Pick of the Month
Discover the 10 winning projects of the 2024 NHIP Medal, recognised for driving innovation and better patient care across Singapore's healthcare system.
Celebrating Excellence: National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity (NHIP) Medal 2024
CHILD is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity (NHIP) Medal, proudly hosted by CHI and supported by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Out of 158 submissions, 10 outstanding projects were recognized with the prestigious NHIP Medal, with all winning teams also receiving seed funding to bring their innovations to life.
Award-Winning Projects
Best Practice: Automation, IT, and Robotics Innovation
National University Health System (opens in new tab) developed a code-based solution on the Endeavor AI platform to identify redundant CT scan requests, reducing clarification effort by 90%. Similar solutions for MRI and ultrasound (US) are in development, aiming to mitigate unnecessary examinations across modalities.
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (opens in new tab) piloted the Automated Code Red Alert (ACRA) triggering and upskilling of ICU nurses to ICU Outreach Nursing Service (ICUORN)s. Results show 100% compliance in escalating care to the right clinicians, reduction in incidence of in-hospital cardiac arrest, and ICU/HD admissions.
Best Practice: Care Redesign
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) (opens in new tab) redesigned workflows to improve stroke treatment timelines. The team reduced median door-to-puncture timings for Endovascular Thrombectomy (EVT) from 130 to 82 minutes, enhancing patient outcomes and reducing disability. Plans are underway to share these best practices nationwide.
National Heart Centre Singapore (opens in new tab) invented a Distal Perfusion Catheter (DPC) organizer to prevent kinking during ECMO procedures. The organizer eliminates kinks, reduces risks of dislodgement and injury, and improves patient safety.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) (opens in new tab) introduced an Emergency Department (ED) Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP) care model for musculoskeletal cases. This initiative reduced patient wait times by 75% and improved throughput by 28%, all while maintaining safety and boosting patient satisfaction.
Best Practice: Workforce Transformation
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (opens in new tab) equipped pharmacy staff with skills in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), data visualization, and project management. These initiatives streamlined medication inventory management, enhancing accuracy and efficiency.
Bright Hill Evergreen Home (opens in new tab) created new nursing roles for individuals who did not meet the requirements to become registered nurses. This effort reduced staff attrition by 10% and significantly increased job satisfaction.
Excellence Champion (Care Redesign & Workforce Transformation)
Alexandra Hospital (AH) (opens in new tab) established a Palliative Response Team program to facilitate compassionate discharges (ComD), enabling end-of-life care at home. This program has reduced hospital length of stay, improved discharge outcomes, and addressed after-hours hospice support challenges.
Best Adopter
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) (opens in new tab) integrated Robotic Assisted Gait Rehabilitation (RAGR) using the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) exoskeleton into their inpatient rehabilitation unit. This service has surpassed workload targets, leading to significant patient recovery improvements.
St. Andrew’s Community Hospital (SACH) (opens in new tab) adopted NUHS’s Value-Driven Outcome (VDO) framework to enhance care for hip fracture and stroke patients. Between 2021 and 2023, clinical quality indicators improved by 26.1% and 23.8%, respectively, with reduced length of stay and wait times, and cost avoidance.
These groundbreaking initiatives demonstrate how innovation and collaboration can transform patient care, optimize resources, and improve outcomes. Congratulations to all winners for their remarkable contributions to advancing healthcare excellence. Explore other inspiring advancements in the CHILD collection (opens in new tab)today!