Health and Social Integration
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Track Chairs |
Moderator |
Presenters
Abstract:
Delivering health and social integration is crucial in meeting the evolving healthcare needs of the population and fulfilling the roles required for holistic care. Raising our residents' awareness in preventive health aims to reduce the incidence of chronic disease, improve the overall health of our population and manage healthcare costs effectively. As part of SingHealth's priority to be a community empowered population health system, SingHealth is doubling our efforts to go beyond the traditional view of patient in the clinic or hospital and provide person-centred care to our residents in the community. Health and social integration through close partnerships with our community partners to address our residents' social determinants of health is key to achieve this priority. An example would be Social Prescribing, where we connect our residents with community assets based on their aspirations and needs to keep them well in the community. The Health and Social Integration track will highlight the efforts made by SingHealth and our community partners in integrating care provision to support the health and social needs of our population, where participants will learn more about the strategies and lessons learnt in implementation through case studies.
Track Chairs
Mr Eric Chen
Director, RHS Operations
SingHealth
With extensive experience in healthcare and social service policy and operations, Mr Eric Chen oversees the integration of Health and Social Care delivery at SingHealth. He spearheads initiatives to strengthen partnerships across Community and Primary Care sectors, leads the implementation of Healthier SG, and champions resident empowerment in health management. Prior to his current role, Mr Chen served as Director of Operations at the Silver Generation Office, Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). His diverse public service career includes key positions at the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of National Development, and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
Ms Pearline Lee
Deputy Director, Health & Social Integration,
SingHealth Office of Regional Health (SORH), SingHealth
Home Care & Safety at the Changi General Hospital
A pioneering leader, Ms Pearline Lee established CareLine, which evolved from a 24/7 call centre for seniors into Singapore's National Call Centre for the elderly. Ms Lee leads the harmonisation and development of Wellbeing Coordinators whilst fostering strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance health and social care integration.
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Moderator
Dr Ng Wai Chong
Home Nursing Foundation
Dr Ng Wai Chong is a community aged-care physician and the Founder-CEO of NWC Longevity Practice, a social enterprise dedicated to consultancy, training and research in aging and longevity. He concurrently serves as Director of Clinical Development at Home Nursing Foundation.
Deeply committed to community service, Dr Ng volunteers extensively with various charities and government committees focused on supporting vulnerable adults and the elderly. His expertise extends beyond Singapore's shores, as he collaborates with international development agencies on technical assistance projects across the Asia Pacific Region. These projects centre on developing sustainable and inclusive systems for long-term care and end-of-life services in developing economies.
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Presenters
A/P Angelique Chan
Senior Advisor for Centre for Ageing Research & Education (CARE)
Care for Ageing Research and Education (CARE)
Professor Angelique Wei Ming Chan stands at the forefront of ageing research, bringing invaluable expertise to her roles at the National University of Singapore and Duke-NUS Medical School. As the Inaugural Director of the Centre for Ageing Research and Education, she has transformed how we approach ageing-related challenges in Singapore and beyond.
Her groundbreaking research has attracted over S$33 million in funding, focusing on understanding healthy longevity and successful ageing in Singapore through comprehensive longitudinal studies. With more than 200 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious international journals, Professor Chan's work consistently influences global academic discourse and policy development.
Her expertise is sought after by numerous national organisations, including:
Singapore Ministry of Health
National Research Foundation
A*STAR
Singapore's National Precision Medicine programme
Internationally, Professor Chan serves as a consultant to the World Bank, United Nations, and Asian Development Bank. Her collaborative research network spans renowned institutions including Oxford, ETH-Zurich, and the University of Tokyo.
Professor Chan's work has directly contributed to improving eldercare services and shaping national health strategies. Her continued influence in gerontology extends throughout Asia and globally, making her one of the most respected voices in ageing research and policy development
Presentation Title: Managing falls and fracture risk in the community: A technology enhanced approach
Falls represent a major health concern for older adults, with significant economic, social and psychological impacts. Current data shows:
25% of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and above experience at least one fall annually
50% of those aged 80 and above fall at least once per year
Falls account for 85% of geriatric trauma presentations to emergency departments
This research project will employ technology-enhanced methods to assess falls and fracture risk among 2,300 community-dwelling adults aged 60 and above. Participants identified as high-risk will be enrolled in a personalised, progressive, multicomponent falls prevention programme with two-year follow-up monitoring.
