Milestones

As a healthcare institution, we are constantly striving to improve patient outcomes and be the best place to give and receive care. The milestones that we have achieved, both clinical and non-clinical, are a reflection of our efforts.

Since our inception to current day, we have grown and established ourselves as Singapore’s University hospital. Along the way, we have made important discoveries. Our initiatives and programmes, along with the clinical advancements we have achieved, are all geared towards furthering healthcare. While we are focused on medical excellence, we have also not forgotten about our community and beyond. Our various fund-raising initiatives and medical relief missions to foreign lands are testimony of our commitment to bettering the lives of people everywhere. Read on and find out more about NUH’s achievements.

2005/ 2006

April
To meet the diverse needs of our patients, we embarked on a service differentiation initiative to provide more focused patient care to both subsidized and non-subsidized patients, with the opening of Clinic F and Colorectal Clinic.

May
We launched the Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy Services (OPAT). Traditionally, a number of patients continue to stay in the hospital for intravenous antibiotic treatment although they are otherwise well for home. With OPAT, these patients can be discharged home and come back to the hospital in the outpatient setting or receive home care for intravenous antibiotic.

June
Our Training & Education Centre went through a facelift and re-emerged a new chapter for innovative learning and teaching – The Learning XChange. Training rooms are now better equipped with an advanced presentation system that allows internet connections as well as teleconferencing linkages. The new Learning XChange aims to provide a conducive learning environment for all staff whereby trainees are encouraged to interact and exchange ideas amongst themselves or with the trainers to build team spirit.

August
An intelligent e-rostering system for our nurses (Optimised Workforce Management) was put in place. This system cuts down tremendously the administrative burden of rostering nurses. It also ensures that the schedule is optimal so that it meets clinical service needs as well as fairly and objectively balances preferences of staff.

September
E-Learning at NUH was launched. E-Learning enables our staff to access knowledge and information anytime and anywhere and at each individual’s pace.

In support of the Yellow Ribbon Project, NUH participated in the first Yellow Ribbon Job Fair organised by Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) on 15 September.
Over 220 inmates attended the job fair held within the Changi Prison.

October
Golfing For A Good Cause (Charity Golf 2005) event raised a record-breaking amount of more than $5 million. The Lee Foundation has made a pledge of $5 million to set up the Lee Foundation Critical Care Programme. This programme will focus on enhancing the skills and knowledge of our doctors, nurses and paramedics.

November
The Sunny-Side-Up Campaign was launched to refuel our passion in service excellence and rejuvenate the service culture.

In response to the dire situation the people of Pakistan faced after the country got hit by 7.6 magnitude shockwaves, NUH sent a medical relief team to the quake-hit area to offer our medical expertise in early November.

The D -1 (D minus one) project allows for faster discharge & admission - discharge time from the usual 2pm – 3pm to 12pm – 2pm! This project enables pre-discharge planning a day before discharge. Staff can now get ready the relevant documents and medications in advance instead of preparing the documents and medication on the day of discharge which usually will take several hours. With this project, doctors who identify patients to be fit for home the following day can make the necessary preparations and the required medications will also be prepared concurrently. Hence, all these will be ready the following day when the patients are confirmed fit for home.

December
NUH’s ENT Team performed the first bilateral cochlear implantations on a 10 month-old baby. Born with almost profound hearing loss, the patient, now at 1 year old, is the first and youngest here to be fitted with cochlear implants in both ears in a single operation.

January
The first Hip Resurfacing procedure in Singapore was performed in NUH. The technique of "Hip Resurfacing" is used to replace a small portion of damaged cartilage in hip joints with a metal surface. This surgery is especially useful in younger patients who have damaged hip joints requiring surgery, allowing surgeons to relieve pain while avoiding the need for a conventional hip replacement.

February
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Centre was opened and houses three consult rooms, a consultation cum treatment room, a mini operating theatre, a patients’ recovery area and a waiting lounge. The Centre serves as a regional training hub to medical specialists. Courses such as Advanced Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Laser Surgery will be conducted to promote quality teaching and treatment protocols in aesthetic surgery.

We acquired a 64-Slice CT Scanner and can now offer our patients high resolution CT cardiac, vascular, 3D and whole body imaging. The Scanner allows us to provide a more comprehensive range of CT services, including cardiac imaging.

March
The 1st NUH Kidney Day was held to heighten the awareness of chronic kidney disease risks and its prevention. A free staff health screening was organized, along with talks and exhibitions focused on the chosen theme.