Kidney transplant gave her back to her family
Transcription
Kidney transplant gave her back to her family
E FR E Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ ❙ 1 Patients. At the Heart of All We Do. Issue 12 January/February 2009 MICA (P) 008/01/2009 I N S I D E Can we choose our baby’s sex? Pg 5 The world in a hospital Pg 8 What is Medical Social Work? Pg 14 Family matters in breast cancer prevention Pg 20 Kidney transplant gave her back to her family It took years of waiting before she got her kidney. Even after her transplant, she faced complications that took her back to the operating theatres several times. But Vanitha Sassedran says she has no regrets as she has her life back. By Sheralyn Tay The days used to creep by for Ms Vanitha Sassedran. Suffering from kidney failure and requiring thriceweekly dialysis, the young mother of three daughters felt isolated from the world. She had to shuttle between her shift job and dialysis sessions three times a week, leaving her with little extra time and energy. “I hardly saw my daughters or my husband,” she said. “When I was on dialysis, I never thought of the next day.” Vanitha started having symptoms of kidney failure in 1992 while expecting her second child. Her condition stabilised after medication, but resurfaced in 1994 when she was with her third child. This time, medication controlled her condition for a limited time. Four years later, her kidney function had deteriorated so much that she was vomiting, dizzy and weak all the time and had to go on dialysis. “I didn’t like it at all,” Vanitha said, “I didn’t want to go.” Having kidney failure and being on dialysis meant she felt tired and cranky all the time. She also had to restrict her water intake to prevent water retention and was barred from eating her favourite fruit, durian. “My family is crazy about durian, but I stopped eating durian for so long, I lost my taste for it,” she said. Worse was her inability to care for her children and be with family. “They would go on trips, but I couldn’t join them because of dialysis and my fear that if I went, something would happen.” She waited four and a half years before a suitable donor was found. But the wait was worth every minute. “Now I look forward to each new day and what it brings,” said the 38-year-old. She started to do things she had always wanted to do; she learnt bridal make-up, manicure and pedicure, and henna design. She is even using these newfound hobbies to do a little bit of freelance work. She wasn’t able to stand for long periods of time to cook previously but Vanitha is now queen of the kitchen. “I love to cook and bake,” she said. “I read cook books, find recipes online to make special meals for my family.” She’s even learning to swim. Tansplant Complications The gift of life didn’t come easy. In addition to the long wait before she got a cadaveric kidney, she had to undergo three more operations to stop internal bleeding. “In my pain, fear and worry, I even told the doctor that I didn’t want the kidney anymore,” she recalled. But her doctors encouraged her to not give up and the third procedure was a success. Vanitha is glad she didn’t give up. Some friends in her dialysis centre have not made the decision to go for a kidney transplant because they fear the effect of post-transplant medication and drug expenses. But for her, the “big chance” to change her life is a decision that she won’t regret. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Cut & Keep General Enquiry Accidents & Emergencies Admissions Billing/ Medisave Enquiry Medical Reports Medical Social Services Outpatient Appointments Pharmacy International Medical Service Quality Service Manager Helpline SGH website 6222 3322 6321 4311 6321 4388 6321 4322 6321 4333 6321 4355 6321 4377 6321 4366 6326 5656 1800 223 0118 www.sgh.com.sg ✃ A bi-monthly publication of Singapore General Hospital, the nation’s flagship hospital within the SingHealth group Happy 3rd Birthday, Lumpkid! By Sheralyn Tay His name is Lumpkid and he was a gift three years ago. As far as gifts go, Lumpkid isn’t very flashy. He’s on the plump side, doesn’t say much and is always hidden from view, but Lumpkid has made a big impact in my life. Lumpkid is my third kidney, a donation from my younger brother Alphonsus and the gift that saved my life. I was diagnosed with renal impairment when I was 19 and in my final year of studies at polytechnic. I knew that kidney failure and dialysis would one day be issues I had to grapple with. Four years later in 2005 – when I was constantly nauseated, dizzy and weak – I was not entirely prepared for the reality that my condition had caught up with me. But when that time came, Alphonsus was prepared. He stepped up – without even me asking – and said he would donate his kidney. His pro-activeness meant I only spent three months on dialysis. I got my new kidney on Nov 30, 2005. As an organ recipient, I feel blessed to be able to really say that old cliché of being given a new lease of life holds true. I have always been an active and optimistic person, but I also tended to be highly anxious and prone to bouts of self-pity. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 2 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 HospitalBills101 Why am I warded at the Emergency Observation Ward? By Gopalan Pokkan and Rosling Teo Wee Kheng Under what circumstances would a patient be admitted to the Emergency Observation Ward (EOW)? Following initial treatment and investigations, patients seen at the Emergency Department could be admitted to the EOW for further management. The patient may be warded from eight to 23 hours. During this admission period, the patient will undergo a series of tests and treatment. About 85% of our patients are discharged, with 15% admitted to the inpatient ward for more treatment. Conditions that may require admission to the EOW 1. Abdominal Pain 2. Asthma 3. Bites and Stings 4. Cellulitis 5. Chest Pain 6. Dehydration 7. Gastroenteritis 8. Giddiness 9. Gout 10. Head Injury 11. Heart Failure 12. Hyperglycaemia 13. Hypertension 14. Hypoglycaemia 15. Minor Injury 16. Pneumonia 17. Poisoning 18. Pyelonephritis 19. Renal Colic 20. Seizure 21. Toxic Inhalation What are the charges involved? The estimated bill for a stay in the EOW ranges from $160 to $580. This excludes the $90 emergency attendance fee. Can Medisave be used to pay for EOW charges? Patients may claim up to $450 from their Medisave account if the stay is more than eight hours. Can the charges be covered by Medishield or the patient’s insurance? Medishield does not cover EOW charges. However some private insurance companies may cover these charges. Mr Gopalan is Senior Manager of SGH’s Department of Emergency Medicine Ms Teo is Executive of Admissions Office Lowest costs not always key Turning trash into cash Old calendars are transformed into photo frames and tile samples into fridge magnets. Things that are no longer of use have been rescued from the rubbish dump by the Housekeeping Department and turned into decorative knick-knacks for sale to help needy patients. In 2008, over $16,000 were raised for the SGH Needy Patients Fund. By Aaron Loh ever more creative ways to re-use everyday discards. “Although we only dedicate one day to the sale of items, planning and preparing takes more than a month. We try to re-use whatever we can find in the Hospital from the offices and even the kitchen,” said Ms Wong. At the one-day bazaar on Nov 12 last year, volunteers manned stalls selling things such as flowers made from used fruit wrappers, colourful This giant 1,600-can octopus is the centerpiece at the Clean and Green Singapore fair at SGH. fridge magnets which first saw life as floor tile samples THEY deftly cut, snap and craft what would and photo frames made from old calendars. otherwise be trash into pretty ornaments Patients, visitors and staff who thronged and quaint artifacts. These items are then the stalls on the ground-floor corridors of sold and proceeds go to the coffers of the hospital buildings were also invited to Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH) Needy try their hand at making their own crafts Patients Fund. through step-by-step demonstrations. Tucked away in Block 8 of SGH, the “Selling the re-used items is one thing. Housekeeping Department sets aside But if I teach you how to do it, you will a month each year to handcraft items at be able to recycle and cut down waste on their “backroom production line” for a your own,” explained Ms Wong. good cause. “We started out small by just giving talks in 1992. Then in 2002, we began selling items in conjunction with the Clean and Green Week to promote recycling,” said Ms Connie Wong, an executive of the Housekeeping Department. “In 2007, we managed to raise $7,382 for needy patients. And last year, the amount more than doubled to $16,339.” They have not looked back since and A visitor learns about recycling efforts constantly challenge themselves to try through the mini exhibits. By Aaron Loh Mr Lim Swee Say, NTUC Secretary-General, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office (left), looking at the demonstration of the 2-in-1 mop. LEADERS of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) undertook a learning journey to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) on Dec 6 last year to see how firms can focus on quality instead of costs when evaluating contracts in outsourcing services. According to SGH Director of Operations, Mr Loh Yong Ho, the hospital outsourced its housekeeping requirements to Integrated Service Solutions PUBLISHER PUBLISHING CONSULTANT AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE NTUC Media Co-operative Ltd Singapore General Hospital Outram Road Singapore 169608 Tel 6222 3322 Fax 6222 1720 EDITORIAL TEAM Tan Shee Lah [email protected] Design • Sharon New • Jann Chong • Charles Chong Hazel Yong [email protected] MARKETING TEAM Leong Wai Kit [email protected] Joseph Loh (Head, Group Account) [email protected] SGH is a JCI accredited hospital CONTRIBUTORS • Hannah Lim • Mary Lim • Sheralyn Tay Jimmy Lim (Head, Group Account) [email protected] Mike Chew (Group Account Mgr) [email protected] (ISS) although its quote was not the lowest. This was because its proposal included mechanisation and upgrading of workers’ skills as compared to other offers based on lowering costs per headcount. Mr Woon Chiap Chan, Country Managing Director of ISS, said that based on mutual trust and their longterm partnership with SGH, the company was willing to invest about $1.5 million on new machines and a training programme for its staff working Chris Seng (Account Mgr) [email protected] Sam Gan (Account Mgr) [email protected] at SGH. This results in a win-win situation for both SGH as well as ISS workers who benefitted in terms of skills upgrading and better salaries. ISS showcased several of the initiatives during the learning journey, such as the use of a 2-in-1 mop to save water and time, and light-weight trolleys for matured workers. There are currently over 450 ISS staff at SGH providing housekeeping, portering, concierge and ambulance services. SGH CONTENT ADVISORS Tan-Huang Shuo Mei Director, Communications & Service Quality (SGH) Group Communications & Service Quality Director (SingHealth) To advertise, please call 6236 5790 Email: [email protected] Casey Chang Deputy Director, Communications For editorial content, email: [email protected] SGH EditorIAL TEAM Lim Mui Khi Angela Ng Aaron Loh SGH CLINICAL ADVISORS A/Prof Low Wong Kein Dr Hemashree Rajesh Dr Terence Kee Guest Clinical Advisors Professor Donald Tan Dr Jenny Tang Dr Ho Gay Hui Dr Shyamala Thilagaratnam Dr Tan Su-Ming Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ Looking to Partners for healthcare hub ideas ❙ 3 Encapsulating a moment in cardiac history Insights from an influential physician executive from the US Dr James J. Mongan may not be a familiar name to many Singaporeans. But the man invited to share his experiences with SingHealth leaders and staff, and other healthcare partners at the annual SingHealth Leadership Series, is a nationally recognised health policy expert in the United States, with long-standing experience in health system management. The 66-year-old is President and Chief Executive Officer of Partners HealthCare, the largest integrated healthcare group in Massachusetts, and Professor of Health Care Policy and Professor of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He was also recently named the Most Powerful Physician Executive in Healthcare by Modern Physician, a US publication for healthcare executives. When asked for his impression of SingHealth and Singapore’s healthcare system, the alumnus of Stanford University Medical School said: “I’m very impressed by the breadth and depth of services you provide, there doesn’t seem to be any huge holes and gaps, and I’m equally impressed by the broad range of population that you serve.” Dr Mongan noted the parallels between Partners and SingHealth, such as the organisational structure, and both groups’ continuous efforts in tapping IT advances as well as work on capital planning. Partners, established in 1994, is the parent of some of the most prestigious Dr James Mongan shared his experience running an integrated healthcare organisation at a keynote address, which drew close to 300 healthcare professionals. academic medical centres in the country, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Partners model envisioned for Outram Campus The Partners model offers patients a continuum of coordinated services, focusing on the advancement of healthcare through patient care, research and teaching the next generation of physicians. This is the model that Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan had envisioned for Outram Campus, which he said could be transformed into a “medipolis, integrating clinical service, teaching and research in a holistic patient-centric manner”, so that Singapore “can be an unbeatable hub in this part of the world”. With that, institutions across the SingHealth group are gearing up to realise their potential in the practice of academic medicine. To draw lessons from the Partners model, Dr Mongan was asked what had contributed to their success. “One of the factors is the strengths of the founding institutions, and another factor is being able to develop a common understanding among disparate groups like teaching hospitals, community hospitals, and community-practising physicians that they can achieve greater success if they work together productively rather than fight against one another,” he said. Elaborating on how the “disparate groups” can work together, he said: “The first thing is to develop a vision and common understanding of what benefits there are in working closely together and cooperating with one another.” He also said all groups need to listen to one another’s concerns and attempt to demonstrate how they can get the benefits in working together. During his visit to SingHealth from Oct 6-9, Dr Mongan met leaders and staff in various fields like education, IT, and clinical and service quality. He also delivered a keynote address on “Building a high performance public hospital – from great ideas to winning results,” attended by close to 300 healthcare professionals. For many who had the privilege of hearing from Dr Mongan, they