AMK-THKH Newsletter Issue 2 of 2011 - Thye Hua Kwan Hospital

ServingwithPassionWe managed to catch up and findout more about Ms Carolina Png,the new Deputy Director of AlliedHealth at AMK-THKH, as she settledinto her new role.She joins AMK-THKH from TanTock Seng Hospital, where she ledthe Cardiopulmonary PhysiotherapyUnit.She has always believed in hope inrehabilitation, sharing an anecdotefrom her past work experienceabout a patient who requiredmaximum support initially uponadmission to the hospital.Looking back at her career, shesingles out one particular mentor, aprevious supervisor, who gave hermuch support and opportunities togrow. “She was an open-mindedleader who welcomes contributionof ideas and opinions, whileencouraging us to be independent inmaking our own decisions.”As the Deputy Director of AlliedHealth in AMK-THKH, Ms Png aimsto integrate the various disciplinesunder her purview to providetheir best care in making sure thepatients’ transition from hospital tocommunity is a seamless one."My goal is toprovide a platformfor our patientsto receive the bestrehabilitation careand a chance for abetter qualityof life."Ms Carolina Png,Deputy Director,Allied HealthDedicating her Heartto theStudying Biology during herSecondary education sparked off DrJocelyn Koh’s passion to further studythe mystery of the human body. Thisbudding passion eventually led herto pursue Medicine at the NationalUniversity of Singapore.Nine years on, Dr Koh, who has beenseeing patients at polyclinics sinceshe completed her medical training,continues to care for the ill in thecommunity. This time, she decidedto take up the challenging task ofcaring for geriatric patients, joining theHospital as a Registrar.ElderlyDr Koh identified Geriatrics asa core national need. With ourpatients getting more sophisticated,Dr Koh defined managingpatients’ higher expectations andaddressing their needs as areas ofchallenge.Apart from carrying out her routinerounds in the wards, Dr Koh believesin empowering her patients byeducating them on their medicalconditions and taking control of theirmedication intake.“The ultimate goal is to ensure patientsknow how to take their medicine aftertheir discharge and to monitor theirown medical conditions. This willhelp patients to be more independentwhen they integrate back into thesociety” said Dr Koh.“Many felt that that this patientposed limited rehabilitativepotential but I was not deterred. Amonth later, he walked out of thecentre on his own with a walkingstick after much-invested efforts ingetting him up and about.”In particular, she has a clear focuson the aging population, withits attendant implications. “Mygoal is to provide a platform forour patients to receive the bestrehabilitation care and a chancefor a better quality of life.”Dr Koh attendingto a patientMs Png with herphysiotherapistduring a therapysessionDr Jocelyn Koh,Registrar, AMK-THKHAMK - THKH REACHING OUT 5