The SingHealth Geriatric Health Management Programme (GHMP) was first launched in 2002 to facilitate strategies that address the needs of an ageing population. In line with MOH directions, the objectives of the GHMP are to

1. promote the appropriate utilisation of restructured hospital beds through timely and appropriate referrals and transfers to community step down services including community hospitals and nursing homes
   
2. promote healthy ageing through closer collaboration with grassroot organisations and GP partners, developing health management programmes as opposed to illness care
   
3. promote and develop links with community step down services in line with the MOH Framework for Integrated Health Services for the Elderly

MODEL OF CARE
The model of care employed in caring for the elderly through the GHMP is collaborative and multidisciplinary, along the entire care continuum (Chart 1).

The GHMP will support our GP partners in the community to help care for the elderly, by being:

1. a one-stop geriatric resource centre
2. a facilitator of training and education programmes for our GP partners

One-Stop Geriatric Resource Centre

The GHMP will be a one-stop resource for our GP partners in the area of Caring for the Elderly. Our GP partners will have access to the GHMP via phone / hotline, email and fax should they require any support or information in navigating the internal systems of the SingHealth hospitals, and / or community step down services for the elderly. The contact numbers are given at the end of this section on the GHMP.

Training and Education Facilitator

The GHMP will organise and facilitate training programs for our GP partners in the area of the Care of the Elderly. Being multidisciplinary, the training programs will covers a range of topics including information on community resources and step down care providers. These training programmes will especially benefit those GP partners who offer coverage to nursing homes.

GERIATRIC SERVICES AT SINGHEALTH INSTITUTIONS

Departments of Geriatric Medicine are found at both Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

CGH employs a blue letter inpatient referral service while in SGH, patients are co-managed by the geriatricians and their primary disciplines, in addition to having a geriatric speciality unit. Both hospitals have an outpatient service with CGH having a Geriatric Day Hospital, where patients are able to pay using their Medisave.

REFERRAL CRITERIA

1. Elderly patients of 65 and above with
   a. acute multiple pathology with or without complications,
   b. elderly with chronic multiple pathology
   c. elderly with chronic complicated pathology requiring medical, nursing and therapy input collaboratively

GHMP Contacts

For general information on the GHMP, or for information on community
resources for the elderly and other training programs, please contact
Name : Pang Huey Ling
Phone : 6236 7940
Fax : 6538 2830
Email : pang.huey.ling@singhealth.com.sg
Website : http\\www.singhealth.com.sg

Should you wish to refer a patient for geriatric services, please contact
SGH : 6222 3322
CGH : 6788 8833