Squeezing Out Barriers
Care Process & Redesign
Workforce Transformation
National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals
Others
SingHealth
30 January 2026
To equip community nurses with skills & knowledge to perform compression bandaging and to implement & assess the feasibility. The care provided by HNF nurses is comparable to that of SGH, and community-based compression bandaging is a viable and...
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 30 January 2026
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Productivity, Cost Saving, Quality Improvement, Workflow Redesign, Workforce Transformation, Job Redesign, Upskilling
About this Content
Aims
To equip community nurses with skills & knowledge to perform compression bandaging and to implement & assess the feasibility of a community-based compression bandaging service.
Background
There was no community-based compression bandaging service for VLU in Singapore. Approximately 150 patients seek such treatment at the SGH outpatient clinic every week, straining hospital resources and posing challenges for patients with impaired mobility.
Methods
This was a pre-post study design. A convenience sample of uncomplicated VLU patients who needed 2 or 4 layer compression bandaging were offered to receive their weekly dressing & compression bandaging at home by the HNF nurses or in SGH outpatient clinic. Healing rate, quality of life (QOL), cost expenditure, and patient satisfaction were compared at baseline & at 12 weeks.
Results
A total of 47 patients were recruited. 27 patients were followed up in HNF and 20 in SGH. There was no difference in the healing rate or QOL between service providers. Patients were satisfied with the care provided by the HNF nurses. Community-based compression bandaging is feasible and less expensive.
Conclusion
The care provided by HNF nurses is comparable to that of SGH, and community-based compression bandaging is a viable and cost-effective option
Lessons Learnt
Community-based compression bandaging services are feasible and can reduce costs compared to acute care settings.
Additional Information
SGH started referring to HNF from 15 May 2023. Support from MOH to use MediFund for dressing consumables was obtained, and a nationwide service was offered from 20 Nov 2023.
Keywords
compression therapy, community care, patient satisfaction, cost expenditure, quality of life
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | SingHealth, Others |
Organization(s) Involved | Singapore General Hospital, Home Nursing Foundation |
Platform(s) | National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Medical, Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Medical, Surgery, Wound Care Medicine, Nursing, Nursing Research |
Project Lead(s) | Fazila Abu Bakar Aloweni |
Project Member(s) | Goh Wei Ting |
Connect with this contributor!
Fazila Abu Bakar Aloweni - fazila.abu.bakar.aloweni@sgh.com.sg
Joan Christina Hendriks - joan@hnf.org.sg