BEST PROVIDERS OF SPECIALIST CARE
RESPIRATORY SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
GLENEAGLES HOSPITAL SINGAPORE
Respiratory medicine deals with a wide range of diseases affecting the airways and lungs , requiring the type of medical experts that Gleneagles Hospital Singapore ( GEH ) has assembled under one roof at its multispecialist hospital in the heart of the Lion City .
The long list of respiratory conditions treated at GEH ranges from relatively simple problems like asthma and chronic cough to more complex diseases that need the attention of a multidisciplinary team of specialists , such as pneumonia and lung cancer .
In order to care for patients with serious conditions needing hospitalisation , respiratory physicians at GEH are trained in intensive care medicine , a subspeciality that diagnoses and manages critically-ill patients facing serious organ failure , Hui Hwa Koh- Minjoot , the hospital ’ s chief executive officer , told Global Health Asia-Pacific .
“ Our respiratory-trained intensivists strongly believe in a team-based , multidisciplinary approach that spans multiple specialities and even allied health services ,” she said . “ This is so that the best consented decision for the circumstance can be made to ensure patients receive well-rounded care while giving their family members timely updates on their condition , as well as assurance and support .” The hospital houses a wellequipped intensive care unit with 21 beds that meet the needs of all patients in critical condition . Constant upgrades to its facilities and equip-
Benjamin Neo and Dr Ravi Shrestha
ment ensure that those in critical and life-threatening situations can get the best medical care .
One example is the adoption of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( ECMO ), an intervention that can resuscitate patients who have lost consciousness due to respiratory or cardiac arrest . Available at GEH since 2002 , the procedure involves circulating the blood through a machine that removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen before returning it to the patient ’ s body . This takes over the critical functions of the heart and lungs , giving the organs time to rest and recover while doctors treat other underlying conditions . To date , about 80 critically ill patients have benefitted from ECMO treatment at GEH .
Fluoroscopy with radiographic capabilities is also available at the hospital . The technique provides surgeons and intensivists with clear images of the patients ’ tissues during surgical or emergency care procedures . Such information is important because it allows physicians to monitor progress in real time and make any necessary adjustments immediately .
The hospital also has a neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU ) where premature newborns can receive specialised care in a safe environment . Services include newborn screening , high-risk and birth defect consultations , and neuro-developmental follow-ups for premature babies .
GEH recently refurbished its endoscopy centre , doubling its capacity to house six procedure rooms , 25 preparation and rest beds , as well as two VIP rooms .
Endoscopy enables doctors to examine the insides of an organ in detail through a flexible tube with a tiny video camera . In the discipline of respiratory medicine , endoscopy can be done through a patient ’ s mouth to check the lungs and airways in order to spot potential problems .
“ Our respiratory-trained intensivists strongly believe in a team-based , multidisciplinary approach that spans multiple specialities and even allied health services ”
84 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com