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Providing FIVE-Star Care

Synonym(s):

 

For nine decades, Changi General Hospital (CGH) has healed families in moments of medical need. While acute and emergency care has served as CGH’s foundation, the hospital has deepened its roots in healthcare and community services as health needs grew more complex, balancing its role with the wider ecosystem of services that support lifelong health.

At its core, CGH remains an acute care provider, with its Emergency Department (ED) and intensive care units ready around the clock. These frontline services form the foundation of the hospital’s care ecosystem, ensuring an immediate response when lives are at risk.

Branching out from this foundation, the hospital has developed specialist centres that offer multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary care approaches organised around patients’ needs. This seeks to manage conditions holistically.

These centres bring together doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals to guide patients through complex, long-term health journeys. Spanning geriatrics, spine care, sport and exercise medicine, occupational and aviation health, and more, each centre provides coordinated support, ensuring care is as continuous as it is comprehensive.


Clin Asst Prof Jeremy Sun, Senior Consultant, Department of Surgery, Director, Lymphoedema Service, and Head, Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Service, and Ong Ling, Nurse Clinician, Department of Specialty Nursing, administering a Indocyanine Green Lymphography (ICGL) test to facilitate early detection of lymphoedema.

Within this broader network, one-stop centres such as the Wound Healing Centre, Integrated Sleep Centre and the Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic and Endocrine (DOME) Centre address conditions requiring comprehensive attention. These centres cater to patients who require multi-specialty consultation, ensuring they receive treatment in an integrated and timely manner for better care of their conditions.

Five-star care lies in this balance. It means being there in a medical emergency, walking with patients through rehabilitation, and helping them manage long-term conditions while preparing for the future of health.

This patient-centred approach has been recognised internationally. CGH has consistently ranked in Newsweek’s listings of the World’s Best Hospitals, placing among the top 250 globally and one of the top four public hospitals in Singapore. It is also listed among the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for excellence in Neurosurgery, Oncology, Orthopaedics, Pulmonology, and, for the first time in 2025, Endocrinology.

In addition, CGH is recognised as Singapore’s smartest hospital in the World’s Best Smart Hospitals rankings, affirming its leadership in harnessing digital innovation and smart solutions to enhance care. Together, these accolades reflect the hospital’s consistent focus on safe, integrated and future ready care.


Adj Asst Prof David Low, Senior Consultant, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, carries out an ear examination.


At CGH’s Sleep Laboratory, Libny Cyril Bin Abdul Fakir, Sleep Technologist, monitors a patient undergoing a sleep examination.


Critical care at CGH’s core

As Singapore’s first purpose-built hospital for the eastern population, CGH’s acute and emergency care is a cornerstone of the community. The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) work closely with the ED as the hospital’s critical first responders, operating around the clock to deliver timely, life-saving care.

CGH optimises infrastructure with patient-centric systems and a culture of collaboration and innovation to deliver specialised care for trauma cases. For patients with life-threatening conditions, resuscitation rooms, rapid imaging access, and technologies like the platform that transmits vital signs from ambulances ensure trauma teams are prepared ahead of arrival.

Every day, CGH’s emergency teams make precise life-saving assessments, as decisive clinicians stabilise patients and connect them quickly to the right care. The ED also plays a key role in connecting patients to the rest of the hospital. One example is the Geriatric Emergency Medicine (GEM) system, which assesses frail elderly patients when they first arrive at the ED, allowing geriatric specialists to collaborate with emergency care services to provide specialist care, community support, and other timely interventions.


“In every emergency, every second counts. Making quick and precise assessments, delivering life-saving care, simultaneously managing different cases of varying severities, and looking beyond to create holistic care are just some of the multi-faceted functions our emergency medicine doctors and nurses take on every day.”


Clin Assoc Prof Siau Chuin, Chairman, Medical Board

Branching beyond our own campus, CGH helps shape the Emergency Medicine Academic Clinical Programme (EMACP) – a collaborative platform in SingHealth to build future-ready emergency departments by integrating forward-thinking best practices. Established in 2018 and led by CGH, the EMACP aims to adapt to emerging healthcare demands while consistently advancing patient care through research and innovation across institutions. As one of Singapore’s busiest emergency departments, CGH’s high volume of patients in the ED provides valuable insights that drive evidence-based improvements, like the GEM model of care.


