New Model of Care for Sleep Studies
Care Process & Redesign
National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals
Private Hospital
10 October 2025
The aim of the project is to address the problem of limited inpatient bed availability for higher acuity patients by. The new model of care for sleep studies has been successfully implemented in two out of four hospitals, with plans to extend it to all.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 10 October 2025
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Workflow Redesign, Cost Saving, Productivity, Quality Improvement
About this Content
Aims
The aim of the project is to address the problem of limited inpatient bed availability for higher acuity patients by developing and implementing a new model of care for sleep study patients.
Background
The project was conducted at Gleneagles (GEH) and Mount Elizabeth Orchard (MEH) hospitals. It started in January 2023 and was completed by December 2023. The issue was that sleep study patients were occupying inpatient beds, leading to a shortage for more critical patients.
Methods
The team collected data on bed occupancy rates, patient waiting times, and customer satisfaction. They conducted interviews with key stakeholders and used tools like fishbone diagrams and 5 WHY analysis to identify root causes. A pilot implementation study was conducted to assess the feasibility of the solution.
Results
The project is on track, with an estimated 161 beds freed annually across GEH and MEH. MEH's new model of care was a success, and revenue was tracked from August 2023 onwards. The project aimed to free up over 300 inpatient beds annually.
Conclusion
The new model of care for sleep studies has been successfully implemented in two out of four hospitals, with plans to extend it to all four hospitals. The project is on track to achieve its goal of freeing up over 300 inpatient beds annually.
Lessons Learnt
Local insurance companies could consider revising their policies to allow coverage for sleepstudies in a short stay ward or clinic, rather than requiring an overnight hospital stay. This change would enable patients to receive necessary care without occupying inpatient beds.
Keywords
Sleep Studies, Bed Utilization, Patient Care
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | Private Hospital |
Organization(s) Involved | Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital |
Platform(s) | National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | General Medicine |
Project Lead(s) | Gui Sin Ying Indy |
Project Member(s) | Daphne Ng |
Connect with this contributor!
Raman Nadarajan - raman.nadarajan@ihhhealthcare.com