Dual Organ Transplant – Double the Bliss - NUH

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NUH news bites Project Safe Hands NUH and Changi General Hospital have become the first two local hospitals to test-bed a new technology that aims to raise the compliance of handwashing among hospital staff. 10 The project, named ‘Project Safe Hands’, is being developed by A*STAR and the Boston based CIMIT (Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology). A sensor “safe zone” is created around each patient bed. The identity tags on the doctors and other ward staff will sound an alarm if the individual were to exit this “safe zone” without stopping at the washing points such as the sinks and alcohol-rub dispensers. Said Associate Professor Aymeric Lim, Chairman Medical Board, “We are very excited about the collaboration to test-bed the technology. Smarter and automated compliance auditing is the way of the future and is likely to become standard over the next decade.” Since October 2006, NUH has been actively promoting various measures to reduce the rate of hospital acquired infections like MRSA transmission. One of these is hand hygiene, which is one of the most effective measures to prevent nosocomial infection. Advocate for mature workers NUH is now ranked among a selected group of employers around the world for having outstanding practices and policies in attracting and retaining mature workers. The hospital received the prestigious International Innovative Employer Award in November 2010, after it was named by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) and the Singapore Council for Third Age for its efforts in encouraging older workers to continue working. We value our staff and have always recognised the experience and contributions of our matured employees. We will continue to review and enhance our policies to benefit our mature workers. Ms Clara Wee, Director Human Resource NUH currently employs more than 5,500 staff, of which about 11 per cent are aged 50 years and above. Over the years, it has explored various ways to make it more conducive for its matured workers. For example, a lighter and more compact food trolley system was introduced in 2008 to make it easier for the housekeeping staff to deliver meals to the wards. Re-employment is offered to staff who reach retirement age and contracts are extended by up to three years. Staff are entitled to an additional three days of family care leave. The hospital is also extending medical benefits to the spouses of these older workers. Mature employees like lab manager, Mr Ricky Ong, 63, has worked at NUH for more than 20 years and is an asset to the organisation
Ask The Expert I was jogging when my toe started to hurt. The nail bed turned black a few days later. The general practitioner I consulted said that it would heal by itself and there was no need to remove the nail. It has since been a month and the blackened part of the toe nail has grown out. My toe nail is now separated from the nail bed. There is also fresh blood in the nail bed. Will the toe nail be permanently separated from the nail bed? It is likely that you had injured the toe nail while jogging, resulting in some bleeding under the nail bed. The new nail should not be permanently separated from the nail bed. If you are experiencing discomfort or if bleeding continues, you should consult a doctor. Dr Tan Ken Jin Associate Consultant Department of Orthopaedic Surgery I am in my early 20s and have had “sleep shouting” syndrome since I was 18. While asleep, I often dream I am in an unpleasant situation where I end up shouting in the dream when in fact, I am actually shouting out loud in my sleep. Should I be concerned about this? The medical term for this is “somniloquy” which means talking aloud in sleep. The talking can range from mumbling to shouting. Somniloquy is very common. Up to 50 per cent of young children have been reported to talk in their sleep with a few continuing to do so into adulthood. About five per cent of adults are reported to talk in their sleep. The condition can take place in any stage of sleep, but occurs less often during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the stage of sleep associated with dreaming. Somniloquy which occurs by itself is harmless and does not require treatment. However, people who begin talking in their sleep as adults and during REM sleep can sometimes have certain conditions causing other sleep problems that bring out sleep talking. Somniloquy may therefore be the result of another sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, a mental health problem, a medical condition, drug use or substance abuse. In such cases, an evaluation by a doctor with expertise in sleep disorders is advisable. Dr Chua Ai Ping Consultant Division of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine I am 45 years old and have been experiencing irregular but frequent spotting in recent months. Each episode lasts between one to two days. Is this a symptom of menopause or is it something more serious? Regular monthly menstruation is the result of the interplay of several organs and the hormones secreted by them. The ovaries contain tiny eggs that grow in response to hormones secreted by the brain. As the eggs grow, they secrete hormones that cause thickening of the inner lining of the womb in preparation for pregnancy. Irregular menstruation is common in women of all ages. Based on what you have described, it appears you are having frequent but light periods. This is quite common in women your age and is usually a result of hormonal changes that occur a few years prior to menopause. As the number of eggs in the ovaries declines, the brain needs to secrete greater quantities of hormones to make the eggs grow. This makes the egg ripen faster than usual, resulting in shorter menstrual cycles (or frequent menses). This most likely explains the symptoms you are having. However, you are advised to consult a doctor to rule out any serious problem. Dr Anupriya Agarwal Consultant Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology My 11-year-old nephew still wets his bed despite various attempts to curb the problem. Because he is a deep sleeper, he also faces difficulty waking up at night to empty his bladder. How can I help him? When bedwetting persists beyond age five or six years old, it becomes unacceptable and this condition is also known as nocturnal enuresis. The impact of bedwetting on affected children is mainly psychological and may be severe. You may wish to bring your nephew for a medical consultation so the appropriate treatments can be recommended to improve his condition over time. An example is the bedwetting alarm which is known to have the best cure rate among users. It is a urine-sensitive pad attached to the child’s underwear before he goes to sleep, and is triggered once the urine comes into contact with the pad. This will wake the child and prompt him to complete voiding in the toilet. The alarm trains the brain to recognise the signals coming from the bladder when it is full and the need to wake up to void. Typically the resolution of bedwetting is seen only after three to four months of using the alarm. Another treatment option is a pill known as desmopressin, which helps to decrease the urine production at night. Sometimes, both the bedwetting alarm and desmopressin can be used together. Treating bedwetting problem requires patience and understanding. Reassure your nephew that the bedwetting will eventually stop and continue encouraging him to get up to urinate during the night. Develop a system of rewards for him if he is able to get up to urinate and praise him if he wakes up dry in the morning. Dr Perry Lau Consultant University Children’s Medical Institute ask the expert 11
Page 1 and 2: Issue 1 / 2011 A quarterly publicat
Page 3 and 4: Dual Transplant The team behind Wei
Page 5 and 6: New treatment for enlarged prostate
Page 7 and 8: NUH upgrades to serve patients bett
Page 9: The struggles Hearing loss is an in

Dual Organ Transplant – Double the Bliss - NUH

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