BEST HOSPITALS

MOUNT ELIZABETH HOSPITAL

For over four decades , Mount Elizabeth Hospital ( MEH ) has consistently provided high-quality medical care for both local and international patients .

As a testament to this achievement , MEH has taken a swathe of prizes at each edition of the Global Health Asia-Pacific awards . And this year is no exception , with the hospital snatching some of the most coveted recognitions , including the Best Hospital of the Year in the Asia-Pacific and the Best Hospital of the Year in Singapore .

Operating in two locations across the Lion City ( Orchard and Novena ), MEH is well known locally and internationally for the wide range of its medical services and expertise , as well as its high-tech equipment . It ’ s no surprise that both facilities have repeatedly received the renowned Joint Commission International ( JCI ) accreditation for quality care .

“ With more than 800 experienced specialists under one roof , Mount Elizabeth is the leader in the region for performing advanced surgeries , including minimally invasive and robotic procedures , carrying out ethical living donor organ transplants , undertaking precise orthopedic surgeries , as well as treating late-stage cancers ,” said Dr Noel Yeo , Senior Vice-President , Parkway Hospitals Singapore .

With modern medicine increasingly becoming a specialist affair , healthcare professionals at MEH have been sharpening their skills in very specific medical areas to offer their patients a superior level of expertise . Doctors are trained at top medical institutions around the world and most of them further subspecialise in their areas of

Jeffrey Law

Serene Lim

interest . This allows them to stay on top of their field through constantly updating their knowledge with the latest techniques and treatment regimes . Similarly , nurses at MEH have an average experience of 10 years , giving patients great confidence in their abilities .

“ With such a concentration of specialities and subspecialities under one roof , our doctors are able to work as a team to provide comprehensive care for even the most complex conditions ,” said Dr Yeo .

Cutting-edge technologies available at MEH include the PET-MRI system , which provides detailed scans of patients ’ bodies by using low radiation in a way that helps specialists detect tumours with greater accuracy and perform surgeries more precisely .

The ability to perform a vast array of surgical techniques ( laparoscopic , robotic , and single-incision surgeries ) is another feather in the hospital ’ s cap as it enables MEH to offer patients more options for procedures that are less invasive .

Better surgical outcomes are also achieved by leveraging a hybrid operating theatre that enables collaboration between surgeons and interventional radiologists in the same room . With advanced diagnostic equipment at their disposal in real time , surgeons can carry out surgeries in a more accurate way that minimises risks and recovery times .

The intensive care unit ( ICU ) is located close to the operating theatre so that patients can receive prompt care whenever needed . The vital signs of those in the ICU are regularly transmitted to a central nursing station controlled by qualified nurses around the clock , giving the ICU team the ability to respond quickly to any emergency .

MEH was also the first private hospital in Singapore to perform open-heart surgery and to establish a nuclear medicine centre . In 2019 , it became the first private hospital in the Southeast Asian region to carry out the Urolift procedure and Rezum Water Vapour Therapy , both minimally invasive procedures for enlarged prostate glands that offer a faster recovery time compared to standard surgical treatments .

With the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic , MEH has put in place strict guidelines and safety protocols to ensure the safety of the patients and their caregivers . Stringent protocols include mandatory temperature screening and contact tracing for all visitors . Social distancing guidelines are observed strictly and high-touch areas are also disinfected regularly . With the wards having self-contained ventilation systems to ensure air does not circulate around other parts of the hospital , the risk of transmission is minimised .

28 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com