Pasir Ris Polyclinic.

Patients wait about 20 minutes on average to see a nurse clinician and pay $6, instead of waiting an hour and paying $9.

Each consultation with the nurse clinician also lasts longer than that with the doctor - about 20 instead of 10 minutes.

The nurse clinician has more time to spend on counselling the patient, and helping them set personal goals and devising ways to reach these, Ms Heng said.

fatzcomel

Two GPs suspended from duties for failing to exercise due care
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 16 January 2009 1943 hrs



SINGAPORE: Two general practitioners have been suspended from their duties - just days after the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) announced plans to impose harsher penalties on errant doctors under the Medical Registration Act.

In the recent cases, the SMC's disciplinary committee found the two doctors guilty of failing to exercise due care in the management of their patients.

Dr Cheok Soo Teck Harry, a medical practitioner at a clinic in Geylang Road, has been suspended from practice for a period of three months, with effect from December 27, and fined S$2,000.

He faced 20 charges of professional misconduct after the MOH lodged a complaint against him to SMC. The complaint came after MOH officers reviewed 20 patients' medical records related to the prescribing of Dormicum, Erimin, Stilnox and Valium.

Dr Wong Cheng Yiew, who has a clinic located at Woodlands Street, has been suspended from practice for six months and fined S$5,000 due to various aggravating factors.

On one occasion, Dr Wong had prescribed Subutex in combination with another drug named Benzodiazepine to a patient, although it has been known that the combination of these drugs can cause death.

Dr Wong had also continued to prescribe Subutex on two occasions, although the ministry had sent a circular stating that Subutex cannot be dispensed to patients who did not sign up for the Subutex Voluntary Rehabilitation Programme with effect from August 14, 2006.

On top of the fines and suspension, both Dr Cheok and Dr Wong have to bear all costs and expenses of the disciplinary proceedings.

- CNA/yt

fatzcomel

National Cancer Centre to conduct clinical trial on drug for head and neck cancers
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 31 January 2009 2342 hrs


National Cancer Centre

SINGAPORE: Singapore's National Cancer Centre will lead a worldwide clinical trial for a new drug that treats head and neck cancers.

The centre will work with pharmaceutical company Innogene Kalbiotech to find out if the new drug, Nimotuzumab, can improve the survival rate of cancer patients and with fewer side effects than existing drugs in a standard treatment.

Currently, the survival rate using existing treatment for head and neck cancers is 60 per cent. Clinical researchers hope the new drug can boost survival rate by another 10 per cent.

Every year, 200 Singaporeans are diagnosed with head and neck cancers.

The National Cancer Centre hopes to get 40 patients in Singapore per year to take part in the trial, which is expected to last between three and five years.

It hopes the trial results will support the use of the drug as a standard treatment. This means the drug, which is already available here, could be prescribed to patients at subsidised rates.

Professor Soo Khee Chee, director of National Cancer Centre, said: "When trials have been completed and they've shown that drugs that are used confer survival advantage or therapeutic advantage for patients, then generally, they move from being experimental to standard therapy."

The S$5m clinical trial will involve over 700 patients in 22 cancer centres in 12 countries.

Innogene will foot S$3.5m for the drug and the cost of hiring health workers to administer the drug.

The National Cancer Centre will contribute S$1.5m to coordinate information from the 22 institutes worldwide. The clinical trial will begin in March.

- CNA/ir

syirunis

Singaporeans say more medical choices in Johor Bahru
By Cheryl Fox, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 10 April 2009 1813 hrs



SINGAPORE: The cost of medical care is always an important issue, and with more private hospitals and nursing homes springing up across the causeway, some Singaporeans feel that they are in for more choices.

Half-an-hour from Singapore's Woodlands Checkpoint is a newly-opened 218-bed private hospital in Bandar Seri Alam.

With two hotels nearby, and its marketing efforts aimed at Singapore residents, Regency Specialist Hospital hopes treating Singaporeans will not be a foreign idea.

