SINGAPORE : Singapore has won four top awards for hospital management in Asia.

It beats 14 other countries, which nominated over 250 projects in customer service and patient care, for the Asian Hospital Management Awards this year.

After highlighting a problem, staff at Alexandra Hospital chart out a solution together.

The waste-eliminating method is based on the Toyota Production System in Japan.

Some of the solutions they’ve come up with include placing all-in-one trolleys near patients’ beds so that staff need not walk to different rooms for medical supplies, thus making it hassle-free for patients.

And that puts the hospital on top for the Customer Service award.

For Alexandra Hospital, getting the awards for the first time is more than a sign of recognition.

They see it as a way of motivating staff to work together as a team, maximise resources and provide holistic healthcare for the patients in the long run.

Chew Kwee Tiang, CEO of Alexandra Hospital: “All of us join this hospital with a philosophy of creating a service that is good enough for our own loved ones without special arrangements. That is something all our staff believe in very strongly.

“And when results can be seen, it encourages more people to join the journey with us. I think our staff will feel that this is really worthwhile doing.”

An E-rostering system for nurses helped National University Hospital (NUH) clinch the top spot in Patient Safety.

Nurses bid for their preferable work shifts online, cutting down time spent on manual rostering.

“Like in an O&G ward (Obstetrics & Gynaecology), I need certain amount of trained staff and I also need certain amounts of staff that can speak different languages. The system is able to churn out a fair skills mix to ensure that the patient is being looked after safely,” explained Lee Siu Yin, nursing director at NUH.

NUH also received a merit award for reducing costs for drugs at their pharmacy.

- CNA /ls

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Overtaking will be the norm

A two-stop strategy would be the most logical to master this challenging circuit, writes NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN

The Turkish GP could be considered an Asian race rather than a European one as the circuit is located on the Asian side of Istanbul. F1 made its debut in Turkey last year on a spectacular multi-purpose 5.378km track at the Otodrom. I was lucky enough to be there last year.

It’s an amazing track with one utterly unforgettable corner, the infamous but exhilarating Turn 8. The track is another one of the new breed of circuits designed by Herman Tilke. The circuit features 14 turns and cars can reach speeds of up to 320 kmph. The race will be only the third on the calendar where the lap runs anti-clockwise. The track also has plenty of character as it’s built on four different ground levels.

It’s amazing how much progress has been made by the backroom boys, burning the midnight oil to make the cars quicker, better handling and more reliable. Both Mark and Nico will have upgraded FW28s for the Turkish GP. The wheels of F1 never stop rolling. The circuit is a challenging blend of long and short straights, interspersed with eight left and six right-hand corners. Each turn places different demands on the car and the driver, none more so than Turn 8.

The anti-clockwise nature of the track also creates additional pressures — notably for the tyres, and particularly for the right front, as well as for the drivers’ neck muscles. The track is 20m at its widest, and has extensive braking zones, which provide plenty of overtaking opportunities. A two-stop strategy would seem to be the most logical on this track. Felipe Massa claimed the first pole position of his F1 career when he beat his teammate by about 0.3s. Michael Schumacher will start on the front row, but from P2. The last few minutes of qualifying were extremely frantic as usual, but Massa’s lap of 1:26.907 was just too good for everyone else.

Gameplan

Hindu On Net

SINGAPORE : BMW Group Designworks USA has expanded its design studio in Singapore just after being here for about half a year.

The initial success of the company is seen as paving the way for other design companies to set foot here.

BMW Group Designworks USA first started operations in Singapore early this year, and it recently moved into larger premises at Keppel Bay Tower to cope with the increased demand for its services.

The company says its client base is expanding in the consumer electronic, transportation, lifestyle and sports industries.

At the launch of the new studio on Friday, Minster for Information, Communication and the Arts Lee Boon Yang said Designworks is just the kind of “world-class, iconic” design firm that Singapore is trying to attract.

Said Dr Lee, “I think it reflects the growing dynamism and vibrancy of our design sector. It also reflects the growing business opportunities for design in Singapore.”

The minister also noted that Designworks is making efforts to develop a pool of Asian talent.

Designworks has hired two Singaporean designers, who will be sent to its Munich and Los Angeles offices for training.

Said Dr Lee, “This is an incredible experience for young Singapore designers to work in such a location where the world-class top notch designers are at work in a wide variety of projects.”

Designworks has also entered into collaboration with National University of Singapore and Nanyang Polytechnic to help nurture talent for the creative industry.

Designworks says Singapore is an ideal regional platform.

Said Verena Kloos, president of BMW Group Designworks USA, “One of the major reasons is the protection of intellectual property. And coming up with the decision, we have also been supported in that decision-making process with some of our clients, who feel very very comfortable that we have chosen that location here.”

The director of the DesignSingapore Council, Dr Milton Tan, says he courted BMW Group Designworks USA for four years before they set up shop here.

Said Dr Tan, “We want to be associated with the best design in the world. We want to be a place that inspires great work and a place where talents both locally and foreign will find it challenging to pursue (work).”

Several other design firms from the US and Japan are also said to be looking into opportunities in Singapore. - CNA /ct

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