would have gleaned invaluable insights from the man who wields great influence in the healthcare industry. Health Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan (second from right) launched the time capsule, together with (from left) Professor Ivy Ng, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SingHealth, Associate Professor Koh Tian Hai, Medical Director of NHC, and Mr Bernard Chen, Chairman of SingHealth. The National Heart Centre (NHC) Singapore marked yet another historic moment on Nov 22 when it launched its 10th Anniversary Time Capsule, witnessed by close to 200 guests and staff. The time capsule contained numerous memorabilia including the first annual report in 1999, old medical devices and uniforms. In his speech, guest-ofhonour Health Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan praised NHC for having a strong team of highly skilled specialists with deep compassion, under the leadership of Associate Professor Koh Tian Hai. The time capsule will be opened in 2028 on the centre’s 30th anniversary. The event marked the culmination of a year-long celebration for NHC’s 10th anniversary, which included the ‘Hearty Marine’ charity initiative to treat families of 32 needy patients to a fun-filled and educational outing to Sentosa. Hybrid scan unit provides patient comfort By Gary Tan Theng Tiak with the acquisition of a new hybrid machine, the Hybrid Angiography-CT System, which comprises a d i g i t a l s u b t r ac t i on angiography unit integrated with a CT scanner, with a single patient table. This ability to perform an angiogram immediately after a CT scan is The Hybrid Angiography-CT unit was officially opened by SGH CEO Professor Ang Chong Lye on Nov 1, 2008. par ticular l y beneficial for patients with trauma, Should a CT scan find bleeding may now have an immediate angiogram such as those with multiple injuries or injury in internal organs, a patient and embolisation to stop the bleeding sustained in accidents. These patients are usually hard to move, especially at Singapore General Hospital’s without being moved. The dual system has become possible with devices to provide blood, saline Department of Diagnostic Radiology and monitoring attached. Moreover, the combined information from a CT scan and angiography provides doctors with a quick overview of the patient’s condition. Despite its sophistication, patients aren’t charged more for its use. Indeed, they are charged according to the cost of the procedure, not the cost of the machine. SGH is the first in Asia, outside of Japan, to offer patients this facility. Since Nov 1 last year, over 500 cases have been performed using the hybrid scan. Mr Tan is Manager of SGH’s Department of Diagnostic Radiology 4 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 15,000 staff One Commitment Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ Can we choose our baby’s sex? ❙ 5 For a boy: Consume more red meat, salty snacks and caffeinated drinks. For a girl: Consume more fish and vegetables, chocolate and sweets. Doc says: The ‘boy/girl’ diet theory is based on altering the body’s pH to make the vaginal environment more hospitable to the sperm. Each diet is recommended to be followed for up to six months. However, the diets are unbalanced and may result in health risks. For instance, the ‘girl’ diet may cause kidney stones or excessive nervousness. Dr Hemashree Rajesh, Associate Consultant at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, delivers the facts on gender selection. and lie down after sex to help the male sperm ‘beat’ the female one to the egg. By Mary Lim Doc says: This is based on anecdotal evidence and not scientifically proven. IF PARENTS were allowed to choose, most would probably prefer to have boys. This is unsurprising in Asian societies where male descendents pass on their family names and heritage. But what they may not know is how a baby’s sex is determined by the X (female) or Y (male) chromosome sperm, said Dr Hemashree Rajesh (photo), Associate Consultant at the Singapore General Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. According to research, the female sperm is bigger and has longer staying power while the male is smaller and swims faster to fertilise the egg. Then again, the information is based on isolated studies and may not apply to all cases, added Dr Rajesh. She addressed this topic at ‘Sex Matters – In Baby Making, Pregnancy and Your Child’s Health’, a public forum organised by SGH in October last year. “At the end of the day, it is more important to focus on having a healthy baby.” Myths surrounding gender selection Medical advances have resulted in various sex selection techniques. However, gender selection is not allowed in Singapore unless it is done to prevent the passing down of genderspecific hereditary conditions. Those who are still interested in influencing their baby’s gender may have heard of the popular Shettles Method. Put forth by American doctor Landrum B Shettles over 20 years ago, it claims that intercourse timing is important in determining a baby’s gender. To increase the chances of having a boy, couples are advised to have sex right before or on the day of the woman’s ovulation. But since the Shettles method was only a random survey, there is no strong scientific evidence to support it, said Dr Rajesh. In addition, it is difficult to time the ovulation accurately. The Whelan method lies at the other end of the spectrum. Its claim: Favourable circumstances for the male sperm occur earlier in a woman’s ovulation cycle. It therefore contradicts the Shettles method, which recommends intercourse two to three days before ovulation if a daughter is desired. The torrent of conflicting theories and old wives’ tales about sex selection has resulted in confusion for many couples. Dr Rajesh helps separate the myths from the facts. For a boy: Go for deep penetration in the rear-entry position during intercourse For a girl: Opt for shallow penetration in the missionary position. Have sex daily as the reduction in sperm count tends to favour female sperm. For a boy: Ensure that your wife achieves an orgasm. For a girl: Ensure that you avoid an orgasm. Doc says: When a female achieves orgasm, body secretions are released, resulting in an increased level of alkalinity in the body. This helps transport the male sperm into the cervix more effectively. However, this is based only on anecdotal evidence. For a boy: Abstain from sexual intercourse for four days before ovulation. Have intercourse on the day of ovulation. For a girl: Have intercourse till three or four days before ovulation. Doc says: According to the Shettles Method, the environment in the vagina and cervix is more acidic before ovulation, making it more favourable for the female sperm. This theory is, however, not supported by scientific evidence. For a boy: Get him to wear loose underwear (Y-fronts and boxers). For a girl: Get him to warm up. Doc says: This is based on the theory that heat can affect quality and quantity of sperm, and talk that heat will increase the likelihood of a daughter. But this concerns fertility, rather than sex selection. Dysphasia, dysarthria, dyspraxia, dysphonia… If you were at an event on Oct 30 to celebrate 40 years of speech therapy at Singapore General Hospital, you would have learnt that these are various disorders associated with communication. The Speech Therapy Department put up an exhibition about the history of the profession in Singapore and SGH, posters featuring some of the many disorders, and some of the therapy tools used with patients, including computer- assisted voice games to help improve various aspects of voice like loudness and pitch. It was also the Department’s Inaugural Speech Therapy Day, which was opened by Ms Ang Hui Gek, Director of Allied Health Division. Incidentally, dysphagia refers to swallowing disorders, dysarthria to speech, dyspraxia to difficulties in coordinating speech muscles, and dysphonia to voice disorders. 6 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 Spare tyre talk Look, guys, the gut has got to go. Don’t binge on Chinese New Year goodies this festive season. Your survival boils down to a simple, inversely proportional equation: Reduced waistline = extended lifeline. By Jim O’Brien THE good news first: The fat that men tend to accumulate around the midsection is easier to lose than rolls in other parts of the body. And the bad? This type of fat accumulation, called android, can also increase the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, men aged 35 to 64 are three times more likely to have a heart attack than women of the same age. The life expectancy of males is also seven years less than women, with big bellies being one of the main factors. In fact, a slight paunch can put a normalweight man at risk, claimed Claude Bouchard, PhD, an exercise physiologist at Laval University in Quebec. Why men have bulging love-handles A waist‑to‑hip ratio test can tell you if your stomach is protruding too much. First, stand straight and measure the waist around the navel as well as the hips at their largest point. Divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement. If the answer is 1.0 or bigger, it’s time to trim down, pal. There are genetic and anatomical reasons why men pack fat on the abdomen. The tendency is called male‑pattern, or android, upper body obesity. Ironically, anthropologists believe male‑pattern upper body obesity worked to men’s advantage for about three million years. In the days before refrigerators and preservatives, people ate what they grew or killed on the spot. When they ate more than they could use, the body stored excess as fat, which was a source of energy during food shortages. When men undergo strenuous activities such as chasing wild animals during their hunts, their bodies could readily mobilise the abdominal fat for energy. Today, we lead sedentary lives, and all that does for men is win them a higher risk of heart attack. But there’s hope. In one study, men who reduced upper body fat with aerobic exercise and diet lowered their high cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides and blood sugar levels within 20 weeks. For every point reduced in the blood cholesterol level, the risk of heart attack drops by 2%, according to experts. To sweeten the deal, men also lose weight faster than women once they make a move. Once they’ve slimmed down, the male anatomy allows them to eat larger quantities of the right foods without gaining it back. “Men have greater muscle mass and higher metabolic rates than women, which means we burn more calories,” said Martin Yadrick, MBA, RD, of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) in Chicago. “Muscle is active tissue, so the more you have, the more calories you burn, the more you can eat without gaining lots of weight.” Reduce dietary fat Potatoes aren’t fattening, it’s the butter and sour cream you drench them with that causes the waist to expand. You don’t need a computer programme to figure out how to reduce dietary fat. Start by limiting butter, mayonnaise, salad dressings, fried foods, heavy sauces and rich desserts. Moderate alcohol consumption. Choose lean meat, poultry and fish; low fat or skim milk products; fat‑free salad dressings; ice milk, yogurt or sorbet instead of ice cream; tuna packed in water instead of oil; broth soups over cream-based; and fruit instead of cakes, pies and pastries. Eat more and weigh less Your main ally in the battle of the bulge are complex carbohydrates which come from whole grains, vegetables, fruits and other plant foods. They supply a steady stream of energy to muscles, brain and nerves and they don’t make you fat; each gram of carbohydrate contains four compared to nine for fats. “Not all calories are created equal,” added Yadrick. “The body has a limited capacity to turn carbohydrates into body fat. If 100 calories from fat are consumed, 97 of them will be converted to body fat. If the calories come from carbohydrates, only 77 will turn to fat. The remainder will convert into energy. “The interesting implication is that a man on a diet doesn’t have to eat like a bird. If he limits his fat intake, he can enjoy substantial quantities of carbohydrate‑rich foods, like bread, pasta, rice, fruits and vegetables.” Eat less, eat often Smaller, more frequent meals can help you maintain high energy levels and metabolism. Eat breakfast, and healthful snacks in the mid‑morning and mid‑afternoon. Sugary foods may give you a temporary energy boost, but they cause the body to produce insulin, which can lead to sluggishness, fatigue and increased appetite. For best results, the ADA recommends a meal of 500 to 600 calories, primarily from complex carbohydrates. Fitness first Dieting alone is not enough. Unfit men are at eight times the risk of death from heart attack than fit men. Exercise helps increase muscle mass, which boosts metabolism and burns calories. In one study, 70% of the men who combined exercise and healthy diet maintained their weight loss for three years. Aerobic exercise is the key. At least 30 minutes a session at least three times a week is a good beginning goal. Work up from there. – © Universal Publishing Service SGH LIFE Centre The SGH Lifestyle Enhancement & Fitness Improvement or LIFE Centre is a hospital-based centre for the promotion of integrated and holistic care for patients with lifestyle-related medical conditions, in particular patients with eating disorders and obesity. The Centre is a one-stop medical facility with a multi-disciplinary team of doctor, nurse, dietitian, physiotherapist, psychologist, occupational therapist and medical social worker, who are specialised in healthy lifestyle practices, interventions and behavioural modifications. Location Tel Fax Email : Bowyer Block A, Level 1 : 6326-6697 :6223-4526 : [email protected] Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ ❙ 7 SingHealth raises record amount as volunteers rally to President's Challenge Doctors from Singapore National Eye Centre gamely turned car wash crew all in the name of charity. Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health, flagged off the SingHealth & Coca-Cola Friendship Walk, which is a 2km route around Outram Campus. Participants are beneficiaries from the Association for Persons with Special Needs, MINDS, and Jamiyah Singapore, together with SingHealth management and staff. of President’s Challenge 2008 and members of the public. SingHealth, an active supporter of President’s Challenge and which has raised over $1 million for beneficiaries in the last four years, themed last year’s event “Healthcare, I Care!” Day. SingHealth institutions rallied Better, safer Lasik surgery now at SNEC guided very precisely to the desired depth, resulting in the most accurate flap thickness. In addition, the laser beam is directed in a more focused manner, allowing the doctor to apply only minimum laser energy to the eye. Such targeted treatment means that the tissue outside the defined area of the laser remains untouched. Outram Campus buzzed with a hive of healthy lifestyle activities on Nov 15 as SingHealth institutions played host to some 2,000 beneficiaries A new cutting-edge laser system recently acquired by the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) promises better, safer and more comfortable laser surgeries to correct vision. The centre’s medical director, Professor Donald Tan, said: “This new laser system is better because patients do not experience visual blackout and are able to see throughout the procedure. As they can see and focus on a central light source, this guarantees a perfectly centred treatment.” During procedures using the VisuMax Femtosecond Laser System, there is less pressure exerted on the eye, meaning patients feel more comfortable. In comparision, patients who underwent Lasik treatment using conventional laser systems often complained of discomfort from the strong suction applied to the eye that flattens the cornea. The VisuMax Femtosecond Laser System is the newest generation of femtosecond lasers for bladeless Lasik surgery and is the first to be used in Singapore. New system able to create very thin corneal flaps P a t i e n t s previously found to be unsuitable for Lasik surgery because of their thin corneas may now use this procedure, as the new system is able to create Professor Donald Tan doing Lasik surgery on a patient using the new cutting-edge VisuMax Femtosecond Laser System. very thin corneal flaps. Patients who Professor Tan explained that with have undergone Lasik surgery using the the new system, the contact point of new technology describe the procedure the device is curved to fit the contour as not much more than the insertion of of the eye and the cornea is only lightly a soft contact lens onto the eye. Professor Tan said: “Overall, there is compressed. ”Although it is a rare occurrence, this new system eliminates more predictability and better results. the risk of any retinal complications SNEC now has the full arsenal of Lasik technology to offer better patient from the high pressure,” he said. The high performance optics of the choice, patient care, and outcome system allows the laser beam to be for those with myopia, hyperopia, together to volunteer time and effort in organising mass free health screenings valued at more than $100,000, a rehabilitation carnival and a health walk, to encourage the public and beneficiaries to take ownership of their health and keep active. It was a fitting finale to the past few months of both fund-raising and ‘funraising’ activities among staff, which had doctors turning into chefs or car wash crew, in the name of charity. Together with its community partners, SingHealth raised a record $302,778, including a record $62,000 in donations by Singapore General Hospital, for this annual charity event. astigmatism and presbyopia.” According to Professor Tan, surgeons who have used the new system say that it is much easier to operate compared to other systems. Similar to the older laser systems, the cost of surgery done with VisuMax is about the same and patients should also be able to return to work the next day. In addition to clinical applications for Lasik, the new system will enable SNEC to develop new laser-assisted forms of corneal transplants and conduct corneal research. This is funded by the national Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) Flagship programme, for which a grant of S$25 million over a five-year period was awarded to Prof Tan in May 2008. The primary aim of the TCR Ophthalmology Flagship Programme is to develop new and more successful surgical strategies, including antiscarring or wound healing treatments for two of the major causes of blindness – corneal diseases and glaucoma, which affect Singaporeans and Asians in particular. Lasik surgery at SNEC starts from $975 (before GST) and $1,043.25 (with GST). For more information, call SNEC Singlasik hotline: 6322 8891 / 6322 9599. 8 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 My say The world "Have you makan?" may be the most misunderstood phrase for 600 foreigners working at Singapore General Hospital. By S.H. Eve n Robert Ashto st tri ia d Po lia From Austra Beating the heat just before a hot shower “Do not have u may guess, . Because as yo going outdoors leave you drenched in will the humidity ’ to people if , always say ‘yes oh nd A t. ea sw ready!” have makan al they ask if you Dr S K Surrun Acting Head of Internal Medicine From Mauritius No lack of variety “The food tastes a little different here. The Indian food is different from India or Mauritius. The mixture of the spices is not quite the same. The curry also tastes different. But after a while, I kind of got used to it. I try exposing myself to something different everyday; I always pick a different dish at the restaurant.” FOR Dr Maciej Piotr Chlebicki, Consultant at the Department of Infectious Diseases, the art of communication can be as difficult as containing the spread of communicable diseases. “I remember getting my colleagues to help ask a patient some questions,” said the 41-year-old Polish specialist. He joined the Singapore General Hospital in 2003, when Singapore was in the throes of the SARS outbreak. “We tried Mandarin and some dialect but the only response we got was a smile. We thought she was deaf until I caught her talking to a nurse the next day. It turned out that she could only understand Cantonese!” His problem is a common one among the 600-strong expatriate community working at SGH, often due to their accents, unfamiliarity with local pronunciation, culture and the unique language that Singaporeans love using – Singlish. Take 25-year-old podiatrist Robert Ashton, who admitted that his Australian accent can be difficult at times for his patients while he had problems “knowing when to put ‘lah’ at the end of sentences, at the right moment.” Sandra Subner, a Canadian and Senior Manager with the Medical Board, had initial problems “remembering Chinese names because it comes in three parts.” “I also have to try remembering how to pronounce names correctly!” Blending into the multi-cultural scene While expatriate staff face initial difficulties when they arrive in Singapore, time spent interacting with colleagues as well as patients and their families have eased them gradually into the SGH community. Some, like Senior Consultant at the Department of Pathology Angela AP Takano, have found clever ways to tackle the cultural differences. “I find it amusing when people use ‘have you makan?’ as a conversation opener. I used to always say ‘no’ but my friends say I should always answer ‘yes’,” said Dr Takano from Peru. Nurse Jessie Pah From Singapore Cultural exchange icki Dr Maciej Piotr Chleb s Diseases Consultant, Infectiou From Poland Break the ice people from “I enjoy working with picked up I’ve different cultures. So far, such as: s ase phr en some basic Hokki ey are Th gh? cou you Did Have you eaten? ients. pat h wit useful for breaking the ice ients pat st mo I know Hindi as well but rin nda Ma a up k too here speak Tamil. I il I unt ll we g ssin gre pro s course too; I wa es.” ton four reached the part on the Sandra Subner dical Board Senior Manager, Me yanese parents, Born in England to Gu grew up in Canada Tongue-twisters here, I thought: “Initially when I came am I going to ‘Oh my goodness, how se names?’ It’s ine Ch remember all these a Chinese ber em rem to more difficult just ‘Sandra’ name as compared to ee parts. I thr because it comes in ing how to ber em also have to try rem es!” nam se ine Ch pronounce the “We have nurses from pla ces like Malaysia, China, Philippines and Myanm ar.We usually expose them to our Sin gaporean culture through food. Recently, we took our Filipino colleague to Chinatown for a ‘makan’ jaunt. From time to time, we wil l also take them to various places such as Geylang to get a dose of our multi-face ted culture. At work, we help play the rol e of interpreter, especially when they are wit h patients who can only speak dialects. But we do learn from them as well, like for eign expressions. Some are just fun words; others are useful. I’m thankful that I get to enj oy the cultural exchange every day. It’s an exp erience which I would not exchange for any other.” Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ in a hospital “I think it’s just part of the culture of being polite, so sometimes I have to ask: ‘Are you sure you understand? Is this what you really mean to say?’ Because in the medical environment, I think it’s better to clarify as we cannot afford to make communication mistakes.” Like Dr Takano, Indian national Pradeep Kumar Chandramohan has his own secret to success: learn to speak like a local. Expressions like ‘ni hao’ (‘how are you’ in Mandarin), ‘kum xia’ (‘thank you’ in Hokkien) and even some basic Malay words are now useful tools in his vocabulary list. Said the 28-year-old physiotherapist wryly: “I learnt a lot from my patients!” Food, fashion and society Besides language, food is another great way to expose expatriates to the Singapore culture. Although local SGH staff like nurse Ms Jessie Pah make it a point to take their foreign counterparts to eating places like Chinatown and Geylang frequently, other adventurous folks like Department of Pathology Senior Consultant Dr Norman Chan have ventured into the heartlands by themselves for chow. Said Hong Kongborn Dr Chan, who lived in Vancouver before coming to Singapore: “I love the hawker centres. I love the way I can eat anywhere!’ Food may be a way to most people’s hearts but for Ms Subner, fashion provides the local connection. The Canadian is fond of traditional Asian clothes and often wears saris, cheongsams and the baju kurung when she heads out. With her tan complexion, she is often mistaken for a local. “People will ask for directions in Malay or Chinese dialects. When I first came for my medical examination, the staff nurse asked if I was an Indian,” said the smiling woman. The appreciation for culture has caught on among local staff at SGH. Said Ms Pah,”I’m thankful that I get to enjoy the cultural exchange every day. It’s an experience which I would not exchange for any other.” More importantly, foreign-trained professionals bring alternative perspectives to patients’ needs and treatments. Said Ms Anna Fok, Director of Human Resource: “A vibrant medical centre thrives on open exchanges of talents and clinical expertise with other world renowned medical institutions. “The presence of foreign trained and experienced healthcare professionals adds to the learning and growth of a dynamic workforce, enriching the lives of our patients and staff.” o Dr Angela AP Takan thology Senior Consultant, Pa From Peru ent Stress-free environm can come back “As a single woman, I late at night and from my friend’s house back the way my I don’t have to watch So that takes . tes Sta d I do in the Unite life.” out one stress out of my Nurse Rong Fang From China Eye-openers “I remember the first time my Malay colleague invited me to her house. It was to attend her wedd ing, I was really touched by the warm welcome and awestruck by the glamo ur of it all. Back home in China, we don’t get to attend a Malay wedding or cel ebrate Malay festivals such as Hari Raya Puasa. It’s such an eye-opener here.” dramohan Pradeep Kumar Chan Physiotherapist From India Greener pastures t give as many “In India, doctors do no isions are also case notes. Most dec SGH, doctors made by the doctors. At myself work like let physiotherapists uld also consult independently. They wo given a certain me on what I would do make more to situation. Here, I get decisions.” Dr F R Jauf ee Senior Cons rally ul Medicine Fr tant Physician, Intern al om Mauriti us Stand up fo r Sin gapore “I’ve been wor king in Maurit ius for a long time but wante d to see how medicine is practised in other countr ies. I decided to give Singap ore a go whe n I saw a recruitment ad in 1998. I like it here especially th , e new tech nology and setup. My 13 -year-old son also prefers Singapore to Mauritius.” Nurse Chen Na From Malaysia Technology shock when I came to “I had a culture shock sing. Here, at nur dy Singapore to stu are expected tertiary level, students rosoft Office. to be well-versed in Mic much more so is The technology here Being able . me ho k advanced than bac o helps me to to converse in Malay als patients. In fact, connect with my Malay e of them.” on they often treat me as Dr Norman Chan Senior Consultant, Pa tho Born in Hong Kong bu logy t moved to Vancouver A sense of belonging “I understood Singlis h from the first moment I heard it. It’s basically English words and Chine se grammar. I understand it instinctively . I was born in Hong Kong but I feel mo re at home here. I won’t say that Singapore is westernised; I’d say it’s global.” ❙ 9 10 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ Measuring up to the highest service standards Professor Phua Kong Boo provides tender, loving care to all his young patients, who warm up to him easily. Some 1,808 staff across SingHealth institutions won last year’s Excellent Service Awards, making up two-thirds of all winners in the healthc are sector. The Excellent Service Award is a national award launched in 1994 to honour individuals who have delivered outstanding service. Ms Rosie Khoo is T he h ighest regarded as a role model among her accolade is called staff and peers alike. the SuperStar award and it went to Professor Phua Kong Boo, a Senior Consultant with the Department of Paediatric Medicine at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH). Ms Rosie Khoo, a Senior Nurse Manager at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), was also among the three finalists for this award. S ingHealth is committed to providing quality care for patients. The winners are an inspiration to all those who have chosen healthcare as their vocation. A grandfather figure to his young patients Communicating with his young patients at KKH comes easy to Professor Phua Kong Boo, 67. With two grandchildren, he is well versed in the lingo of Barney the purple dinosaur and Thomas the tank engine. Not surprisingly, children warm easily to Professor Phua, who has no qualms about going the extra mile to relieve their distress. “You can’t describe the joy when you see a sick child recover and start to eat, laugh and play again, and when smiles replace the worried and sad expressions on the parents’ faces,” he said. Sometimes parents may come across as difficult, but Professor Phua said it is because they are concerned and anxious about their children’s medical condition. He puts himself in their shoes and takes pains to explain their children’s conditions and treatment options. He said: “Always explain to the parents in simple language their children’s health Not one to lose hope, SGH Senior Nurse Manager Rosie Khoo, 62, talked continually to a patient who was in a coma from brain haemorrhage. Two months later, the patient recovered and now lives a normal life. Such is Ms Khoo’s dedication and devotion to her patients. During the SARS outbreak in 2003, she encouraged her staff when they were stricken with fear from catching the deadly disease and faced enormous pressure from supportive to our NSmen in their in-camp training is aligned with our fundamental need to be operationally ready.” SGH staff who are NSmen with outstanding performance during their in-camp training, receive congratulatory letters and gift vouchers from the senior management. To be operationally ready isn’t limited to just the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and in recognition of its support towards National Service, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mr