CEO of Regency Specialist Hospital, Lee So Chow, said: "We've seen about 30 patients from Singapore. Our sister hospital, Makhota Malacca, sees about 250 Singaporean patients a year. What's really popular (with Singaporeans at our hospital) is health screening. Our open heart surgery costs 33,000 ringgit on average, whereas (in Singapore) it will cost the same amount in Singapore dollars.

A four-bedded room costs about S$42 a day, while its most premium room is about S$148.

And at the six VIP suites within the hospital, there is a special waiting area, where for a fee, fold-out beds can be set up for family or friends of the patient.

Singapore's Health Ministry is looking into how MediSave can be utilised in approved hospitals overseas.

But patients may have other concerns.

A consultant general and vascular surgeon at Regency Specialist Hospital, Sujit Singh Gill, said: "I guess the travelling time will be one concern. Another thing is they may be worried that if something happens late at night, they will have to go all the way to the hospital here.

“But I guess to some extent, we can mitigate that because as I've said, four of us (doctors) do practise in Singapore and we're actually not too far away."

A half-an-hour drive from Singapore's Tuas Second Link checkpoint will bring you to a site in Johor Bahru, where a Singapore company, China Healthcare, is setting up its new nursing home called ECON Medicare Centre.

The site is about 3,000 square metres, which makes it the largest land area out of all its nursing homes. The five-storey facility will be built with a capacity of close to 200 beds for its residents.

The centre will be modelled after its seven other nursing homes in Singapore, with similar accommodation and facilities.

The home is slated to be ready in two years and will have similar rates to its Singapore nursing homes - but in ringgit.

Son of a resident at ECON Medicare Centre, Alvin Khoo, said: "If we pay in ringgit, I believe it will be much cheaper. One disadvantage is traffic jams. Whenever it comes to weekends or public holidays, there are bound to be some traffic jams at the causeway, so that is one of the factors I'm concern about."

CEO of China Healthcare, Chua Song Khim, said: "We recognise that not all residents will want to go to JB, but there may be some Singaporeans who may prefer to have that option. Maybe for a couple of months… for a different environment, a different setting.”

And that is what Singaporeans can look forward to -- the best of both worlds.

- CNA/yt

virgomal

Tan Tock Seng Hospital launches hand washing campaign
By Teoh Song Keng | Posted: 27 April 2009 2019 hrs



SINGAPORE: As swine flu spreads in Mexico and other parts of the world, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has launched a timely campaign to encourage the public to wash their hands, and to do it right.

As part of the hospital's Clean, Safe and Infection Free campaign -- dubbed CSI -- many prizes, including a car, are on offer to hospital staff, patients as well as the public, just for washing their hands correctly.

揑t does tell people this(hand hygiene) is really important, so important that we are actually giving a car,

virgomal

Healthcare providers step up infection control measures
By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 April 2009 2020 hrs


Singapore General Hospital
SINGAPORE: Healthcare providers in Singapore are stepping up control measures for infectious disease. This is part of a preparedness plan, should the global swine flu situation take a turn for the worse.

Infection control measures are already in place at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Patients and visitors to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department and outpatient clinics are being screened for flu-like symptoms, as well as their travel histories to the United States, Mexico and Canada.

SGH has also strengthened infection control measures and will only allow two visitors to accompany patients to the A&E department.

It is also providing visitor registration to facilitate contact tracing, should this be needed.

Sources said hospitals are also discussing contingency plans, such as cancelling non-emergency surgeries, if more safeguards become necessary.

Public clinics or polyclinics have also taken similar steps. Masks are on hand in the waiting area for patients who are coughing or sneezing.

Parkway Health, the largest private healthcare provider here, has upped the gears on infection control as well. Patients entering the A&E department have to be checked for their temperature and their travel history.

Tan Poh Lan, CEO of Gleneagles Hospital, Parkway Health, said: "There will be things implemented like controlling the number of visitors to the hospital... (and) monitoring our staff movements within the system itself. We will then make sure that staff stay within one facility."


- CNA/so