A Healthy Community Shaping Medicine Transforming Care
A Tertiary Hospital With An Academic Medicine Mission More than a million patients pass through the doors of the National University Hospital (NUH) each year. The countless patient success stories and triumphs over illness continue to motivate our staff to strive to provide the best possible care and breakthroughs in treatment. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and an experienced team, NUH is a major referral centre that provides advanced medical care for a comprehensive range of medical, surgical and dental conditions. These include Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Oncology, Paediatrics, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery. The Hospital also offers organ transplant programmes for adults (kidney, liver and pancreas) and is the only public hospital in Singapore to offer a paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme. As the flagship hospital of the National University Health System (NUHS), Singapore s first Academic Health System, the NUH works closely with the healthcare entities within the NUHS group acute and community hospitals, national specialty centres, and polyclinics to deliver seamless and sustainable care for patients. NUH hosts some of the best and brightest clinical and scientific brains. Clinicians and scientists work hand-inglove to achieve major advances in patient care, in areas ranging from cancer to heart diseases, to neurological illnesses and infectious diseases. Thriving research findings translate to new treatment benefitting patients. Working closely with the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies and the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUH plays a pivotal role in nurturing future healthcare professionals and leaders. Over the years, NUH has built on its foundation and capabilities, and remained focused on its three-pronged mission to meet the healthcare needs of patients by providing quality, innovative and cost-effective care. In the fast-changing healthcare landscape, the Hospital continues to challenge boundaries and chart new territories, bringing hope to patients and enhancing Singapore s reputation for medical excellence. NUH opened its doors on 24 June 1985 as Singapore s first restructured hospital. It is the only public hospital in Singapore to offer adult, paediatric and obstetrics and gynaecology services under one roof.
Continuing Our Focus On Our Patients At NUH, our patients are the reason for our existence. They inspire us to continue our quest to break new medical boundaries and be at the forefront of quality care and service. Competent staff, advanced systems and considered processes amalgamate to meet the growing needs of our patients. Providing Better, More Efficient Care With an ageing population and patients increasingly seen with multiple co-morbidities, well-coordinated and integrated care is needed to ensure they are treated in the most appropriate environment. Initiatives to transfer selected inpatient treatments and surgeries to the outpatient setting have also benefitted patients by reducing hospitalisation costs and treatment time for them. To better support the growing complexities of public healthcare needs in Singapore, the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) and the National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore (NUCOHS) are conveniently housed within the NUH premises to provide dedicated cancer, heart and dental care. NUH raised the bar in local patient care and safety standards by achieving the Joint Commission International accreditation in 2004. We have since been re-certified four times, and were also the first local hospital to be accredited under the Academic Medical Centre (AMC) Standards for medical education and human subjects research in 2013.
Providing Hope For A Rare Condition Our Paediatric team accurately diagnosed and successfully treated the first known case of Omenn Syndrome, an extremely rare disease, in Singapore. It is caused by mutations in genes that are critical to the immune system and which protects the body from infections. Left untreated, the syndrome is fatal. The successful case provides hope for patients with this rare condition. Reducing Kidney Deterioration In Diabetic Patients Our Division of Nephrology is part of the effort behind the Nephrology Evaluation, Management and Optimisation (NEMO) programme to help patients with early-stage diabetic kidney disease (DKD) reduce their risk of progressing to more advanced stages of the disease. Through the programme, the team successfully reduced kidney deterioration in diabetic patients with DKD by 28%. Delivering Asia s First Baby Conceived Naturally From Implanted Ovarian Tissue Our team at the Women s Centre helped restore a cancer patient s natural ability to conceive by preserving part of her ovarian tissue through ovarian tissue cryopreservation before she received chemotherapy, then implanting it four years later when she had recovered from the cancer. The patient conceived naturally and delivered a healthy baby subsequently. The procedure helps preserve a woman s fertility and makes it possible for patients to conceive naturally after their chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Sparing Young Scoliosis Patients From Multiple Surgeries Through a new treatment, young scoliosis patients only need to undergo one minimally invasive surgery to insert a magnetic control growing rod, which is adjustable to treat the spinal curvature. Our team at the University Spine Centre has become the first in Singapore to relieve young scoliosis patients from multiple surgeries that comes with the conventional treatment method. Providing A Safer And More Effective Treatment For Advanced Glaucoma Patients with advanced glaucoma can now be treated with a unique therapy, known as the Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophototherapy (MPTCP), which is developed by Associate Professor Paul Chew, a Senior Consultant with the Department of Ophthalmology. Using a customised probe to deliver a series of laser energy in short, gentle pulses into the eye, the MPTCP is a safer and more effective laser treatment procedure and has been used by eye surgeons worldwide. Collaborating To Provide Integrated Patient Aftercare Our responsibility towards patients does not end when they are discharged. With our ongoing hospital initiatives and network of partners, we ensure our patients are well taken care of within the community. Programmes are developed for patients who require continued care after discharge to help them transit smoothly from the hospital to the community. Patients ready to be discharged from the hospital but who require rehabilitative or longterm care can do so at our partnering step-down care institutions. Similarly, those with stable chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, and who no longer require specialist care, are referred to primary care partners so they can be cared for in the community. NUH has achieved many breakthroughs and pioneered patient treatments, including the simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant surgery, the implementation of an intelligent automated inpatient closed loop medication system, as well as the delivery and separation of a pair of monochorionic and diamniotic conjoint twins.