K. Shanmugam awarded SGH the Home Team NS award on Nov 13. “Emergency preparedness is an embedded culture in SGH. Our mission is saving lives, healing and relieving pain,” said SGH Chief Operating Officer Professor Ang Chong Lye. “As the nation’s flagship and first-line response hospital, we must be ready to handle civil disasters and disease outbreaks. As such, helping and being Community Chest says Thank You Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan presented SGH with the Community Chest Award on Oct 2 last year for the hospital’s commitment towards the Community Chest, and the generosity and passion of its staff in giving to the community. Service Express snags a Silver The Service Express@SOC project clinched the Silver Award for the 2008 BEST problems, what is achievable, what is to be done, and what is the likely outcome. And keep them informed of the progress their children are making.” He is not offended if parents say that they want to seek a second opinion. In fact, he will readily recommend other experts whom they may want to consult. Testimony to the tender, loving care that he provides for his patients, a few of Professor Phua’s patients – whom he had been taking care of since they were young and are now young adults – continue to see him as their paediatrician instead of going on to consult other doctors who specialise in adult medicine. While many others his age are enjoying their retirement, Professor Phua continues to work full time in the hospital. Although it may be tiring sometimes, he said he will continue to work for as long as he is needed. Courage and devotion Of trophies and awards Supporting NS emergency preparedness brings recognition ❙ 11 WITS Project, in an annual competition held in conjunction with the PS21 ExCEL convention to recognise simple ideas with excellent results. Service Express@SOC allows hassle-free checkout service, so that patients can leave immediately after consultation or treatment without having to queue again to settle bills or to get a follow-up appointment. This project is one of three selected by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to represent the ministry for the competition. Another SGH project, Clinic Resource Optimisation System, won the Bronze Award. When a drop is an improvement A reduction in waiting time for new appointments at the Endocrinology outpatient services is more than just a winner for patients. their families to quit their jobs. Putting herself at the forefront, she showed them courage in the face of adversity. “It was a trying moment of my life, as I need to be strong in holding the fort and at the same time be an understanding supervisor to my staff who were facing emotional and physical challenges,” she said. Always helpful and humble, Ms Khoo is held up by colleagues as a role model for her vast clinical knowledge and experience in the nursing profession. The project, led by Dr Daphne Khoo, won the second prize in the 5th National Clinical Quality Improvement Poster Competition which was held in conjunction with MOH Clinical Quality Improvement Conference. The winning stitch Associate Professor Chan Yew Weng, Senior Consultant at the Department of Anaesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care, was the national winner in last year’s international competition, The Future of Sutures (FUSU), for his idea on “Enhanced Healing Suture.” The FUSU competition received over 183 ideas from participants in 27 countries. Winning the Ishidate Award Dr Camilla Wong, Department of Pharmacy, won the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations’ (FAPA) Ishidate Award for Hospital Pharmacy. The theme of the FAPA 2008 Congress is “Translational Research: The Approach to Quality Healthcare.” ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 12 ❙ Name: Parent/Guardian Name: Address: IC No: Tel: Email: Fill in the colours for the picture below, attached the original receipt and mail in your entry by 31st January 2009 to : Chin Seng Moh (Import & Export) Pte Ltd 6 Chin Bee Drive, Singapore 619856 Age: Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ Renew, Refresh, Rewire. Not Retire. It’s a win-win situation for both older workers drawn back to work flexi-time at SingHealth institutions and the organisation which recently won an international award for its innovative employment practices. “I like what I’m doing very much. Although not on a personal level, I get to know people from my survey questions. This has opened my eyes to more things and helps me understand people better.” Ms Loh loves Ms Loh Suet Lan is happy that her flexi-time project work in travelling, and is SingHealth institutions allows her more time to pursue her personal interests. looking forward to going to Europe Retired nurse Ms Loh Suet Lan is soon with her friends. She enjoys reading and is a volunteer at the National enjoying the best of both worlds. An active participant of SingHealth’s Library, telling stories to children. She Silver Connection programme to hopes to get more opportunities to do engage older workers, Ms Loh works this now that she is not working fullflexible hours, allowing her more time time. One of her greatest pleasures now to pursue her personal interests. “My part-time work enables me to is babysitting her five-month-old earn some pocket money. And I have grandniece. With her flexible work the free time to do things for myself, hours, she volunteers to take care of her spend time with my family and friends,” sister’s granddaughter when her sister is busy with other things. said Ms Loh, 58. Ms Loh’s happy situation isn’t Ms Loh works at two SingHealth institutions – the National Cancer unique at the SingHealth group, which Centre Singapore and Singapore also includes Changi General Hospital, General Hospital – on projects, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, mostly involving recruiting patients National Dental Centre of Singapore, and collecting laboratory samples for National Heart Centre Singapore, National Neuroscience Institute, research purposes. Singapore National Eye Centre, and SingHealth Polyclinics. As a result of various initiatives by the organisation to reach out to mature employees, almost 80% of SingHealth’s retired staff have chosen to continue working with its institutions. Professor Tan Ser Kiat, Group Chief Executive Officer of SingHealth, said: “Healthcare is a people-intensive industry. We believe that age brings wisdom and skills that are not easily replaceable. “In light of an ageing workforce, we proactively align our employment practices to tap the growing pool of mature workers. Our age-friendly practices, such as retraining, flexi-work arrangement and job redesign, serve to equip and prepare our mature staff for pre-retirement.” About 18% of SingHealth’s 15,000 staff are aged 50 and above. In 2006, SingHealth started Silver Connection to help its mature staff enhance their employability. Guided by the ethos ‘Renew, Refresh, Rewire, not Retire,’ some of Silver Connection’s programmes include financial planning workshops, and employment of retired nurses and allied health professionals on a part-time or project basis, in positions like health research and survey assistants and feedback unit coordinators. One notable initiative is the Postnatal Shared care on asthma Like many chronic illnesses, asthma must be managed with frequent specialists checkups. For children with the disease, that means travelling to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), which could entail long travel and waiting times. But under a new KKH integrated care programme, children with stable asthma can now be cared for more conveniently by their neighbourhood general practitioner (GP) or paediatrician. Launched in September 2008, the KKH Partners in Asthma Care initiative is a collaboration between KKH specialists and the hospital’s network of more than 240 primary healthcare partners to jointly manage bronchial asthma conditions in children. Those with relatively stable asthma are directed to GPs and paediatricians for ongoing care, while respiratory care specialists at KKH continue to monitor their condition periodically. “This shared-care model will facilitate greater convenience for the patients without compromising on the level of care and support,” said Dr Jenny Tang, Head and Senior Consultant of Paediatric Medicine’s ❙ 13 Home Care Programme which supports new mothers as they adjust to the demands of caring for a newborn. Since it was launched in March 2007, more than 50 retiring and retired midwives have completed a specialised training course and helped over 200 families. In addition, SingHealth also invested in equipment and automation to make the work of its mature staff less physically demanding. For example, its hospitals have bought hoists to transport patients, and magnifiers for easier reading of medicine labels. Commitment to older workers brings honour SingHealth’s age-friendly practices have not gone unnoticed. It recently became one of two organisations in Asia to win the inaugural International Innovative Employer Award given out by AARP (formerly known as the American Association for Retired Persons), a US-based non-profit organisation representing 40 million members aged 50 and over. As one of 10 winners worldwide, SingHealth was selected for, among other factors, its recruiting practices, workplace culture, alternative work options, flexible retirement, and employee benefits that support the health and financial security of employees.The other winning employers were from Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom. “This award by AARP is affirmation of our commitment in supporting the ageing workforce and strong belief in the value and potential of our mature staff,” said SingHealth Group Chief Executive Officer Professor Tan Ser Kiat. Respiratory Service at KKH. It also makes healthcare more affordable as patients do away with specialist fees and travelling costs. Participating doctors are in turn given regular updates on asthma management and direct admission or fast-tracked appointments for their patients when the need arises. This focus on primary care is in line with the Health Ministry’s move to adopt the ‘right-siting’ of care for those with chronic diseases, moving care of patients with stable conditions away from hospitals to the community. An estimated one-fifth of Singapore’s child population suffers from bronchial asthma. Since 2001, KKH has been actively addressing the problem to improve quality of life for asmathic children, such as through i t s S i n ga p o re Na t i on a l A st h m a Programme. 14 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 Award-winning social worker follows calling Social worker stumbles into the profession, picks up the lives of many along the way, and rises to highest honours in social work. By Aaron Loh If she had chosen teaching, Singapore would have lost an exemplary social worker. Indeed, after graduation in 1985, last year’s Outstanding Social Worker Award recipient – one of two people in the nation to win the highest honour for this field in 2008 - had considered teaching but the subjects she took in school didn’t allow her to go into the profession at the time. As a result, Ms Long Chey May, 45, “went into social work without knowing what it was. Passion was something that came along the way.” The first in her family of eight daughters to graduate from university, Ms Long started work in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), as a counsellor in the Drug Rehab Branch. “I was very comfortable in the SAF because of my background with the National Cadet Corps when I was in school. “The army boys also taught me a lot of things; such as life as a drug abuser; how difficult addiction to substance is. Gangsterism was also prevalent as many of the young men I counselled came from poor social economic background. But they are very resilient. They also directly contributed to my development of micro skills as they would give me directly their feedback on what was helpful and what was not. I also saw how social work is about What is Medical Social Work? Medical Social Work is a sub-discipline of social work. It involves providing assistance to patients and their families in a hospital setting. The Medical Social Services of S ingapore General Hospital has been serving its patients, the hospital and community since the 1950s. The department attends to patients and their families who have difficulties coping with their emotional, psychological, social and care problems arising from ill-health and traumatic injuries. As an inter-disciplinary team, Medical Social Workers (MSW) collaborates with the healthcare team and community resources to provide patients and their families with holistic care. understanding the human spirit.” “Upon completion of my (six-year contract with the SAF), I had the chance to join Singapore General Hospital as a Medical Social Worker (MSW) and have stayed till the present,” she said. Working with needy and troubled chronic patients, Ms Long felt privileged to be able to enter “deep into the patient’s world,” helping her understand the problems that the patient feels. Her job began to take on a new meaning, and she started to love her job. At the same time, as the passion drove her deeper into the patient’s world, “it is important that we take care of ourselves before we can reach out to help and care for others. We have to practise controlled emotional involvement. If not, we are at risk of burning out,” she said. Bridging the gap with community services In her journey towards last year’s award, which she proudly received from President S R Nathan at the Istana on Oct 31, Ms Long has initiated many programmes to raise welfare and care for patients. One of these is her Care Outreach Programme. Ms Long had noted a glaring gap in welfare services for patients between the time they are discharged – and MSW services are no longer available to them – and when community services take over when they reach home. This was especially true of elderly and single patients who lack family support. “When patients under our medical social workers are discharged from the hospitals, there is a time lapse before the community services reach them. This could take up to two weeks and the patients may be without the necessary support during this period,” she said. When she was given extra staffing in 2007, Ms Long saw an opportunity to close this gap by allocating a team of two to three social workers to follow up on elderly and single patients at home. As a result of these interventions, patients are properly taken care of before the much-needed connections via other community resources and services are available. “By closing this gap, we can make sure that these elderly patients do not get readmitted to the hospital because of falls or the lack of support and care. And my team, headed by Ms Alicia Tan, has done a great job so far,” Ms Long said. “When our patients are discharged from the hospital, it does not mean they are out of sight, out of mind.” Reading the face of crisis In the face of crisis, someone may wail hysterically while another may turn stone blank. Different people react differently to crisis or a traumatic event. Feelings of grief, sadness, anxiety, fear, anger and a gamut of other emotions may