Issue 4 | March 2024
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Dear Reader,
NUH has always been a strong proponent of value-based healthcare. We believe quality and affordability should go hand in hand, as we work to deliver quality care in a financially sustainable way for our patients. To achieve this, the Value-Driven Care (VDC) framework was introduced in 2015, and subsequently shared with hospitals nationwide.
The VDC framework is about improving patient health outcomes by optimising available resources through the collection, benchmarking and analysis of various quality and cost indicators, making healthcare more effective and accessible. This is achieved through a continuous improvement loop. In NUH, the effort is led by myself and Adjunct Associate Professor Diarmuid Murphy, Senior Consultant in the Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. We would be happy to hear from like-minded healthcare professionals who share the same passion for driving value-based healthcare.
In a previous issue of EnvisioningHealth, our CEO Professor Aymeric Lim discussed how technology and AI-powered tools form the impetus for innovation. We believe it does not stop there. Innovation entails streamlining existing processes and integrating evidence-based methodologies to improve the quality of care. This is where the data-driven, patient-centric VDC framework comes in. Whether it’s treating cataracts or managing diabetes and hypertension, the framework has enabled us to tailor treatments to individual patient needs, optimising a range of processes from administering medication to facilitating quicker recovery post-surgery.
With the adoption of EPIC, our next-generation electronic medical records system makes it possible for every patient to have a single, comprehensive medical record across our healthcare systems. The quantity and type of data available has increased exponentially. The VDC framework allows this data to be refined into more “digestible” information that is relevant to the clinical teams and allows them to provide better care for patients. This is particularly pertinent as we battle conditions like diabetes mellitus (DM) across the cluster. Within the framework, we implemented a streamlined gathering process for DM data and offer a user-friendly dashboard to facilitate understanding of clinical quality and billing variances, and support value enhancement initiatives. THe system eliminates manual data entry, allowing clinicians to prioritise clinical care and value improvement efforts.
Also, to ensure more patient-centric care, the VDC team recently commenced collecting Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS) which are standardised, validated surveys that allow clinical teams to track patient progress in an objective manner. PROMS informs us what really matters to our patients. The survey results will be used to help patients and the care team decide the treatment that best fits their needs.
Supporting such efforts is our newly established Kent Ridge Office of Innovation, which guides our approach to innovation beyond technology—focusing on processes and the mindset with which we go about our work, aiming to embed an innovative culture across the hospital.
As we continue to integrate the VDC framework into our practices, it remains a key part of our strategy to improve healthcare in Singapore, focusing on public health monitoring, preventive care and sustainable quality care.
In this issue, we are happy to share a couple of exciting medical advances at NUH. A novel surgical technique developed by our doctors, using cheek lining tissue for ureter repair, is an example of how we are devising less invasive methods to treat complex conditions. Our research into early stomach cancer detection and the link between the gut microbiome and colorectal cancer risk are other areas where we are aiming to make a difference, potentially leading to more effective treatments and better use of medical resources. Our researchers have also uncovered an often overlooked symptom of menopause and how less is more when it comes to antibiotic use.
We hope you will enjoy this issue of EnvisioningHealth—Changing Lives One Idea at a Time.
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