Innovating Together for Better Care Delivery

Transferring patients from wheelchairs to the radiography couches for imaging procedures can be physically demanding for radiographers.

“It's a manual process and a task that every radiographer encounters daily for patients on wheelchairs. For bigger-sized patients, the transfer can be straining, especially for older colleagues,” says Peter Tan, Senior Principal Radiographer.

Peter and his colleagues recognised the need for solutions. “In the course of our clinical work, we come across things we wish could be better. Over time, we realised we could actually do something about it,” he says.

This is where Karen and the team from the Office of Innovation (OOI) step in to support, crystallising work challenges into structured problem statements, researching on what is available in the market, and linking the team with the right partners.

Together with his Radiography colleagues, Peter approached Karen and the OOI team for help, demonstrating how existing transfer devices were too cumbersome and unsuitable for the tight-spaced, fast-paced environment of radiography.

“At first, we were not convinced we needed to build another transfer device. But after seeing first-hand the difficulties faced, it became clear there was a genuine gap that needed to be addressed for both staff and patients,” Karen explains.

The collaboration involved overseas sourcing trips including to Düsseldorf for the MEDICA Trade Fair — the world's largest medical technology exhibition – and multiple design revisions. At one stage, progress stalled until the team decided to adopt a different design strategy — changing the centre of gravity and counterforce.

“Even when we were stuck, Peter didn’t give up. He would say, ‘let’s start from scratch’ and that persistence kept the project moving forward,” says Karen.

The prototype is currently being tested and early results suggest it could reduce strain on radiographers while improving safety for patients during transfers.

Beyond the transfer device, the team is also working together on a smart positioning assistance system that provides visual feedback for optimal X-ray positioning in real-time. Using computer vision and analytics, the system provides immediate feedback for radiographers to adjust and position patients accurately for optimal imaging. This offers opportunities for the team to use it as a training tool for new radiographers, and even in clinical applications, streamlining workflows and reducing radiation risks.

For Peter, collaborating with the OOI team became a valuable lesson in project management.

Karen, in turn, is inspired by Peter’s dedication.

“At his level of seniority, he could be winding down. But he’s still pushing boundaries — even experimenting with 3D printing at home and reading up on new ideas like AI. His commitment motivates us to keep going,” says Karen.

Both Peter and Karen see their collaboration as part of the wider culture at CGH. The hospital’s framework for innovation ensures that ideas from the ground are not only heard but supported with resources and expertise.

Karen highlights the importance of this, “I think CGH is about the only healthcare institution in Singapore that has innovation in our vision, which shows that we are very open to having people innovate. No idea is turned away — we help grow the seed and refine it into a solution.”