Improving Healthcare Accessibility through an Integrated Healthcare Ecosystem in the Community
Care Process & Redesign
Technology
National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals
Private Hospital
27 January 2026
To improve accessibility of women and children healthcare services in the community by creating a one-stop ecosystem of an. The solution has saved 55-man hours per week and approximately $42,000-$50,000 annually, providing patients with flexible appointment.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 27 January 2026
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Technology, Automation, Workflow Redesign, Cost Saving, Information ＆ Communication Technology, Quality Improvement, Productivity, Instant Messenging
About this Content
Aims
To improve accessibility of women and children healthcare services in the community by creating a one-stop ecosystem of an integrated specialist centre with on-site ambulatory surgery.
Background
Challenges of healthcare accessibility include proximity to care, scope of services available, operating hours, and appointment availability. In a neighborhood with young demographics, the nearest specialist and hospital facilities are more than 5km away, with public hospital specialist outpatient wait times exceeding one week.
Methods
The implementation of an integrated specialist center within a 1km radius for 11,000 families, featuring extended hours and an automated phone system linked with WhatsApp for appointment scheduling and enquiries.
Results
The integrated center has seen over 6500 patients in the last 6 months with strong patient satisfaction. There was a 67% increase in appointment bookings and a 9% increase in capacity for patient enquiries.
Conclusion
The solution has saved 55-man hours per week and approximately $42,000-$50,000 annually, providing patients with flexible appointment timings and reducing the burden on frontline staff.
Lessons Learnt
Automation and integration of services can significantly improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency, reducing the need for human intervention in appointment scheduling.
Keywords
Accessibility, Ambulatory
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | Private Hospital |
Organization(s) Involved | Thomson Medical Singapore |
Platform(s) | National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Allied Health, Healthcare Administration |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, Healthcare Administrators |
Project Lead(s) | Julian ZY Hong |
Project Member(s) | Ting Ting Cai |
Connect with this contributor!
Julian ZY Hong - julianhong@thomsonmedical.com