occur shortly following the event, or they may not occur for some time afterwards. These feelings may last a very short time, months or even years. In some people, more serious psychological reactions may develop, which may require professional help. You may need help if you: • Remain highly anxious, tense, confused, empty and exhausted after four-six weeks. • Continue to feel numb even after a month. • Have trouble expressing your feelings or relating to other people. • Continue to have nightmares and poor sleep. • Have no one to share your feelings with and feel the need to do so. • Develop depression or have thoughts of self-harm. • Suffer badly in your relationships or begin to develop sexual problems. • Start being accident-prone. • Begin to smoke or drink excessively or turn to drugs or other forms of relief. • Continue to perform badly in your work. • Experience chronic exhaustion. Credit Counselling for serious debt problems Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) for crisis and the suicidal Mon-Fri 9.00am – 6.00pm 24 hours 1800-2255227 1800-2214444 Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ ❙ 15 Touching hearts Healthcare professionals often find themselves going the extra mile to help patients. Even so, two SGH medical social workers have found themselves in unusual situations. Writing his last will MEDICAL social worker Constance Thong was physically and emotionally drained after attending to the family of a dying 13-year-old girl. The last thing she wanted to do was to attend to another patient at 5.50 pm on a Friday evening. But the patient, given just 48 hours more to live, had specifically asked for her. It was Mr Choo Choon Leong*, a patient she had been introduced to weeks earlier but who had promptly disappeared after. Emaciated by his disease, the slight 50-something sought help. Mr Choo’s parents were dead and his relationship with his younger siblings was strained. He worked as a taxi driver, then a cleaner, and took part in few social activities. But he loved reading and spoke well, said Ms Thong. She had met him only once before when she was first assigned to Mr Choo as his MSW to help him cope with news of his disease. Now, he wanted Ms Thong to draw up his will. “He began by telling me that he has a 25% ownership of a three-room flat, and money in his CPF (Central Provident Fund) account. His last wish was to distribute his assets to his friends and social welfare,” said Ms Thong. Stunned, Ms Thong sought advice from her seniors, who suggested she helped the patient. “I went back to him and told him that I would try to draft a will for him, although I was concerned the will would not be accepted, but that I would try my best. He replied, ‘Thanks.’” It took another long hour to gather together his final intentions: What were the assets available, who are the beneficiaries and their relationship to him, why was he giving his money to them, in what proportion were the assets to be divided, what was his understanding of social welfare and which agency did he want to will his money to (later he withdrew his request to give his money to social welfare). Then Ms Thong had to call his friends, the would-be beneficiaries of the will. She also had to get a doctor to certify that the patient was of sound mind. And she had to get witnesses. Finally, she read the will to the patient to make sure the content was correct before it was endorsed with his thumbprint. “He nodded. But by then, Mr Choo had his oxygen mask on as he was getting breathless,” said Ms Thong. He took off his oxygen mask to bid his friends farewell, and whispered a gentle “thank you.” Mr Choo died the following morning. “To this day, I do not know if Mr Choo’s Preserving an old man’s dignity THE old man had been living with a friend till he had an amputation at Singapore General Hospital. His assigned Medical Social Worker Alicia Tan was given the task of finding the patient – Mr Kwan Tang Seng* – a home. It wasn’t easy. Although wheelchair-bound, he was mobile and independent, meaning no nursing home would take him. In his 70s, he was considered too old for homes for the disabled, while sheltered homes had no vacancies. The easy way out would have been to leave Mr Kwan to convalesce in the hospital until a bed or home became available. Yet the patient had displayed such a neversay-die attitude that Ms Tan felt she couldn’t allow him to be “institutionalised.” Alicia Tan (left) and Constance Thong Crying out for help By calling in to broach the subject of organ donation, “it was a sign and cry for help,” said MSS Head Ms Long Chey May. He was subsequently counselled by medical social workers who talked him out of suicide. According to Ms Long, “financial woes had been the cause of the man’s problems,” leading to an She decided on another route. She looked for someone for the patient to share a flat with. Luckily, she found another elderly man with no kin looking for a place to stay. “We had to apply for leave from hospital to take him to HDB to apply and select a flat. When it was approved, we had to get PUB and Town Council to fax over application forms so that he could have electricity, etc.,” said Ms Tan. There were also furniture and other home appliances to look for. Fortunately, “a very nice Samaritan - Eugene - and his son helped pick up and deliver the furniture to the patient’s new flat. My hubby and I went to buy household cleaning items to clean up the place and also got him new mattress and bedsheets.” “We wanted to arrange everything in place so that he could have a nice home before the patient was discharged,” said Ms Tan. Medical social workers help patients make a smooth transition from the hospital back to the community, and their job can include referrals to community hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, shelter homes, day care centres, senior activity centres, home-help and befriending services. But for Ms Tan, who provided help beyond finding the patient a home, her job is difficult to define. “There is really no answer on where we start and where we stop. For his case, no one wanted to take him,” she said. To show his appreciation, Mr Kwan gave Ms Tan a carton of oranges and ‘bak kwa,’ the traditional barbequed meats, for Chinese New Year. She visits him occasionally and he looks for her when he goes to SGH for treatment. “You could say that it is my calling. I love being a social worker, to be able to help others,” said 28-year-old Ms Tan. “Helping patients like Mr Kwan live the rest of his life with dignity in his own home just makes it all the more meaningful!” *Names have been changed. By Aaron Loh An unusual call to donate his organs raised suspicions, and the man was instead referred to MSS. Medical social workers managed to counsel the heavily indebted man out of suicide. Different people react differently to crises, and an understanding of how people respond to problems and stress,and where help could be found, could help avert tragedies around the workplace and at home. The man called the National Organ Transplant Unit to donate his organs. But his wish to donate wasn’t rooted in altruism, but stemmed from a desire to die, staff at the unit found. Realising the man had lost his will to live, the unit’s staff immediately referred him to Singapore General Hospital’s Medical Social Services (MSS). friends managed to get their inheritance. But I knew they took care of Mr Choo’s last rites and that within that short period of time, I did what I could for him. Of course, I wished that the will could be legally accepted so that Mr Choo’s last wish of distributing his assets to his friends could be fulfilled. But his friends indicated that they had no wish to claim his assets and that they would go ahead to help him plan for his funeral even if he had not made any will,” she said. overwhelming sense of despair which pushed him towards the brink. Such cases can be expected to rise with financial markets falling sharply, dragging economies into recession and hurting consumer confidence. “Different people react to crises differently, and different people will react to financial woes differently,” Ms Long said. The important thing is to recognise the signs that the person’s reaction to a crisis may be veering towards desperation, and an inability to cope. In this, the most emotional people may not be the ones who most need help in coping with problems. “Some people may be in trouble and they just keep quiet and keep to themselves. They may already have suicidal thoughts although they do not voice it out. Similarly, those who are emotive with emotional outbursts may be un-bottling their feelings, which can be positive,” Ms Long said. Seeking help with problems that one may not be able to deal with competently on one’s own is an important next step. However, those in financial distress often turn to luck and lottery, hoping for a quick-fix solution. “To them, this is buying a chance, and a hope of turning things around,” said Ms Long. Ironically, she added, “some of those who come and see us often spend a few hundred dollars a month on 4D and cigarettes,” which could lead to a snowballing of financial problems for a person short of cash. 16 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ Knowledge trails from clinical trials Clinical trials are gateways to potential treatments but patients need to be clear about the procedures, their purpose, risks and benefits. Bouquets ❙ 17 “ The article by Mr Lim Mun Moon (Head, Pharmacy) in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of OutramNow on ‘Generic and Brand Name Drugs’ was both educational and timely given the prevailing deepening financial crisis and recession. It is indeed reassuring to know that the two drug types, whilst vastly different in their respective market prices, “confer equal and similar therapeutic benefits and associated risks as they contain the same active ingredients in equivalent quantities and are subjected to stringent standards of Good Manufacturing Practice”. In this regard, the role played by Singapore Health Sciences Authority cannot be over-emphasised. OutramNow will render its readers a great service if it can make known the names of those brand name drugs and their counterpart generic ones in future issues, should the latter be available in the Singapore market. Thank you. - Mrs Ng Soo Kheng ” Reply from Head of Pharmacy Mr Lim Mun Moon Thank you for your interest. The list is rather long, as all drugs eventually go off-patent. Here is a list of some common drugs which have gone off patent over the last 10-15 years. Proprietary Name Generic Name Adalat Nifedipine Augmentin Co-amoxiclav Ciprobay Ciprofloxacin Clarityne Loratidine Diflucan Fluconazole Losec Omeprazole Norvasc Amlodipine One-Alpha Alfacalcidol Pravachol Pravastatin Prozac Fluoxetine Risperdal Risperidone Zantac Ranitidine Zestril Lisinopril Zocor Simvastatin Zovirax Aciclovir WeHearYou PATIENTS can be easily tempted to volunteer for clinical trials that might offer them a new lease of life but there are stringent recruitment guidelines to prevent trial errors. “Some research studies seek participants with illnesses or conditions to be studied in the clinical trial while others need healthy volunteers,” said Ms Ong Siok Luan, Manager of the Clinical Trials Resource Centre at Singapore General Hospital. “It is important to note that inclusion and exclusion criteria are not used to reject people personally but rather to protect their safety while ensuring that the researchers will be able to answer the questions they plan to study.” Participants in clinical trials play a more dynamic role in their own health care, gain access to new treatments before they are widely available and help others by contributing to medical research. There is no contract so they are free to withdraw from trials at any time without penalties. All clinical trials in Singapore must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)/ Ethics Committee (EC). The IRB checks that the clinical trials are ethical and the participants’ rights, safety, confidentiality and well-being are being protected. In addition, it also monitors trials for compliancy with the International Good Clinical Practice. While participating in clinical trials sound like a good deal, it should be noted that the research treatments are not guaranteed cures for ailments. Said Ms Ong: “The experimental treatment being tested may or may not help you. You may get better, get worse or you may see no change. In some cases, there can be some unpleasant, serious or even life-threatening side effects during the treatment course.” Interested parties should find out more about the trial procedures and feel comfortable asking the healthcare team about it. They will also be given sufficient time to think before making an informed consent. Why do I have to leave the room when the mobile X-ray team comes? Recently when I visited a patient, I was asked to leave the room when a mobile X-ray team visited. However, I noticed other patients in the same room were not moved. Why is this? IN SOME cases, patients are medically unfit to leave the ward for X-rays. The attending physician will therefore request for mobile radiography for them. A mobile radiography team consists of a radiographer, healthcare assistant and a mobile X-ray machine. Mobile X-rays are generally for the chest and are localised. Before proceeding with the X-ray, the radiography team will ask visitors to leave the room so that they don’t get in the way of the procedure and receive stray radiation. However, patients in adjacent beds are allowed to remain where they are. This is because the amount of stray radiation that they receive from the mobile X-ray is very small. It can be compared to the natural background radiation that we receive continuously from the ground and sky every day. If you have a query about hospital processes, email [email protected] 18 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Kidney transplant gave her back to her family Happy 3rd “I don’t know how long this kidney now to spend time with them and just Birthday,Lumpkid! will last, but I will live my life well and not take things for granted,” said Vanitha, “It’s a second chance at life and I can do so much with it.” Family life back on track The transplant didn’t just free her from dialysis. More importantly, after more than 15 years, she is able to spend time with her husband and her children, and to be a family again. “My daughters are all teenagers now and this is the time they really need me to be around to guide them as they grow up to be young women. I think it’s the best time have girl time.” Vanitha – who admitted to getting very emotional about the topic – credits her husband of almost 20 years for keeping her going all these years. “He took care of the kids all this time and showed me such great love and support,” she said tearily. “He used to send me to dialysis and now, takes leave to accompany me on hospital visits.” The loving couple goes on dates often. Added Vanitha, “He has always been there for me, and now I can be there for him and my girls. We have such good times.” Since then, I’ve readjusted my perspective on life somewhat. I take life a little easier and make the effort to count my blessings daily. A former journalist, I’ve given up full time work in order to have time to care