At the ED’s triage area – the first touchpoint of care – Assistant Nurse Clinician Camelia Wee assesses a patient to determine the appropriate level of care needed.


Dr Yeo Qiu Min, Specialist Pharmacist (second from right) works together with a multidisciplinary care team to support critically-ill patients in intensive care and high-dependency units.

The EMACP’s flagship initiative, the Emergency Medicine Real-World Anonymised Data Repository (EM-RADAR), harnesses data from EDs across SingHealth institutions. This first of-its-kind, cluster-wide data pool supports both single and multi-institution research studies, providing unprecedented access for researchers and collaborators in emergency medicine. For patients, this translates into symptoms being recognised earlier, emergency medicine professionals making quicker and more informed clinical decisions, and treatment being delivered faster, even in the most critical situations.

By combining healthcare infrastructure and continuous innovation through the EMACP, patients walking through the door in their most vulnerable moments receive not just quality treatment but the reassurance of a collaborative team working in unison around them. Whether facing a single trauma patient or a large-scale emergency, this integrated approach ensures care remains coordinated, effective and resilient.

“CGH’s ED serves as the ‘front doors’ of the hospital. It is where many patients first come in through the hospital, especially in urgent and unexpected situations. Emergency medicine also plays a pivotal role in the hospital’s response to crisis, disasters and pandemics, providing immediate care during times of heightened demand and high emotions,” said Clin Asst Prof Ang Shiang-Hu, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine.

Beyond the ED, multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals work as units in the MICU and SICU to ensure precise monitoring and rapid interventions.

The CGH team culture is an integral part of this fast-paced acute and emergency care ecosystem. For Dr Yeo Qiu Min, Specialist Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, whose work revolves around providing medication expertise to critically ill patients, this multidisciplinary care team approach at CGH enables life-saving decisions to be made efficiently in high-stakes, critical care environments.

“We bring our expertise to the bedside through detailed medication reviews and collaborative care, contributing our specialised knowledge to multidisciplinary teams through dedicated ward rounds,” said Dr Yeo Qiu Min, Specialist Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy.

Having worked in CGH for nearly two decades, Dr Yeo decided to specialise in critical care pharmacy, inspired by the fast-paced environment and energised by the positive impacts she witnessed on patients recovering in critical care units.

Today, her role – one of only seven specialist pharmacistsin CGH – centres on the hospital’s most vulnerable patients in the ICU and high-dependency wards. Beyond bedside care, she contributes to the hospital’s innovation ecosystem through projects like automated medication reconciliation tools, demonstrating how specialist expertise combined with technological advancement enhances both efficiency and patient safety across CGH’s critical care network.

Speaking about her work in one of CGH’s specialist areas of care, Dr Yeo shared her excitement about the possibilities of further technological advancement.


“I believe CGH can achieve enhanced patient care outcomes through the integration of both technology and medical sciences. And as we move forward, I hope that our multidisciplinary teams can work even more closely together, possibly with some AI-driven data too!”


Dr Yeo Qiu Min, Specialist Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy


Cultivating centres of excellence

CGH’s expertise in saving lives during the crucial first hour is matched by its focus on the months and years that follow. Over the years, centres of excellence have formed and evolved through strategic partnerships that amplify their reach and impact. Collaborations with the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) strengthen neurological care pathways, while partnerships with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Republic of Singapore Airforce (RSAF) established services that serve both aviation professionals and the broader industry.

These alliances show how CGH’s clinical expertise extends beyond traditional hospital boundaries, addressing healthcare priorities such as ageing, chronic diseases and workplace safety while serving as a model for integrated care delivery across Singapore’s healthcare system.


At the Singapore Changi Aeromedical Centre, pilots undergo hypobaric chamber training to recognise symptoms caused by insufficient oxygen at high altitudes.

