Introducing Singapore’s First Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) Service
Care Continuum
Care Process & Redesign
National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals
National Healthcare Group
31 December 2021
To test the feasibility of Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) for rapid assessment and same-day management of selected General. The AEC service demonstrated significant cost savings, improved patient experience, and reduced hospital admissions.
Year Submitted: 2021
Published Date: 31 December 2021
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Care Continuum, Access To Care, Waiting Time, Turnaround Time, Operational Management, Financial Management, Productivity, Cost Saving, Value Based Care, Length Of Stay, Acute Care, Ambulatory Care (Outpatient Care)
About this Content
Aims
To test the feasibility of Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) for rapid assessment and same-day management of selected General Medicine patients.
Background
AEC is a proven model in the UK, reducing inpatient admissions by 30%. KTPH sought to adapt this model to reduce hospital bed occupancy in Singapore.
Methods
Leveraged Extended Diagnostic Treatment Unit (EDTU) facilities, conducted rapid PDSA cycles, expanded AEC inclusion criteria, and collaborated with other specialties.
Results
AEC reduced patient bill sizes ($456 average savings), decreased average length of stay (1.2 days), and saved 475 inpatient bed days annually, with no increase in readmission rates.
Conclusion
The AEC service demonstrated significant cost savings, improved patient experience, and reduced hospital admissions. Plans for scaling up include expanding bed capacity and conditions covered.
Lessons Learnt
Engaging like-minded clinicians and motivated junior doctors is essential. Robust patient experience metrics and collaboration with AEC networks could have accelerated progress.
Additional Information
Awarded the 2020 HIP Best Practice Medal for Care Redesign.
Keywords
Care Redesign, Ambulatory Care, Emergency Medicine, Cost Savings, Length of Stay, Patient Experience, KTPH
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | Khoo Teck Puat Hospital |
Platform(s) | National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Ancillary Care, Nursing, Medical |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Emergency Medicine |
Project Lead(s) | Thofique Adamjee |
Project Member(s) | Kanak Naidu |
Connect with this contributor!
Dr Thofique Adamjee - adamjee.thofique@ktph.com.sg
Project Attachment
359_KTPH_NHIP_2021_Introducing_Singapore_s_first_Ambulatory_Emergency_Care_AEC_Service_combine.pdf