for myself. I continue to go to the gym, and have taken up running – something I never used to do (and hated). I won’t say I love it now, but it’s good mental and physical discipline for me. Every year, I do something new for myself to celebrate each new year of good health. I rock-climbed one year (despite my phobia of heights), ran my first 10km another year and recently attempted my first half marathon in December. I’ve sometimes called my kidney failure a gift which shaped my life in many ways and has helped me to appreciate and embrace life with vigour. But the true gift was from Alphonsus. FromTheHeart Falling for renal medicine After witnessing the plight of patients with kidney disease, and the devotion of senior doctors to their patients, one young medical officer decided to make renal medicine his life’s work. By Dr Terence Kee Life as a renal registrar is not an easy road to take but it was love at first sight for me. I first encountered the discipline in 1996, when I was sent to the Department of Renal Medicine for one of my earliest postings as a first-year Singapore General Hospital medical officer. The workload was among the heaviest among hospital’s departments, but I was drawn to the complexity of the specialty and the lifelong relationships fostered between patients, their families and the renal physician. I was also drawn to the plight of many patients with kidney disease and the psychosocial difficulties they faced in an illness that was chronic, uncomfortable, expensive and often lonely. My involvement in this specialty deepened when I joined SGH’s Department of Renal Medicine as a registrar in May 2001, after completing my membership for the Royal College of Physician in Edinburgh in October 2000. In those days, we had to respond to referrals not only from SGH, but also Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Changi General Hospital as well as KK Women and Children Hospital. I can still vividly remember the many wee hours of the mornings when I dashed between hospitals to see critically ill patients with kidney failure. Despite the hardship, the intense inspired me to take up transplantation nephrology as a sub-specialty. I had seen how a kidney transplant renewed life and wanted to be part of that lifetransforming process: Young people were able to return to school as successful scholars, women were able to bear children, and men whose pride and self-worth were restored when they were able to return to the work-force. workload accelerated my training in renal medicine and I never failed to receive encouragement and advice from my consultants from the department. In 2003, I obtained specialist accreditation as a renal medicine specialist and spent the following year training at Australia’s top transplant center, Westmead Hospital. Since my return to SGH, I have been engaged in the kidney transplant programme, supervising its operations when my mentor and then Director of Renal Transplant Programme, Professor Vathsala A, left in April 2008. It was Professor Vathsala who Studies: Risks of developing kidney failure aren’t higher for living kidney donors The kidney transplant programme has come a long way. At SGH, we have an armamentarium of machines and immunosuppressive drugs that allow us to cross previously insurmountable immunological barriers such as transplantation across different blood groups and a positive cross match. But many challenges to the programme remain. As programme administrator, I feel one major issue is the promotion of altruistic living kidney donation. Living kidney donor transplantation is the preferred treatment option for patients with end-stage kidney failure but only 25% of all kidney transplants performed at SGH are from living kidney donors. This procedure can be performed before the start of dialysis, and at a time convenient to both donor and recipient. More importantly, the results, compared to deceased donor kidney transplants, are superior. Like all surgeries, the procedure holds risks for the donor. But there is more than sufficient evidence to show that living kidney donors aren’t exposed to a higher risk of developing kidney failure compared to the general population. The vast majority of donors also feel good about themselves for donating a kidney to their loved ones. However, patients with kidney failure often choose to bear the burden of the disease themselves and living kidney donation remains misunderstood by many. Thus, another challenge is to educate patients and their families on living kidney donor transplantation, and hopefully increase the rate of altruistic living kidney donor transplants at SGH. I have been in SGH for 12 years. It has taught me that life is short and unpredictable. If SGH gives you the opportunity to make a difference, take it before you lose it. I think that is what SGH is all about – making a difference to patients and their families. Dr Kee is Consultant at the Department of Renal Medicine. ❙ 19 Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ Organ shortage a pressing problem Many patients with end-stage organ failure remain on the waiting list as demand for organs for transplant continues to outstrip supply, especially for kidneys because of the high rates of some common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. In 2007, 84 patients were removed from the kidney, liver and heart waiting lists because they either have died, became too old or too sick for a transplant. As of Dec 31, 2007, 563 patients were on the transplant waiting list for a kidney, 25 for a cornea, nine for liver, and seven for a heart. Since July 1970 when the first transplant using a cadaveric kidney was performed in Singapore, as many as 2000 people have received organs. But concerns regarding an after-life without all of one’s organs continue to hinder deceased donor donation, as do myths regarding health, vigour and lifespan with a single functioning kidney. Experience from other countries has shown that organ donation can only be successful if it is seen and accepted by society as a way of life, as something which is not just a “gift” to a stranger or a loved one, but an essential for the preservation of human society. DidYouKnow The number of people given a fresh lease of life through transplants The number of transplants at Outram Campus 891 Bone Marrow 2,500 42 1,189 Cornea Heart Kidney 21 Liver 8 Lung Transplant Milestones 1960s 1961 The first renal unit is established. The first hemodialysis is performed on a patient with acute renal failure, using Travenol twin coil artificial kidney. Dialysis time? A lengthy 12 hours. Renewing life through the years 1990s 1962 The first corneal transplant is performed using cornea from the Washington International Eye Bank on a 20-year-old woman with Band Keratopathy disease. 1990 The first heart transplant is performed. 1963 The first peritoneal dialysis is performed at SGH. 1964 A road traffic accident victim becomes the first local eye donor. 1980s 1983 The first kidney transplant patient successfully gives birth, to a baby girl, 11 months after receiving a kidney from a deceased donor. 1970s 1970 Kidney from a deceased donor is used for transplant for the first time. The 30-year-old Chinese housewife lived with excellent kidney function for another 21 years before dying of other causes. 1976 The first living-related kidney transplant is performed at SGH. 1985 The first syngeneic bone marrow (BMT) transplant, using stem cells from an identical twin, is performed. The first allogeneic bone marrow transplant, using stem cells from someone else, is performed. 1988 The first Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem cell Transplant (PBSCT), using the patient’s own stem cells, is performed. 1991 The first living spouse-to-spouse kidney transplant is performed. The first kidney transplant is performed in a patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, an auto immune disease. 1992 A woman receiving dialysis at SGH successfully gives birth. The first kidney transplant is performed in a patient with diabetes mellitus. 1994 The 500th kidney transplant is performed at SGH. The first matched unrelated donor BMT is performed at SGH. 1995 The first Allogeneic PBSCT, first Autologous PBSCT for nonHaematological Disease, are performed. 1998 The first cord blood stem cell transplant is performed at SGH. 1999 The 1,000th kidney transplant is performed at SGH. The first Non-Myeloablative Allogeneic PBSCT is performed. 2000 2000 The first lung transplant is performed. 2005 Kidney transplants are performed across positive cross matches, allowing patients to receive donors from previously incompatible donors. The first Allogeneic PBSCT for Non-Haematological Disease is performed. 2006 The first deceased liver transplant is performed The first living donor liver transplant is performed 2007 Kidney transplants from deceased donors are performed across positive cross matches. 2008 The first Non-Myeloablative Allogeneic PBSCT with haplo-identical donor is performed. 20 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 Family matters in breast cancer prevention BREAST cancer is a disease that is easily detected by simple screening and has high rates of treatment success when diagnosed early. Despite this, the number and frequency of women going for breast cancer screening remain low. Less than half the women in Singapore aged 50 to 69 undergo regular screening. This is a worrying trend as the rate of breast cancer has leapt exponentially. The number of new cases diagnosed during the five-year period between 1968-1972 and 2003-2007 rose from 627 to 6,773. Significantly, breast cancer deaths for the respective time frames jumped from 193 to 1,566. To arrest this trend, the Breast Cancer Awareness Month Committee made prevention a key message in last year’s campaign activities. The 11th annual campaign, ‘The Women in our Lives,’ emphasised the strong role family members can take to promote early and regular screening. According to campaign committee chairperson Dr Ho Gay Hui, the motivation from family members reminds women that there are people in their lives who care for them. Dr Ho, a Senior Consultant and Breast Surgeon at the National Cancer Centre Singapore, said in the event of cancer diagnosis, patients with a supportive Participants of the “Pink Bridges” mass walk hamming it up during game, where each team had to dress up a representative as a family also tend to a woman who has inspired them. do better. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) Park was held for breast cancer survivors offered all-year subsidised mammograms and their families on Oct 25. Some at polyclinics. HPB Director for 300 participants, including healthcare Healthy Ageing Division Dr Shyamala professionals, crossed illuminated “Pink Thilagaratnam noted mammography Bridges,” an act symbolic of the “many is “the most effective tool” in the early treacherous crossings in life that patients, families and healthcare partners have to detection of breast cancer. To cap off the campaign, a 3-km endure in their fight against breast cancer mass walk from Mount Faber to Hort together,” said Dr Ho. Lending support Public education to target men too The term ‘breast cancer’ may be well-known, but a survey by Changi General Hospital (CGH) found a large knowledge gap on the condition itself. Many misconceptions were prevalent among the 2,000 Asian women and men polled. Only 60% of the women and 48% of men were able to list at least one symptom of breast cancer correctly. Four in 10 women falsely thought having small breasts meant no risk of breast cancer while five in 10 men had this misconception. Half of the women also believed the removal of the entire breast was the only treatment. This knowledge gap is worrying, said Dr Tan Su-Ming, Chief and Senior Consultant of CGH’s Department of Surgery, and it could be the reason why about one in four new cases are only diagnosed at the late stage. The fact that men have poorer knowledge than women is significant as many Asian households leave important decisions in health matters to the male relative. This calls for more targeted public education on the disease – for both men and women. Contact Freddy Neo at Exxon Mobil at 6508-2520 or 9821-2415 Link www.bsgspore.com Name Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Name Blossoms, the Breast Cancer Support Group Led by SGH Led by Breast Care Nurse Clinician Mdm N Saraswathi Membership Membership Women who have undergone breast surgery Activities Meetings on the second Wednesday of every month to discuss events and for peer support. Survivors meet post-operative patients from Tuesdays to Fridays to provide emotional support and encouragement. Survivors also meet post-surgery patients who have been discharged for educational programmes on the last Wednesday of each month to share their experiences on the side effects of treatment and how they coped with their disease. These educational programmes were started in 1992. Patients and care givers Meets first Monday of the month (if it is a public holiday, the meeting will be moved to the following Monday) from 11am to 1pm. Advanced Practice Nurse Tan Siok Bee at 81253543 ww.sgh.com.sg/ForPatientsnVisitors/ServicesGuide/SupportGroups/ www.parkinsonsingapore.com for Parkinson’s Disease Society of Singapore Activities Contact Link Name Heart/Lung Transplant Patient Support Group Dr Lim Chong Hee, Heart & Lung Tranplant Programme Pre-and post-transplant patients and their families To provide emotional support and facilitate information exchange on post-transplant care. Group meetings at the National Heart Centre every two months. Heart/Lung Transplant Programme Manager Kerk Ka Lee at 6436-7689 or 8123-0287 www.nhc.com.sg/ForPatientsNVisitors/PatientSupportGroup HeartandLungTransplantPatientSupportGroup/ Contact Breast Care Nurse Clinician Mdm N Saraswathi at 6321-4474 Led by Link www.sgh.com.sg/ForPatientsnVisitors/ServicesGuide/SupportGroups/ Membership Name Light Weight Club Support Group Led by Contact Nurse Clinician Khong Kum Chue Parents of pre-term infants or low birth weight babies (under 2kg) born in SGH Group provides parents with support and guidance during the baby’s early development. Nurse Clinician Khong Kum Chue at 6321-4540 Link www.sgh.com.sg/ForPatientsnVisitors/ServicesGuide/SupportGroups/ Membership Activities Activities Contact Link Name Name Stroke Club Led by Singapore National Stroke Association and SGH Membership Stroke survivors and care givers Link Meets every third Thursday of even months from 3pm to 4.30 pm at Ward 74 to discuss physical, mental, social, emotional and financial aspects of post-stroke care. Advanced Practice Nurse Tan Siok Bee at 81253543, or Singapore National Stroke Association at 6358-4138, email [email protected] www.sgh.com.sg/ForPatientsnVisitors/ServicesGuide/SupportGroups/ Name Burns Support Group Led by Exxon Mobil and SGH Supported by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Chevron Oronite Pte Ltd and SGH Membership Burn injury survivors Activities Survivors visit burns patients at home and in the ward to offer emotional support; annual social gatherings for survivors and public forums to raise burns awareness. Activities Contact Led by Membership Activities Contact Link Several support groups facilitated by the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) including the Breast Cancer, Lymphoma, Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Cancer, Mandarin, Malay support groups; The Revival Connection for patients with advanced and recurrent cancers; and The Growth Club for families who have lost their loved ones. Helen Hee, Lam Lai Ore and Medical Social Worker (MSW) Brandon Goh for The Revival Connection; Teo Thiam Chye, Lim Wai Cheng and MSW Travis Loh for NPC patients; MSWs Gilbert Fan and Brandon Goh for Lymphoma Patients; Adeline Ang and MSW Brandon Goh for The Growth Club; Jenny Teo and MSW Jamie Woon for Mandarinspeaking cancer patients, survivors and caregivers; Norasmah Md Eunos and MSW Serene Tan for Malay-speaking cancer patients, survivors and caregivers; MSW Gilbert Fan for Patient Volunteers. Patients and their families To share information on cancer treatment and management, caring for a loved one, issues with readjustment and healthy lifestyle. Groups plan activities that will enrich participants coping with cancer and provide an avenue for them to obtain support from other patients/family members with similar concerns. 