SENIOR-FOCUSED EXCELLENCE

Instead of treating diseases alone, CGH’s geriatric medicine team holistically focuses on helping seniors stay independent, mobile and dignified as they age in order to maximise healthspan. One in four Singaporeans will be 65 or older by 2030, earning Singapore its ’super aged’ status, and making this care approach more important than ever.

For seniors with multiple conditions, care extends beyond symptoms. Nurses, therapists, pharmacists and social workers, among other care roles in the hospital and community, work hand in hand to ensure patients and their families receive support that feels seamless rather than fragmented.

This approach is anchored in dedicated facilities: acute geriatric wards in the Integrated Building, supported by St. Andrew’s Community Hospital’s sub acute wards, and the Geriatric Medicine Centre – a hub for outpatient clinics managing conditions including dementia, falls, frailty, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and incontinence.

The Centre also houses one of Singapore’s first Geriatric Day Hospitals, which runs a 12-week outpatient programme combining nursing care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and physician-led caregiver upskilling, aimed at empowering patients to regain their independence and lessen the burden on caregivers, while making the appropriate transition to community services.

This holistic care philosophy is further strengthened by CGH’s participation in the international Nursing Improving Care for Health system Elders (NICHE) programme since 2014. Aimed to equip frontline nurses with specialised geriatric knowledge through a four-tiered training system, NICHE ensures that seniors maintain optimal health, function and independence, while supporting smooth transitions home and the continuity of care. The programme’s impact was globally recognised in 2024 when CGH clinched the NICHE Exemplar Award – the pinnacle of achievement in geriatric nursing care excellence – a testament to the nursing team’s unwavering commitment to exceptional care for seniors.


Dr Li Fuyin, Senior Nurse Clinician (Advanced Practice Nurse) engages in interactive activities with senior patients.


“As a NICHE member hospital, CGH is dedicated to driving geriatric nursing care to its apex, delivering compassionate, person-centred care that empowers seniors to thrive.”


Adj Assoc Prof Png Gek Kheng, Chief Nurse and Advanced Practice Nurse

COMPREHENSIVE SPINE SOLUTIONS

Nearly one in five Singaporeans will need treatment for a spinal condition in their lifetime. From degenerative disc diseases and trauma to tumours and chronic pain, no two spine conditions are alike. To meet this need, CGH and the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) established the CGH-NNI Integrated Spine Centre, a one-stop specialised centre that provides comprehensive care for conditions of the spine, spinal cord and nerves.

Through the collaboration, the multidisciplinary care team – comprising neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, nurses and rehabilitation therapists – provides specialised care through treatments such as diagnostic assessments, surgery and rehabilitation. The Spine Centre employs cutting-edge, minimally invasive techniques, utilising advanced intraoperative CT scanners, precise navigation systems and real-time neuromonitoring to achieve exceptional surgical accuracy.

Today, more than 80% of surgeries performed are minimally invasive, and most patients are able to walk on the same day and return home within two to three days. These innovative approaches align with the move towards value-based care, translating into faster patient recovery, reduced post-surgical complications, and shorter hospital stays.

Prior to joining CGH’s Specialty Nursing team, Koh Ree Yi, Senior Staff Nurse, had worked at the hospital’s operating theatres, and was no stranger to conditions of the spine. Today, she plays an important role at the Spine Centre, preparing patients for procedures, managing their post operative care, and educating them and their families on what to expect during rehabilitation.

Complementing the services offered by the Spine Centre, Samantha Foo, Principal Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, plays a vital role in helping patients regain mobility and independence after orthopaedic surgery. On a daily basis, she assesses patients’ physical function, designs rehabilitation plans, and works alongside doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health colleagues to ensure recovery starts as early as possible. Close communication within the care team makes this possible.

“The experience of getting patients through post-op recovery is smoother because of the frequent communication. We foresee what patients need before they even see us, so care feels seamless rather than fragmented,” Samantha explains. Team members like Samantha help patients recover more smoothly and with fewer complications by anticipating needs and coordinating across disciplines.


Koh Ree Yi, Senior Staff Nurse, Department of Specialty Nursing and Samantha Foo, Principal Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy conduct post-operative checks on a patient following spine surgery.