Preliminary results will be presented at completion of the initial phase. The project's ultimate objective is to develop a standardised toolkit for implementation across active ageing centres nationwide.
This study aims to provide evidence-based strategies for reducing falls risk among older adults living independently in the community.
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Ms Ang Bee Lian
Senior Advisor and Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents
Ministry of Social and Family Development
A veteran social worker, Mrs Ang Bee Lian brings decades of expertise in policy development, programme design and operations within Singapore's social service sector. Throughout her distinguished career, she has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking policies and programmes that have strengthened both the sector and the social work profession
As a committed lifelong learner, Mrs Ang applies her brain-based coaching expertise from the NeuroLeadership Institute to nurture and develop senior leadership within social services. With over 30 years of experience in organisational development, she has played a pivotal role in the growth of numerous social purpose entities.
Currently serving as Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Mrs Ang continues to contribute her wealth of experience and insights to shape the future of social services in Singapore.
Presentation Title: Social-health integration: the user’s perspective; what mental model is useful
The session will examine strategies to enhance service delivery by adopting a user-centric approach. The speaker will discuss how health and social care practitioners can improve their programmes and services by viewing them through the lens of user experience, ultimately leading to more effective and responsive care delivery.
Mr Phua Chun Yat
Deputy CEO (Designate)
Director and Chief, Future State & Innovation, Allkin Singapore Ltd
Vice-President, Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW)
Mr Phua Chun Yat serves as Chief of Future State and Innovation at Allkin Singapore. Prior to this role, he was Chief Operating Officer at the Samaritans of Singapore, where he oversaw organisational strategy, 24/7 crisis support services, volunteer management, training and development, and client care services.
With nearly two decades of experience in the social service sector, his extensive career spans work with children and youth, disability services, and family support programmes across the Ministry of Social and Family Development, National Council of Social Service (NCSS), and various social service agencies. As a member of the NCSS SunRay Scheme, he contributes to nurturing future social work professionals through lecturing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and National University of Singapore (NUS).
Mr Phua holds a Master of Science in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and a Bachelor of Social Science in Social Work from NUS.
Presentation Title: Curating a Holistic Care System for Children in the Community
In Singapore's achievement-focused environment, holistic child development within communities often takes a back seat to academic pursuits. Allkin Singapore's Student Academy addresses this gap by providing comprehensive care for children aged 7 to 14, with a particular focus on supporting those from lower-income families.
The Academy's structured after-school programmes create a safe and nurturing environment where children receive personalised support across three key areas: academic development, life skills enhancement, and socio-emotional growth. Understanding that successful child development requires a collaborative approach, Allkin actively builds and maintains strong partnerships with families, schools, and community stakeholders.
By embracing both children's strengths and challenges, Allkin's approach extends beyond traditional academic support. The agency works to create a connected community that nurtures each child's well-being, builds resilience, and promotes holistic growth. This comprehensive strategy ensures children receive the support they need to flourish both in and outside the classroom.
Assoc Prof Lee Kheng Hock
Deputy CEO (Education & Community Partnerships)
SingHealth Community Hospitals
Dr Lee Kheng Hock is a pioneering figure in integrated care and social prescribing in Singapore, having established the nation's first social prescribing model in a community hospital in 2019. In his current role, he oversees clinical training across three community hospitals and leads the development of social prescribing practitioners.
As an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Duke-NUS Medical School, Dr Lee has been instrumental in incorporating patient-centred care and care integration principles into the family medicine curriculum. His distinguished career includes serving as Assistant Master (Academic Affairs) at the Academy of Medicine Singapore and as President of the College of Family Physicians Singapore, where he made significant contributions to advancing family medicine and care integration practices.
Presentation Title: Social Prescribing: Why, What and How
This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of social prescribing, a key approach to integrating health and social care. It explains what social prescribing is: connecting individuals with non-clinical community-based support to improve their health and well-being. Participants will learn why it's important, addressing social determinants of health and promoting a holistic view of care. The presentation also details the "how" of implementation, including essential steps like situation analysis, team assembly, workplan development and SP training.
This presentation aligns with Community Forum's focus on integration, offering practical strategies to strengthen the vital connection between health and social services. Through social prescribing, we can create more resilient and supportive healthcare systems that truly serve the whole person.
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