JHC LIVE

The recent JHC LIVE on 29 May started with A/Prof Dan Yock Young, CEO, NTFGH and JCH, outlining "the next lap" for JurongHealth Campus (JHC) as we commemorate our 15th anniversary this year. He began by reminiscing JHC’s humble beginnings at Alexandra Hospital (AH) and highlighted the activities tied to our 15th Anniversary, including the Heritage Marathon from AH to NTFGH on a Saturday morning in April, and the upcoming anticipated Dinner and Dance at Resorts World Sentosa on 11 October 2024.

He continued by sharing JHC’s achievements in the last 15 years which formed the foundation for us to leverage on as we move forward to the next 15 years.

A pivotal role in the Western region as a healthcare hub integrated within the community, which is part of an enhanced model of integrated living and working for Singaporeans
Positioning as the first acute-chronic hospital set up for care transition into the community
One of the busiest acute care hospitals with the most efficient care indicators and outcomes, and serving over 600,000 unique individuals

He acknowledged the dedication and contribution of our staff, who remain steadfast in keeping our doors open and providing services, care and hope to our patients.

In addition, A/Prof Dan highlighted the two awards that JHC received in the last two months – The Straits Times Singapore’s Best Employers award and the NTUC May Day Awards’ Plaque of Commendation – and gave credit to all our staff who make JHC an enjoyable place to work in.

Looking ahead, A/Prof Dan outlined the vision for the next 15 years, focusing on the people behind the institution. He stressed the importance of investing in staff and creating the best environment for staff to achieve their aspirations, to which patient care will follow naturally. He then identified key focus areas: maintaining professionalism and values, fostering a supportive work culture, as well as having pride and identity at work. He also highlighted the need for a workplace where employees are excited, motivated, and empowered to co-create a common future. The framework on "mindset”, “skillset", “toolset", and “actionset" was introduced to drive transformation, emphasising the need for agility, skill development, technological adoption, and proactive improvement.

A/Prof Dan placed focus on keeping to our values and commitment to patients, investing in the people to their full potential, and developing care beyond the hospital to the community. These are to be guided by the four key thrusts for JHC – “Care for our Patients”, “Care for our People”, “Ensure Sustainability” and “Create our Future”.

In closing, A/Prof Dan highlighted that it is the HEARTSET, in caring for each other, that drives us. He also expressed confidence in the collective potential of our staff as a community to navigate future challenges and elevate JHC to new heights in the next 15 years.

Following A/Prof Dan's address, Ms Ng Sow Chun, Chief Nurse (CN) proudly shared the nursing team’s developments and achievements. Acknowledging the high staff resignation rates post-pandemic that have affected manpower and resourcing, CN detailed several strategies implemented to address staff retention. These strategies include continuous engagement with the nursing team to address pain points and empower them through teamwork and problem-solving. Emphasis was placed on developing team leaders, encouraging nurses to speak up, and fostering a cohesive environment that prioritises patient and staff safety.

Some of the developments include the formation of the Pressure Injury Workgroup in September 2023, aimed at training more wound resource nurses to manage various types of wound care; the establishment of the Product Evaluation Committee to streamline the assessment of patient care products, ensuring quality and safety; and additionally, cross-team projects like the Smart Ward OTR Project and the Falls Safety Committee that have driven improvements in patient care.

CN also shared the foundations of care and aspects of building the nursing team, focusing on:

Further to that, CN outlined the ongoing transformations in job and role redesign, quality and process improvement, as well as leveraging technology to make an impactful change in the nursing role. The aim is to improve work processes and give nurses more time for bedside patient care.

Examples include:

Ward Service Associate Job Role Design – providing a supporting role in the wards to allow nurses to value-add in terms of bedside care and supervision
Partner to Care – engaging next-of-kins to be better equipped to care for their loved ones in order to facilitate a seamless transition back home, and potentially reduce readmission rates in the longer term
Reducing unnecessary nursing documentation and checks
Electric pill crushers – to improve medication administration
Presage Bed Exit Prediction System – for timely intervention to prevent potential falls in the isolation rooms
SMART Bed – to increase operational efficiency, improve patient safety and reduce manpower needed to transport patients who are stable
Vital Scout Project – to reduce time spent on monitoring vital signs
Operating Theatres Inventory Management System for non-stock items – to reduce manpower and time spent by 50%

CN wrapped up her presentation by acknowledging the continuous challenges in an ever-changing work environment, emphasising that people are the solution through their ability to identify effective practices. She encouraged a continuous learning and growth mindset as JHC moves forward, confident in the team's ability to propel the organisation to greater heights.

Before the townhall concluded, both CEO and CN addressed questions raised during the Q&A session. Topics discussed included work-from-home guidelines, nursing shift work, and manpower reshuffling. Both leaders provided insights and reassurances, emphasising their commitment to addressing staff concerns and continuously improving the work environment.

Livestreaming of JHC LIVE event at Satellite Stations
Thanks to staff representatives from Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Operating Theatre (OT), satellite stations were set up at locations, giving staff an opportunity to participate in JHC LIVE remotely via Teams. They also received cookies as tokens of appreciation.

Central Sterile Supplies Service Department (CSSD)

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Staff sited in the operating theatres tuning in to JHC LIVE

For more information on this JHC Live session, visit our intranet portal for the full deck of powerpoint slides and video recording. Stay tuned for the collated responses to the questions raised during the townhall as well!