“Often patients are surprised by how quickly they recover – walking the next day or even the same evening after surgery. When families see that progress, the relief on their faces and the gratitude that they convey to us, reminds us that this specialised care at CGH matters.”


Koh Ree Yi, Senior Staff Nurse, Department of Specialty Nursing

THIS DOCTOR HAS YOUR BACK

Clinical Assistant Professor Dinesh Shree Kumar
Senior Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgery
Director, CGH-NNI Integrated Spine Centre
Head, SingHealth Duke-NUS Spine Centre

Clin Asst Prof Dinesh Shree Kumar beams as he recalls jointly leading Singapore’s first robot-assisted, minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery on an awake patient in 2025. Working closely with CGH anaesthetists who employed innovative methods, the breakthrough allowed the patient to walk within hours and return home the next day. This achievement exemplifies the vision for the CGH-NNI Integrated Spine Centre he helped establish and, now, leads: to offer a seamless patient journey that gets people back on their feet faster.

There was no specialised spine centre when he first joined CGH in 2015. Patients were often referred to neurosurgery or the orthopaedic surgery department, resulting in fragmented care and extended inpatient stays while awaiting scans,surgery and rehabilitation.

Dr Kumar envisioned a one-stop solution that could create better outcomes for patients. He assembled a team of like-minded neurosurgeons, orthopaedic spinal surgeons, rehabilitation therapists such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, and nurses specialising in spine care to form a multidisciplinary care team.


Clin Asst Prof Dinesh Kumar and Wong Shi Hui, Principal Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, assess a patient’s limb function and mobility as part of a spine care consultation.


“In the initial stages, when my colleagues saw the care transformation and positive outcomes taking place for our spine patients under this new model of care, I think that in itself inspired them to deepen their involvement in the Spine Centre and fully embrace this specialised care model.”


Clin Asst Prof Dinesh Kumar, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Director, CGH-NNI Integrated Spine Centre

This integrated approach quickly reshaped care. Within two years, the Centre strategically pivoted towards minimally invasive surgeries by introducing specialised navigation equipment, robotics, and the latest surgical techniques. But for Dr Kumar, what sets the Centre apart is not just technological advancement, but the spirit of collaboration that runs through CGH.

In another breakthrough in November 2019, the team became the first in Singapore to perform spinal surgery using a digital exoscope – an advanced robotic 3D visualisation system that replaces traditional surgical microscopes. This allows surgeons to view magnified, high-resolution 3D images during complex minimally invasive surgeries. The images can also be displayed on a large monitor, enabling the entire operating theatre team to see the surgical field, fostering a more collaborative learning environment.

Such technological advances, combined with the Centre’s integrated care model, enable remarkable patient outcomes. As Dr Kumar explains: “The fact that a patient can come in on the day of the operation, and get up and walk a few hours later, does not happen on its own. We can use the latest techniques on the patient, but without that whole programme in place, they would still be in pain and taking weeks toget better.”


Clin Asst Prof Dinesh Kumar conducts robot-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery at CGH.

ELEVATING WORKPLACE WELLBEING

A depot technician on his feet all day. A pilot navigating fatigue at 30,000 feet. Workplace wellbeing has many faces, and each requires tailored care.

At CGH, these services are structured around a whole-of-institution model wherea multidisciplinary care team works together to ensure the health and safety of employees in the workplace.

Beyond treating illness, the team helps workers stay safe and productive. From health checks to return-to-work support and workplace redesign, CGH’s occupational and aviation medicine team ensures that employees recover welland can continue working safely.

In 2024, the hospital inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SMRT Corporation to enhance the occupational health and safety of SMRT employees. The collaboration focuses on improving workplace safety for its mature workforce with interventions in areas such as workplace injury prevention, mental health support and chronic disease management.

 


A multidisciplinary team comprising Dr Robin Low, a physiology training officer and station operators, run the ejection seat trainer, which equips pilots with techniques to circumvent injuries that could occur during seat ejection.