6436-8117 [email protected] [email protected] www.nccs.com.sg/pat/09.htm Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ Keeping abreast with support groups Support groups are a powerful source of comfort for patients as they connect with others who have been or are undergoing the same experiences. OutramNow kick-starts a series of profiles on the groups at Outram Campus with Blossoms, the breast cancer awareness posse. By Hannah Lin WHEN Madam Ow Yong Marie, 53, realised she had breast cancer, she was filled with questions. She did not smoke or drink and even breastfed her children after childbirth, which she thought could ward off the illness. The possibility of cancer only became real when she discovered a lump in her breast and rashes on her nipples. Diagnosis was confirmed when she was screened at a breast cancer education fair organised by Sister N. Saraswathi, a long-serving nurse from the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Fast forward to today and Madam Ow Yong Marie is part of Blossoms, a 50-odd strong group of survivors and another 50-odd nurses from SGH who devote time to spread breast cancer awareness. Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from SGH are given the opportunity to join the Blossoms where mentors offer crucial and timely counsel to distraught patients. As Blossom members, the ladies meet monthly for updates, partake in educational campaigns and are rostered to visit patients at SGH during group exercise sessions from Tuesdays to Fridays. In addition, they proudly wear bright pink – official colour of the breast cancer awareness movement – T-shirts for outings to bring cheer to more lives. From beneficiaries to helpers The journey is tough for breast cancer patients from the start of treatment to remission. Common concerns include worrying about their inability to care for the family, deteriorating relationships with spouses and the rigours of radioand chemotherapy. Having gone through the same uncertainties, Blossoms volunteers are in the best position to guide the patients. Most of them hide their battle scars so well you can barely tell they were ever sick. Likened to a tribe of silent warriors, these dedicated volunteers remain compassionate towards the patients, hoping that they too will succeed in their fight and join the ranks of the survivors. Take Madam Rahmah, a 49-year-old housewife. “My children were young when I was diagnosed, and I didn’t want to die.” After her mastectomy, her arms were very sore and she wore baggy clothes to hide the results. Joining Blossoms gave her courage and to pay it forward, the active survivor currently heads the Malay support group in SGH. Clearing of doubts with Blossoms The acceptance of breast cancer support groups and public education on self-examination has increased over the past two decades. Long-time survivor Jenny Teo, 56, agreed that breast cancer patients now have greater access to help and resources. Back then, breast cancer was not well-known and she was afraid to seek medical help till the lump in her breast grew to a large 3.5cm in 1997. Breast cancer survivor Kate Wong, 67, also recalled her misperception of fellow cancer patients prior to joining Blossoms. Diagnosed with the condition in 2002, she shaved her head and donned a wig unnecessarily for her first party with the support group, thinking she would blend in with the crowd. A single with her family based overseas, she panicked when she encountered health conditions she was unsure of. “I had fluid accumulating in my breast one day and was very worried,” recalled Ms Wong, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. “So I called Sister S, who came over to help me remove the fluid.” Now older and wiser, the feisty former principal is an active member of Blossoms as well as the Pink Paddlers, a local dragon-boating team for breast cancer survivors. ❙ 21 How Blossoms bloomed Blossoms was started by Sister N. Saraswathi in 1992 after she completed her Breast Care Nursing studies in the UK. There were only five patients at the inaugural meeting but the group has since grown to over 50 volunteers. There are currently sub-groups for Chinese- and Malay-speaking patients, with one for singles in the pipeline. Sub-groups are named after flowers such as Orchid, Rose and Sunflower. The other support group is the Breast Care Nurse Volunteers group who work together with the survivors. Members of the breast cancer support group, Blossoms, at their monthly meet-ups Members meet once a month in a tutorial room at SGH to discuss the activities for that year and to provide peer support. There is also an educational programme for breast cancer patients and their caregivers once a month conducted in various languages. Activities revolving around support and celebration such as dances, parties and sharing sessions are common. Blossoms members often hand-stitch breast pads consisting of a skin-tone fabric wrapped around thick cotton stuffing. Available in different sizes, they are especially The hand-made breast pads are a boon to patients who have useful for patients who have to wait six undergone mastectomies and are weeks after their mastectomy for their waiting for the completion of their customised silicon external prosthesis customised silicon versions. Taking a step further, the support group often prepares materials for awareness campaigns or breast cancer booths in the heartlands such as Hougang and Simei. Members even travelled to Cambodia earlier this year to promote breast cancer awareness to the locals. Sister Saraswathi , who has seen breast cancer patients as young as 17 and as old as 96, notes a rising prevalence of women in their 30s being diagnosed and urges women to undergo regular breast screenings for improved chances of survival. “Seeing that the energetic women manning the booth are all survivors reinforces the message that breast cancer can afflict anyone, both young and old,” she said. SGH breast care nurse volunteers collaborate with the Residents’ Committees (RCs) and Community Centres (CCs) in Singapore to organise health programmes and screening for residents at Cheng San CC, Tampines CC, Changkat CC this year. They also educate the public attending churches, mosques and Hindu temples. The response to these educational programmes and seminars is usually overwhelming. Nevertheless, said Sister Saraswathi, it is disheartening Some 17 Blossoms members spread the to see many women with huge breast cancer awareness message to tumours known as fungating wounds villagers in Cambodia and advanced cancer. Blossoms members enjoyed a 3km stroll from Mount Faber Park to Hort Park for the Pink Bridges Walk in October this year 22 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 Lifestyle Subscription Drive October 2008 - November 2009 LIFESTYLE DECEMBER 08 Lifestyle now boasts a new look and more varied content, guaranteed to keep you engaged from cover to cover. job Is your in jeopardy? م Ϟ ୕ ് م ᄍ ބ Dec 2008 $3.00 م Ϟ ୕ ് م ᄍ ބ Subscribe to the revamped Lifestyle from now till November 2009 to participate in our monthly draws and Grand draw. $3.00 Farewell 2008! 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(GST Reg No. M4-0005844-0) • Lifestyle magazine is by subscription only and is not available at newsstands. • Incomplete forms or forms without payment will not be processed. • Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing. • Subscribers will be updated of his/her subscription via post. • Subscription Hotline: 6236 5790 (from Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) Sponsors: Other prizes include KDK fan vouchers, NTUC Fairprice vouchers, chalet stays and more! g.sg Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ ❙ 23 InTheKnow Myringoplasty to repair ruptured eardrum What is myringoplasty and what does the procedure involve? A myringoplasty is a surgical procedure to repair a perforated eardrum, which is a thin membrane separating the ear canal and the middle ear. A perforated eardrum is often accompanied by decreased hearing and occasional discharge. Usually done under general anaesthesia, the surgery involves a skin incision to access the eardrum, and a graft, usually of the patient’s own tissue, is used to repair the torn eardrum. A pressure bandage is then applied, usually for a day, after the operation. What causes the eardrum to rupture? A rupture could result from infection or trauma, such as sudden, loud explosion, if the ear is hit hard, or if a cotton bud or stick is pushed too far into the ear canal. Most eardrum perforations heal spontaneously within weeks after rupture. During the healing process the ear must be protected from water and trauma. Perforations which do not heal on their own may require surgery. What is the general success rate for this procedure, and what are the potential risks? In experienced hands, this procedure has a high success rate. Complete closure of the perforation can be achieved in up to 95% of the time. There is a very small risk that the hearing might get worse after surgery. How should the patient prepare for the procedure? Care should be taken to prevent infection such as stopping water from getting into the ear during a bath. What about post-surgery care? The patient normally goes home on the same day or the day after surgery, as giddiness may be experienced. The patient needs to keep the wound and ears clean and dry to prevent infection. Air travel is not recommended for at least a week after surgery, and the patient should also take care not to blow the nose too hard. This is because the middle ear is connected to the nose by the eustachian tube, which acts to equalise pressure in the middle ear. By Associate Professor Low Wong Kein, Director, Centre for Hearing & Ear Implants and Senior Consultant, Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital FrontLine Whatever your problem, she hears you Fifty-nine year old Regina Heng may have retired in 2006 to help look after her two granddaughters. But the same passion that kept her in nursing for nearly 40 years brought her back to serve patients in a different way. Back at work after just a year away, she works three days a week as a senior executive at the Service Quality (SQ) Department’s Feedback unit. Regina makes use of her familiarity with the hospital’s departments, her strong interpersonal skills, pleasant disposition, and confidence to soothe frayed tempers. When not working or babysitting, the 2008 Silver Excellence Service Award winner puts up her feet and watches Korean dramas. 1. What’s your job? Much of my time is spent handling feedback. I need to investigate the causes of the complaints, and then coordinate with other departments to craft appropriate responses. 2. What do you like or dislike about your job? The job is very challenging as we have to face patients and their families, usually when they are at a heightened emotional state. As a member of the Service Quality team, we may get their feedback or complaints in person, over the phone or in written form. The job requires someone who is very confident, who has a positive work attitude, and who gets deep satisfaction from solving problems and helping others. As with any job, it also requires someone with a strong passion, in this case, for service quality, and who is willing to go the extra mile to get the job done well. In my department, we have a cohesive and strong team, which is very important as they provide support. We often have to deal with people unhappy with our services. People giving feedback often hurl accusations at us, and sometimes can be verbally abusive. 3. Any notable instances? A patient was brought by her husband for admission to the hospital. They had to wait a few hours for a bed to be available. On admission to the ward, they found that the bed wasn’t ready. By then, the couple was furious. The husband made his way to SQ to complain even as the bed was being made ready, and as his wife was being settled in. Then, during the wife’s stay, the husband came to SQ repeatedly to complain. Some of the issues appeared to be very small, yet I gave him my full attention. I apologised to him for every complaint, and made sure problems raised were dealt with promptly. Updates on investigations were also relayed to him. Although I faced a lot of stress having to deal with this angry patient, I felt rewarded when after a few weeks, he sent a ‘thank you’ card. He expressed his gratitude for listening to him at a time when he faced a lot of stress. 24 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 EatWell Braised fish maw and mushroom with supreme broth This low-cholestrol dish is great for festive occasions. Fat content can be further reduced by using a smaller quantity of fish maw. Serves 4 Preparation time: 3 hours INGREDIENTS Cooking oil 1 tsp Garlic 2 cloves, peeled and chopped Dark soy sauce 1 tsp Dried Chinese mushrooms 30 g (1 oz), stems removed, soaked to soften and drained Ginger 1.5-cm knob, peeled and sliced Water 200 ml (61/2 fl oz / 4/5 cup) A pinch of salt A pinch of ground white pepper A handful of bean sprouts, tailed Fish maw Dried fish maw 30 g (1 oz), soaked to soften and drained Water 750 ml (24 fl oz / 3 cups) A pinch of salt A pinch of ground white pepper Ginger 2.5-cm knob, peeled and cut into 5 slices Supreme broth 1 chicken thigh, skinned Water 500 ml (16 fl oz / 2 cups) A pinch of salt A pinch of ground white pepper Corn flour (cornstarch) 2 tsp, mixed with 1 tbsp water Lavender cookies Lavender lends a unique sweetness and fragrance to these easy-to-make cookies. Serve at tea-time, with a cup of herbal or floral tea of your choice. Makes about 10 cookies Preparation time: 1 hour 30 minutes. INGREDIENTS Cake flour 220 g (8 oz) Low-fat margarine 100 g (31/2 oz), softened at room temperature Icing (confectioner’s) sugar 50 g (13/4 oz) Dried lavender 1 tsp, finely chopped MEthod 1. Preheat oven to 190°C (370°F). 2. Sift cake flour into a mixing bowl and set aside. MEthod 1. Heat oil in a wok over medium heat and fry garlic until fragrant. Add dark soy sauce and mushrooms and stir-fry for 3–5 minutes, then add ginger slices, water, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and leave to simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, strain and set aside. 