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.

More healthy food options and support for diabetes patients

Free vaccines for 2,500 nursing home residents

Pneumonia has been the second leading cause of death here since 2012. However, according to the pilot National Population Survey 2016 to 2017, only about 12 per cent of those aged 65 to 74 were getting the recommended vaccines.

When the flu bug goes out of control

Professor Paul Tambyah (Professor, Department of Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine) weighed in on how Singapore’s high population density and extensive trade and transport links are making the country vulnerable to new flu virus strains. 

New strategies and new mindsets in the war on diabetes: initiatives by NUHS for polyclinics and GPs to adopt a patient-centred approach and improve diabetes care

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.

Firms must do more in greying S’pore: Paper

​A newly-published paper, A Longevity Agenda for Singapore, by London Business School’s Professor Andrew Scott noted that the private sector is slow in changing corporate culture to meet the needs of Singapore’s rapidly ageing population.  The 15-page paper highlighted that while Singapore is already “at the international forefront, frequently defining best practices”, it is “crucially important” for Singapore to invest in and focus on a longevity agenda to harness the benefits of longer lives.  Reports noted that CE/NUHS Prof John Wong is a contributor to the paper. 

• The Straits Times Online, 12 November 2019
• The Business Times, 13 November 2019
  
• The New Paper, 13 November 2019
  

为健康解码的保健飨宴 (Health decoding forum)

​Professor Tan Huay Cheem (Director, NUHCS) was reported to have shared expert advice and debunked myths surrounding heart health, at the ZB lohas health forum that took place on 9 November.

Public healthcare agencies to adopt SGQR payments by end-2020

​DBS Bank is working with Singapore's public healthcare system to move all public hospitals, specialty centres and polyclinics onto the nation's unified payment code, Singapore Quick Response Code (SGQR), by the end of next year. The initiative which involves all three of Singapore's public healthcare clusters - NUHS, Singhealth and NHG - is part of the nation's push towards a cashless society. 

Wong Soo Min, Group Chief Financial Officer, NUHS, said that "as part of the service transformation for our entire cluster, SGQR dovetails many of our other patient-centred initiatives to simplify processes and improve the overall patient and caregiver experience. This will enable them to focus on their recovery journey instead."

• The Straits Times Online, 11 November 2019
• Lianhe Zaobao, 12 November 2019

Chinese scholars use AI to screen newborns for genetic disorders via facial scans

A number of large Chinese companies are making headway in using AI for health care. In July of this year, Chinese conglomerate Ping An Insurance launched AskBob, an AI-based medical decision support tool that can provide precise diagnosis and treatment recommendations for more than 1,500 diseases.

调查：练耐力平衡减疼痛 糖尿病周边神经病变 一套简单运动可改善 (Study: Simple set of exercises can improve functional balance and reduce pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN))

​Lead Investigator of the study Dr Kavita Venkataraman (Assistant Professor, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health) mentioned that most patients with DPN will reduce their activity because of the loss of sensation in the feet. This will lead to frailness and they become at higher risk for falls. She added that the impact and intensity of this set of exercises are very low and hence suitable for DPN patients. The research team is exploring ways to pilot this as a treatment option to benefit more people beyond the study cohort. The article profiled a study participant who has benefitted from the exercises. 

Health Check Podcast: Why women need to watch out for heart disease

​Dr Low Ting Ting (Consultant, Department of Cardiology, NUHCS) talked about why women need to watch out for cardiovascular disease – it is the top killer of women with a mortality rate of 1 in 3 women. In 2017, CV disease accounted for some 2700 women deaths, 8 times more than breast cancer deaths. Dr Low pointed out that while early CV disease is preventable, the risk of CV disease remains very much underappreciated. She urged women to modify their risk factors and take active steps to protect their heart health.  

Men can protect themselves against penile, anal cancers with HPV vaccination

​Dr Ida Ismail-Pratt (Consultant, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, NUH and NCIS) said that males should go for HPV vaccination because there is currently no effective screening for HPV-related cancers other than cervical cancers and that the vaccination is the only way to protect males from anal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers. She mentioned that there are two types of HPV vaccinations here licensed to be given to boys and men aged 9-26 years for future protection against anal cancer, premalignant anal lesions and genital warts. 

罕见病症系列之六：臂丛神经损伤万勿小觑

​22岁的年轻电单车骑士埃尔塔夫在高速公路上行驶，前方一部大卡车未打信号灯就突然切换车道，埃尔塔夫在情急之下紧急刹车，却导致自己的摩托车瞬间打滑，往右边重重摔去。