| |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
 Since the restructuring of Alexandra Hospital (AH) in 2000, the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) has been striving to provide quality acute care to the community. Staffed with a team of emergency doctors and nurses 24/7, DEM has the capability of managing acute medical conditions, surgical emergencies, injuries and major trauma.
As a major initiative towards better patient care, all ill cases are seen by an emergency specialist. This system of specialist-directed care allows early diagnosis and treatment decisions to be made, minimizing the wait time and shortening a patient’s stay in the department. An emergency nurse-directed triage system is also in place to assess the severity of a patient's illness or
injury. According to sound emergency medicine principles, the more severe cases are given priority and attended by doctor first. After being triage, a patient is assigned to the appropriate care areas of the department. Emergency cases are seen in the emergency room and critical observation area while others cases are seen in the consultation rooms.
For resuscitation and major trauma, the department adopts a team approach with the participation of in-house surgical and medical specialists, for resuscitation and major trauma, ensuring the best resources for the critically ill. Emergency x-rays, CT scans and specialized radiological studies are provided by the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, situated close by.
For continuity of care, we will help patients arrange the following:
|
|
• |
Specialists outpatient appointment at AH or Jurong Medical Centre (JMC) |
|
|
• |
Early specialised investigations such as intravenous urogram (IVU) and
ultrasound studies. |
|
|
• |
Early/direct endoscopy appointment for gastrointestinal problems |
|
|
• |
Early day surgery appointment |
|
|
If you would like to see your personal general practitioner, please let us know. We could provide you with the necessary clinical documents for the follow up.
Our nurse will provide advices for self-care when you are discharged from our department. For selected medical problems, we will ensure your well being by one of the following ways:
|
|
|
|
• |
Telecare. |
This is a telephone aftercare service run by our emergency nurses. You may receive a
call from our nurses about 3 days after your discharge. Information and care advices would be given. |
|
|
|
|
• |
Review. |
You may be asked to return to our department for a review by our doctor. |
|
|
|
• |
Emergency Hotline. |
If you need any information on emergencies, please contact the department at
Tel: (65) 6379 3162 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
• |
We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. |
|
|
• |
No appointment is necessary. |
|
|
• |
All patients are prioritized and seen according to their severity of illness. |
|
|
• |
The peak periods are between 10am – 2pm in the day and 8pm – 10pm. Due to the increase number of patients, waiting time to see a doctor is expected to be longer. |
|
|
• |
Busier days of the week are lunch periods on Monday and Saturday lunch period and Sunday evenings. |
|
|
• |
Useful times to know (how long each step takes) : |
|
• |
Lab tests |
1 hour |
|
|
|
• |
X-rays |
30 minutes |
|
|
|
• |
Procedures |
30 – 45 minutes |
|
|
|
• |
Observation |
1-4 hours
(our doctors/nurses will let you know) |
|
|
|
• |
Admission |
1 hour |
|
|
|
|
|
Healing Environment for All |
• |
Please switch off your handphone(s) as they may interfere with the functions of the medical equipments and affecting the patient’s safety. |
|
|
• |
Switching your handphone(s) and pagers to the silent mode will also help us in ensure a calm and quiet environment for all our patients. |
|
|
|
|
|
| • |
Total number of patients seen : |
68,941 (Jan-Dec 07) |
|
|
|
| • |
Trauma vs Non-Trauma : |
27% vs 72% |
|
|
|
| • |
Age : |
<16 years 3.46%
>65 years 12.53% |
|
|
|
| • |
Ambulance cases : |
SCDF 4.9%
Private ambulance 1% |
|
|
• |
