SINGAPORE, Friday 8 April 2005 – SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP) presented its key initiatives that incorporate the use of information technology during the Official Opening of SHP – Sengkang (Sengkang Polyclinic) today. These initiatives are part of SingHealth Polyclinics’ continuous endeavour to achieve greater efficiency and deliver better care.
The Official Opening was graced by the Minister for Defence and Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Mr Teo Chee Hean. In line with the theme, "Preventive Healthcare", every guest was given a ‘Colours for Health’ basket, that contained vegetables and fruits of different colours – a representation of one’s necessary nutrients intake per day.
Mr Teo said, "With the opening of Sengkang Polyclinic, in addition to the existing network of GPs, residents now have access to another resource to build trusted partnerships for a healthier community."
The initiatives launched during the Official Opening included:
The Service Selection Kiosk and a Direct Registration system are introduced in Sengkang Polyclinic to streamline and facilitate the registration process. The Service Selection Kiosk is an easy-to-use, one-stop queue system that allows patients to select the various polyclinic services before registration.
The kiosk also has a Direct Registration module that allows self-registration for services such as women’s health, child health, screening, and chronic care. Patients with appointments for these services can use the kiosk to self-register and then proceed directly to the service rooms for their treatment, without having to queue for registration.
- Chronic Care Management (CCM)
This clinical information system, piloted at Sengkang Polyclinic, organises patients’ clinical data and enables the primary health care team to better manage patients with chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and raised cholesterol. The system monitors patients’ results and investigations and prompts the doctors if the results are abnormal or if investigations or screening tests are not ordered. It is also able to track clinical indicators for clinical care improvement.
Dr Tan Chee Beng, Chief Executive Officer of SingHealth Polyclinics said, "These IT systems will help streamline our work processes and improve our clinic efficiency. Furthermore by incorporating IT into the consultation rooms, we can further enhance care delivery, improve patient care and achieve better clinical outcomes."
In addition to the above initiatives, Sengkang Polyclinic is the first amongst SingHealth Polyclinics to be purpose built with a modular system so that the clinic can be cordened off into separate modules during disease outbreak. The clinic can be cordoned off into self-contained areas to prevent the spread of infectious disease.
SingHealth Polyclinics has been active in promoting health and preventive care to the community. Since Y2004, Sengkang Polyclinic has participated in a number of outreach programmes e.g. health screening during the Sengkang Security & Preparedness Day and given health talks at the Sengkang Library.
Dr Ruth Lim, Director of Sengkang Polyclinic said, "We will continue to work with partners such as Sengkang Community Club, Sengkang Community Library and the Neighbourhood Police Centre to organise more programmes to reach out to the community."
Sengkang Polyclinic occupies a gross floor area of 2,456 square metres over three levels of the East Wing of Sengkang Community Hub. Since its operation on 12 January 2005, the Polyclinic has seen an average of 450 patients daily, with 40 percent of them aged 19 years old and below.
About SingHealth Polyclincs
A member of Singapore Health Services, SingHealth Polyclinics offers primary healthcare services that are accessible and affordable to all. It is committed to providing patient-centred, comprehensive and continuing care through its network of nine polyclinics. For further information, please visit us at www.polyclinic.singhealth.com.sg
For media enquiries and more information, please contact:
Ms Lee Kiat Chin, Corp. Comms. Exe.
DID: 6236-4808
HP: 9026-0566
Email: lee.kiat.chin@singhealth.com.sg
Ms Janet Lau, Corp. Comms. Manager
DID: 6236-7531
Email: janet.lau.m.c@singhealth.com.sg