Aviation medicine extends the hospital’s occupational health expertise to the fast-growing aviation sector. Through a series of dedicated centres, the CGH care team provides comprehensive services that address the health, safety and performance of pilots, air traffic controllers, cabin crew and ground staff.

Dr Robin Low Chin Howe, Head and Senior Consultant, Occupational and Aviation Medicine Service, works alongside the RSAF and CAAS to ensure safe aircraft operations and control capabilities for both military and civil aviation.


“Aviation medicine requires the practitioner to go beyond the clinic or bedside, to interact with pilots and air traffic controllers in their workplaces. Exposure to the actual aircraft and flying environment also helps us understand what our patients experience at work.”


Dr Robin Low, Head and Senior Consultant, Occupational and Aviation Medicine Service

Dr Robin also underscores the value of trust in safeguarding the lives of aviation professionals who operate in highly complex environments: “When a pilot or aviation professional sees their doctor make the effort to understand their workplace and work environment, it fosters a level of trust that is highly important in the doctor-patient relationship.”

RAISING THE BAR

Behind prison walls and in a setting with strict security requirements, healthcare is key to prison imates’ rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Since 2022, the CGH correctional medicine care team has been working with SingHealth Polyclinics and the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) to provide inmates withthe same standards of holistic care as community-based patients.

The correctional health team in Changi Prison Complex provides on-site primary care, dental care, and dialysis for inmates, while those who require specialist and inpatient care will receive them primarily at CGH. In addition to managing acute andchronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, mental health is another cornerstone. Through collaborations with the Institute of Mental Health, on-site psychiatrists, psychologists and nurses treat mental health conditions, such as substance-use disorders, that are more prevalent in incarcerated populations.


Clin Asst Prof Wong Yu Jun, Senior Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, provides care for inmates with gastrointestinal and liver diseases at CGH.

The case of one inmate who required anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction demonstrates this coordinated care across institutions. At CGH, the orthopaedic team performed surgery, while the prison on-site physiotherapists supervised post-operative rehabilitation, and nurses ensured daily care and wound dressing. The inmate’s steady recovery underscored how collaboration across disciplines and institutions isc entral to successful outcomes.

‘They are patients first.’ This ethos shapes interactions, where compassion and professionalism take precedence over stigma. In practice, it means listening to patients’ concerns, managing their medical conditions while respecting custodian and security requirements, and ensuring that continuity of care is coordinated post-release.

“CGH’s belief is that effective reintegration into society requires good health. For many inmates, being in prison is temporary; post release, they become patients in the community setting. It is important for us to continue to provide appropriate treatmentand rehabilitation for them while they are in prison, and also ensure a good transitioninto the community post-release,” says Clin Asst Prof Poon Beng Hoong, Senior Consultant and Director, Department of Correctional Health.

CARING FOR CHRONIC WOUNDS

In Singapore, one in 20 people live with chronic wounds. This is a growing healthcare challenge for older adults who suffer from conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers, arterial and venous ulcers, and pressure injuries linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease or limited mobility. Without timely treatment, these wounds can lead to severe complications including infection, gangrene or amputations.

In 2021, to tackle this growing challenge, CGH established the Wound Healing Centre, a multidisciplinary centre in Singapore focusing on early intervention and fast-track treatment of chronic wounds. Patients get consultations on their wounds, diagnostic tests and assessments, and treatment in one place and within the same day, reducing the need for multiple hospital visits.

Specialist-accredited surgeons in vascular, orthopaedic, and plastics, reconstructive and aestheticsurgery care for patients at the Centre, alongside certified wound nurses and healthcare professionals. The collaborative team manages the complete spectrum of wound care services, so patients receive expert care tailored to their unique needs. Treatment ranges from simple wound care to advanced therapies using modern techniques, speeding up healing and preventing serious complications like infection or amputation.


As part of the CGH prehabilitation programme for cancer patients, a prehabilitation coordinator conducts the hand grip test using the hand dynamometer.


Clin Asst Prof Derek Ho, Senior Consultant, Department of Surgery and Co-Director, Wound Healing Centre, assesses a diabetic patient with foot complications.

Watch the video to learn more about the CGH Wound Healing Centre!