| Total number of patients seen : |
61112 |
|
|
|
• |
| Trauma vs Non-Trauma : |
27.7% vs 72.3 % |
|
|
|
• |
| Age : |
<16 years (4%)
>65 years (13.3%) |
|
|
|
• |
| Ambulance cases: |
SCDF (4.8%)
Private ambulance (1%) |
|
|
|
• |
Top Ten Diagnosis: |
|
| |
P1 (Critically Ill Cases) |
|
• |
Acute Myocardial Infarction |
|
|
|
|
• |
Acute Heart Failure |
|
|
|
|
• |
Severe Pneumonia |
|
|
|
|
• |
Cardiovascular Emergencies |
|
|
|
|
• |
Respiratory Emergencies |
|
|
|
|
• |
Septicaemia |
|
|
|
|
• |
Cardiac Arrhythmias |
|
|
|
|
• |
Acute Exacerbation of Chronic bronchitis |
|
|
|
|
• |
Diabetic Emergencies |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
P2 (Emergency Cases) |
|
• |
Respiratory Emergencies |
|
|
|
|
• |
Abdominal Emergencies |
|
|
|
|
• |
Gastroenteritis |
|
|
|
|
• |
Asthma |
|
|
|
|
• |
Pneumonia |
|
|
|
|
• |
Fractures and Injuries |
|
|
|
|
• |
Head Injury |
|
|
|
|
• |
Heart Failure |
|
|
|
|
• |
Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
P3 (Urgent Cases) |
|
• |
Acute Respiratory Tract Infection |
|
|
|
|
• |
Contusions |
|
|
|
|
• |
Wounds |
|
|
|
|
• |
Acute sprains |
|
|
|
|
• |
Backpain |
|
|
|
|
• |
Intestinal Infection |
|
|
|
|
• |
Cellulitis & Skin infection |
|
|
|
|
• |
Fractures |
|
|
|
|
• |
Foreign body in Eye |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disasters & Civil Emergencies
In the event of disasters and civil emergencies, the department will provide medical support, both at the hospital and national levels. Our specialists in disaster medicine organize regular training and updates for our hospital staff in preparation for such major events.
|
|
• |
In 2004 SARS crisis, we provided training to nurses and staff in Batam/Bintang |
|
|
• |
In the 2005 Tsunami disaster, our department co-ordinated medical support and provided medical teams for the mitigation efforts in Bandar Aceh. |
|
|
• |
2006. ExSparrowhawk – defence against influenza pandemic. |
|
|
• |
In 2006, our staff from DEM formed part of the medical team sent to help in the Jogyakarta Earthquake Crisis |
|
|
|
|
Academic Programmes
Our emergency department is active in academic and research activities, providing training for nurses, doctors and medical students. Our department assists the Life Support Training Centre in running the following programme:
|
|
• |
Life Support Courses for Nurses |
|
|
• |
Basic Cardiac Life Support Programme |
|
|
• |
Heart Savers Programme |
|
|
• |
Medical skills training for military medics |
|
|
• |
HAZMAT medical and decontamination courses |
|
|
• |
First Aid Programme. |
|
|
If you are interested in learning a life saving skill, please call us at 6379 3870 or 6379 3871.
Our staff contributes to the following national programmes:
|
|
• |
NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Medical Student Teaching |
|
|
• |
Elective Programme for Medical Students |
|
|
• |
Nursing Attachment Programme for Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), ITE and private nursing colleges |
|
|
• |
INET Nurse Clinician Course |
|
|
• |
SAF Medical Corps MTI Paramedic Training Programme |
|
|
• |
Advanced Trauma Life Support Course |
|
|
• |
Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course |
|
|
• |
NYP Advanced Diploma in Emergency Nursing |
|
|
• |
HAZMAT medical Life support course |
|
|
If you are interested in the elective programme for medical students, please call us at 63793169 or email James_Travers@alexhosp.com.sg
Community Programmes
We believe in forging community partnerships and caring beyond our department. We do this by actively engaging in community education and training, imparting life support and injury prevention skills.
Some of our projects include:
|
|
• |
Schools CPR Programme (in collaboration with the Central (Singapore) CDC and the Singapore Boys’ Brigade) |
|
|
• |
Community Influenza Vaccination Programme (in collaboration with Central (Singapore) CDC) |
|
|
• |
Medical Coverage for Standard Chartered Marathon (2003-2006) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