Pushing Research Boundaries With our strong research culture, NUH healthcare professionals are constantly pushing the boundaries to break new ground from conducting research to better understanding patient conditions, to pioneering treatment therapies and procedures. Treating Congenital Heart Defect Without Open Heart Surgery For the first time in Singapore, doctors are able to treat Tetralogy of Fallot, a defect that affects the functioning of the valve, without open heart surgery. This procedure has been successfully carried out by a team at the National University Heart Centre, Singapore. The new procedure reduces the risks of repeat surgery which is typical of patients with this condition. Studies so far have shown good results the valves of almost all patients who went through the procedure were free of leakages for up to five years. Understanding Diabetes For Targeted Interventions Our team of researchers is running the country s first large-scale study on Type 2 diabetes to identify the biomarkers of progression and change the course of the disease. The research will enable targeted treatments and interventions to those at higher risk of developing the condition and its complications. Reversing Liver Cirrhosis With Stem Cell Therapy A multi-centre clinical trial, led by NUH, will help determine if autologous endothelial stem cell therapy can reverse liver cirrhosis. Stem cells are extracted from the patient s bone marrow and deposited directly into the liver to initiate the repair. If proven successful, the therapy will be an alternative for end-stage liver cirrhosis patients who are not eligible for liver transplant. NUH has been actively involved in translational research to bring hope and new cures to patients, including the collaboration to conduct Singapore s first First-in-Man early cancer clinical trial and clinching Singapore s first translational research grant to investigate the tools and treatment for gastric cancer.
Nurturing Tomorrow s Healthcare Professionals NUH upholds the time-honoured tradition of mentoring and training students, and plays a leading role in nurturing Singapore s future healthcare professionals. NUHS Residency Program For Doctors The NUHS Residency Program* provides postgraduate medical training. It offers a rich educational experience as our doctors are trained in evidencebased medicine and have the opportunity to handle a diverse casemix of medical conditions. It also provides a solid foundation for doctors keen on a career in academic medicine. The programme is undergirded by organisational values of teamwork, respect, integrity, compassion, excellence, and patient-centredness to help groom compassionate and caring healthcare leaders. Nursing Residency Programme Our year-long nursing residency programme offers an evidence-based curriculum that supports our new graduate nurses in their transition to become competent and confident professionals. Designed with the aim of developing effective clinical nursing leaders for the future, trainees undergo interactive learning on clinical scenarios relating to core topics such as leadership, patient outcomes and professional roles. Pharmacy Residency Programme Residents go through clinical rotations covering different specialties, and learn essential principles of clinical pharmacy such as medication safety and practice leadership. They are also given the opportunity to expand their scope of practice skills by participating in research projects. These will help equip aspiring clinical pharmacists to better care for patients in an acute care setting and as members of a multidisciplinary care team. *Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International, a USA-based board responsible for the accreditation of postgraduate medical education training. NUH led the way in evidence-based nursing care in Singapore, with the establishment of The Singapore Centre for Evidence Based Nursing @ National University Hospital: A Joanna Briggs Centre of Excellence, in 2009.
TeamSTEPPs To help build up a strong culture of effective teambased patient care, we run inter-professional training programmes for our staff. An example is TeamSTEPPs*, an in-house, evidence-based course that focuses on patient safety and sentinel event risk prevention. Using an array of interactive teaching strategies such as clinical scenario simulation and role plays, foundational concepts such as teamwork, leadership, situation monitoring, mutual support and communication are taught to help doctors, nurses and allied health professionals develop a common understanding of the importance of delivering safe patient care outcomes efficiently. Centre For Reproductive Education And Specialist Training At the Centre for Reproductive Education and Specialist Training (CREST), enrolled clinicians, nurses and embryologists can develop their skills and expertise in Assisted Reproductive Technology. With a fully-equipped simulation fertility laboratory and live feed facilities, CREST provides a conducive environment for hands-on learning and training to meet the growing demands for fertility treatments in Asia. *Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety Critical Care Nursing Simulation Laboratory The Critical Care Nursing Simulation Laboratory is used to train postgraduate nurses and doctors specialising in this area of care. The laboratory houses exact replicas of a typical High Dependency and Intensive Care Unit, complete with a high-fidelity mannequin that can simulate the most critical medical conditions and respond to the treatment rendered. It is also able to receive real-time video feeds to facilitate practical training. Our Residency Programmes are one of the most sought after, offering rich learning experiences and diverse clinical opportunities. NUH is also home to some of Asia s first purpose-built facilities of their kind the Centre for Reproductive Education and Specialist Training (CREST) and Critical Care Nursing Simulation Laboratory adding to the optimal learning experience for healthcare professionals.
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