2. Prepare fish maw. In a pot, combine fish maw, water, salt, pepper and ginger and bring to a gentle simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain. Squeeze fish maw to get rid of excess liquid and set aside. 3. Prepare broth. Place chicken in a pot and add water. Bring to the boil and skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Add salt and pepper, then reduce heat to low and leave to simmer for 2 hours. Remove from heat, strain and discard chicken or reserve for other uses. Stir in corn flour mixture until broth is thickened and set aside. 4. Arrange fish maw and mushrooms in a serving bowl. Garnish with raw bean sprouts and ladle broth over. Serve immediately. Per serve Calories Carbohydrate Fat Cholesterol Fibre 123 kcal 7.2 g 2.5 g 25 mg 0.1 g 3. In a mixer, beat margarine on medium speed until creamy. Add flour and lavender and mix into a dough. 4. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. 5. On a floured work surface, roll dough out into 1-cm (1/2-in) thickness and cut out shapes using desired cutters. Place slightly apart on a greased baking tray and bake for 12–15 minutes until cookies are light golden. 6. Remove cookies from tray and place on a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container. Per serve (3 pieces) Calories Carbohydrate Fat Cholesterol Fibre 116 kcal 4.4 g 3.3 g nil nil These recipes are from “A Cookbook for Diabetics,” by Changi General Hospital’s Chief Dietitian, Magdalin Cheong, and its Executive Chef, Daniel Yeo. Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ ❙ 25 Festive seasons shouldn’t be occasions for bingeing The rounds of eating start around December and snowball into the new year, as we party through the major festivals of Christmas, Deepavali, Hari Raya, and the Lunar New Year. By the time Valentine’s Day rolls around, we ask our guilt-ridden selves why we don’t have better control over our eating, year after year. Before the eating gets overly excessive and tips into a disorder, Madam Koay Saw Lan, Head of Dietetics & Nutrition Services at SGH, suggests ways to deal with festive binge-eating. 6. Start your meal by munching on the healthiest items, leaving less room for the less healthy ones. 7. Pile on the vegetables. Vegetables give a bulk ‘filling effect,’ helping to prevent overeating over the course of the day. Moreover, brussels sprouts, leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, carrots all contain antioxidants, which can help protect against heart disease and cancer. 8. Replace high-calorie foods with low-fat options or adjust recipes to incorporate healthier ingredients. When baking, substitute some or all of the butter or oil with equal volumes of unsweetened applesauce. 1. Look to non-food-related activities such as sports, walking and dancing, to get friends and family together for a good time, rather than focusing on the food. 2. Eat moderately throughout the day, instead of dieting to “save it all up” for one big meal. Your blood sugar will be so out of whack, you’ll be tempted to binge on everything later. 9. Go easy on processed, convenience and snack foods, and anything that’s high in salt and sugar. Salt can increase blood pressure which can increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Experiment with herbs and spices to flavour food. 10. Avoid over-stocking your fridge. Buy enough to celebrate the day but not to last the many weeks later. Keep healthier choices available. 3. At the buffet table, it’s tempting to want to try everything. You can still enjoy the variety. Use a smaller plate to hold bite-sized portions of many different foods. Sometimes, a few bites are enough to satisfy a craving. 4. Eat slowly, and hold off on seconds for at least 20 minutes, the time it takes for the brain to realise you’re no longer hungry. Listen to your body, and stop eating and drinking before you have to loosen your belt. 5. Go easy on the alcohol. Alcoholic drinks have an average 150-200 calories per glass. They impair your judgment and you will be more likely to eat more of the very foods you are trying to limit. Try mixing half a glass of wine with sparkling water. Better yet, stick with lower-calorie options such as diet soda, sparkling or plain water, flavoured with fruit or vegetable juices. Correction In the article “Greater awareness of liver cancer” which ran on page 19 of Issue 10, the paragraph following the headline should read “Two public forums were held to raise awareness of the disease and its risk factors, and to promote prevention via screening and vaccination.” 26 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 CelebInPerson Melody maker By Mary Lim Local veteran singer S K Poon (or Pan Xiuqiong to Mandarin-speaking fans) shares the secret to her lovely voice. SHE is best known for hits like Lover’s Tears, I Want To Sing For You and Bali Island, but S K Poon now prefers to use her talent to comfort those in need. In October last year, Ms Poon ArtsForHealth Arts Expression presents Wall flowers by Laura Soon performed to a crowd of 150 at the Singapore General Hospital’s ArtsConcert. Part of the monthly Arts For Health initiative to bring the arts to the hospital, it helps creates an environment conducive for healing among patients. Said Ms Poon, who was presented a Meritorious Award at the 13th Compass Awards in May last year: “Everyone will encounter difficulty at some time in life. If we can share our fears and problems with one another, we can help one another overcome such challenges. I hope my voice and songs can help remind others that there’s always hope.” Why did you decide to participate in the ArtsConcert? I’ve been volunteering at hospitals and homes for the aged. So when they called to invite me, I said “yes” immediately. The patients may feel depressed or bored as they try to cope with their illness, and I think it’s great to be able to help offer them some comfort during this time. rest is important. It also helps me feel refreshed the next day. When I’m home, I watch television or sing. But, to be honest, I seldom exercise. Most of my day is spent at church or on volunteer work at the hospitals and homes. I also conduct music classes five days a week. How do you try to stay healthy? I have a healthy lifestyle. I wake up at 6am and go to bed by 11pm. I avoid nightlife because I think getting enough Finally, what do you do to chill out? If I’m not at home, my favourite activity is to have tea and catch up with friends. Are you mindful about your diet then? It’s fortunate that I am not picky about food. I enjoy fruits and vegetables. I believe that it is important to practise moderation. So while I avoid fried stuff on most days, I do eat them when I’m in the mood. I don’t take tonics either. How do you keep your lovely voice in top condition? (Laughs) My voice? I think it’s a gift from God. I think the key is to use it often. It’s like exercise – the more often you use it, the better its condition. No, I don’t take particularly good care of it; I just try to drink more water. HAPPENINGS Venue: SGH Fountain Garden at Block 7 Level 1 Time : 7pm – 7.45pm Enchanted Evening with Alvaro Sanchez “The Maestro” Date: Jan 16 Come experience an enchanted evening of classical, Latin American, pop and familiar Singapore songs by award-winning guitarist and harpist Alvaro Sanchez ‘The Maestro.’ He has wowed audiences worldwide, and has performed for dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth of England, King Juan Carlos of Spain and the President of Singapore. He has released more than 20 albums. Date: Dec 1, 2008 to Jan 31, 2009 Dedicated to display artworks by patients and local artists, ArtsExpressions is visual art space at Block 2 Level 1. Laura’s work examines the relationship between space, memories and human experiences. She captures figures which mold into patterns and motifs resembling old-fashioned wall paper patterns. These are repeated to form a fascinating wall mural which invites close inspection to determine its minute elements. About the artist Laura Soon is a Singapore-born artist, with a Masters of Arts, Fine Arts from LaSalle College Of The Arts, where she also lectures. Laura has held solo and group exhibitions locally and overseas, creating two-dimensional tactile works made up of text and personal iconography. Laura is also one of the founding members of Plastique Kinetic Worms, which aims to further the development of contemporary art in Singapore. Since 2004, she has been helping the gallery to manage and coordinate arts programmes. Chinese New Year Celebrations Date: Feb 15 Usher in the Lunar New Year with lion dance and wushu performances by award-winning gold medallist Victoria Institution. Be mesmerised by the ancient art of face-changing; the artiste changes more than 10 masks in 20 seconds! Arts for Health aims to provide a quality caring environment and promote good health in SGH through the arts. Patients, visitors, staff and the community can participate in creative arts programmes such as concerts, workshops and exhibitions that bring healing to the body, mind and soul. SGH is the first hospital to receive the National Arts Council Supporter Awards 2005 in recognition of our promotional artistic activities. Jan/Feb 2009 ❙ Thank You CalendarOfEvents Effective Pain Management for Chronic & Cancer Pain 慢性与癌症疼痛有效的治疗 Date: 17 January 2009, Saturday (1 月17日2009,星期六) Venue:SGH Postgraduate Medical Institute Singapore General Hospital Block 6 Level 1, Outram Road FREE Admission 入场免费 ation Pre-registr d e ir u q re 名 报 先 预 需 With grateful appreciation to our generous donors and corporate partners for their contributions towards our Endowment Fund and SGH Needy Patients Fund in 2008. Donors above $10,000 PROGRAMME 1200 Registration / 登记 English Session with Bilingual Text Presentation 1255 英语讲述附上华文字幕 Opening Remarks Dr Tan Kian Hian, Director Pain Management Centre 陈建宪医生, 疼痛中心主任 疼痛治疗中心 1300 Cancer Pain Dr Tan Kian Hian, Director Pain Management Centre 癌症疼痛 陈建宪医生, 疼痛中心主任 疼痛治疗中心 1320 Back Pain Dr Michelle Tan, Consultant Pain Management Centre 背部疼痛 -原因与治疗 陈月燕医生, 顾问医生 疼痛治疗中心 Chronic Abdominal Pain Dr Jane George, Senior Consultant Pain Management Centre 慢性腹部疼痛 Dr Jane George, 高级顾问医生 疼痛治疗中心 Corporate Partners Baxter Healthcare (Asia) Pte Ltd Estate of Mabel Wee ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Khoo Kim Geok Jacqueline Toh Kian Chui Foundation Xu Wei Yao TIME Amara Singapore Grand Plaza Park Hotel City Hall Leo Pharma Asia Pte Ltd Naumi Hotel Polar Puffs and Cakes Singapore Hainan Hwee Kuan Contest Five cookbooks up for grabs Does diabetes condemn the food lover to a diet of bland, cardboard-like food? As a diabetic, should one cut out sugar completely from his diet? Dietitian Magdalin Cheong and Executive Chef Daniel Yeo, of the Changi General Hospital Dietetic and Food Services team present a cookbook written exclusively for diabetics, with detailed information on how to manage diabetes and 60 recipes that are delicious as they are nourishing. To win this book, answer this question: 1400 Q & A / 问答交流 (Bilingual/ 双语) Support groups are a powerful source of comfort and sharing for patients as they connect with others who have been or are undergoing the same experiences. 1430 Tea Break / 茶点 TRUE/ FALSE 1340 1500 1530 华语讲座 Chinese Session with Bilingual Text Presentation 慢性与癌症疼痛的最新进展 陈建宪医生, 疼痛中心主任 疼痛治疗中心 Latest Advances in Chronic and Cancer Pain Management Dr Tan Kian Hian, Director Pain Management Centre 针灸与疼痛 - 针灸真的有效 吗? 崔淑丽, 高级顾问医师 疼痛中心, 针灸门诊 Use of Acupuncture in Pain – Is It Effective? Cui Shu Li, Senior Principal Acupuncturist Pain Management Centre, Acupuncture Services A3-Poster-S1 5/18/07 12:40 PM Page 1 ❙ 27 1600 问答交流 / Q & A (Bilingual/ 双语) 1630 End / 结束 Email your reply, name, address and contact number to [email protected] Date: Feb10, 2009 * Duplicate entries will be disqualified. * All correct entries will be entered into a lucky draw to be conducted at the SGH Communications Office. * Five winners will be picked and notified by email on the collection of their prizes. * Their names will be published in the next issue of OutramNow. Contest Results Results of the contest “Behind the Stethoscope” in OutramNow November/ December 2008 Issue 10. The answer is TRUE. SingHealth’s Group Procurement Office adopts prudent procurement strategies, helping to generate savings over $90 million in the past five years. The following winners have been notified via email. Pre – registration is required by 14 January 2009. Seats available on a firstcome-first-served basis. To register, email to [email protected] or call 6326 6944 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) Ng Jun Jie • Chan Kai Choe • Marina Dewi • Noraini Binte Mohd Dawood• Cheong Kum Foong Prizes must be claimed by February15, 2009 We need your help, urgently. help, urgently. 需在1 月14日之前于办公时间拨电 6326 6944, 或电邮 [email protected] 报名。 FRE FR Organised by SGH Pain Management Centre. FR E EE \ EE \ \ 1 \ \ 1 \ 1 A bi-mon the nationthly publication ’s flagship of Singap ore hospita l within General Hospit the SingHe al, alth group I N S I D E A bi-monthly publication of Singapore General the nation’s flagshipMakin Hospital, g within the hospital brain surger SingHealth group Housemen’s Canteen roars to life GiftOfLife All it takes is just 60 minutes of your time today, to save lives tomorrow. Visit Bloodbank@HSA at Outram Road. For more information, call 6220 0183 You can also log on to www.redcross.org.sg 350 unitsEvery of blood are needed 6 minutes, someone is in www.donorweb.org everyday to save lives. need of blood or blood product. 8 CanteenPg roars to life Housemen’s Pg Canteen roars to life Pg Pg Issue 11 cember 2008 MICA (P) 028/01 (P) 028/01/2008 /2008 Planning Issue 11 November/December 2008 MICA (P) 028/01/2008 that sweet vacation MidPlanning Autumn Mid- joy lights that sweet Autumnup SGH vacationPg Mid- joy lights Planning Autumnup SGHPg that sweet joy lights Pg vacation up SGH Pg Pg 15 15 15 Pg 26 26 26 3 MakingPg brain surgery smarter and safer y smarter and safer surgery smarter and safer Strat 3 egic 8 soate ing8 3u rcgic Str save s ov sou rcin Strategic milliong er $90 sav in r $90 past sourcing fiveesyeove arins $90 mil lion past over saves fi ve yeain rs past million five years I N S I D E of Singapore General Hospital, A bi-monthly publication Making Pg group hospital within the SingHealthHousemen’s the nation’s flagshipbrain I N S I D E Patients. 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E RPATI ECOENT PATIENT ONE ONE RD... REC ORD ONE RECORD.. Missed past issues of OutramNow? Now you can read them online at www.sgh.com.sg or any library Features include • • • Smokers have higher risks of losing legs Damage to hearing may be permanent Untreated prolonged pain may become a disease • • • Reveal the health of your kidneys in just 10 seconds Donated skin needed for burns patients Cord blood gives hope to adults Don’t want to miss out on future issues? Join the OutramNow mailing list by emailing your name, address and contact number to [email protected] 350 of blood needed * Forunits more efficient allocationare of resources, only one copy of * This complimentary service is only for Singapore-based readers. everyday to save lives. OutramNow will be sent to each address. 28 ❙ ❙ Jan/Feb 2009 OutramNow AD(path).indd 1 12/17/08 12:27:59 PM