UNDER OUR DOME OF METABOLIC HEALTH EXPERTISE

Managing diabetes often means multiple appointments and tests, but at CGH, patients can find everything in one place. The Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic and Endocrine (DOME) Centre supports patients living with complex endocrine conditions, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and obesity. By consolidating services under one roof, the Centre ensures that patients who have multiple comorbiditiescan receive seamless, coordinated care without th eneed to visit multiple clinics.


At the DOME Centre, a dietitian and nurse explain the significance of a nutritious and balanced diet.

The care team at the DOME Centre plays an important role in supporting patients. Staffed by a multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists, bariatric surgeons, specialist nurses, dietitians and podiatrists, the Centre takes a holistic approach to managing chronic conditions.

Diabetic patients receive specialist care such as podiatry assessments, retinopathy screenings, continuous glucose monitoring, and insulin pump initiation, among other programmes, empowering patients to manage their conditions better over the long term. Meanwhile, all essential tests for endocrine conditions, such as hypertension, high cholesterol orthyroid disorders, are available under one roof – from basic lab work to advanced imaging – so patients no longer need multiple referrals or long waits. This convenience enables earlier diagnoses and prompt treatment.

OPTIMISING PERFORMANCE AT EVERY LEVEL

From Olympic athletes to weekend runners, people come to the Singapore Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre @ CGH (SSMC @ CGH) to perform better, recover faster and live healthier. The largest of its kind in Singapore, SSMC @ CGH uses cutting-edge equipment and technology to offer a wide range of services including injury prevention and treatment, weight management, athletic screening, sports nutrition, physiological testing, exercise prescription for chronic disease, and more.

At the heart of the practice is the cross-functional care model that brings together specialists such as sports physicians, dietitians, clinical exercise physiologists, sports psychologists and podiatrists, to offer integrated support for each patient.


Clin Asst Prof Mandy Zhang, Consultant, Department of Sport & Exercise Medicine, conducts a consultation with a trained dancer as part of CGH’s Performing Arts Medicine initiative.

In 2018, the SingHealth Duke-NUS Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre (SDSC) was formed to bring CGH’s expertise in sport and exercise medicine to other affiliated locations under SingHealth. It has since established clinical sites at Singapore General Hospital, Sengkang General Hospital and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, significantly enhancing patients’ accessibility to a comprehensive range of sport and exercise medicine services.

CGH has also extended its expertise to the performing arts, recognising that dancers, musicians and vocalists face the same risks of overuse, injury and strain. The Performing Arts Medicine initiative, launched in 2021, offers tailored care ranging from pointe-preparedness screening for dancers to managing vocal cord injuries in singers. With specialists in dance, instrumental and vocal arts working alongside physiotherapists, dietitians and psychologists, the programme provide sa one-stop service that helps artistes recover safely while sustaining their performance potential.

RESTORING LIVES THROUGH REHABILITATION

For patients relearning basic functions, recovery is as much about perseverance as it is about treatment. To support recovery and rehabilitation for patients, the Rehabilitation Medicine Centre embodies a forward-thinking care approach by housing specialist rehabilitation clinics and supporting clinicians in diagnosing patients and providing integrated care.

From stroke recovery to cancer prehabilitation, patients receive comprehensive, personalised plans for medication, exercise and diet which they can track through the Health Buddy app. The Centre’s cance rprehabilitation programme specifically optimises newly diagnosed patients’ physical and mental health before treatment begins, improving surgical outcomesand recovery. The care team also follows up with patients after treatment or surgery and post-discharge to aid in their long-term lifestyle changes.


The Andago robotic walking aid supports rehabilitation for patients recovering from strokes and other mobility impairments.

Purpose-built rehabilitation wards in the Integrated Building simulate real homes to prepare patients for independent living through intensive therapy and real-world skill practice in a safe environment. These include the 7-Days-A-Week Stroke Care Programme enhanced by robotic therapy devices like the Andago and ArmeoSpring, transitional living units that simulate the home environment to facilitate a smooth transition from hospital to home, and supervised self-administration of medication. Specialised services, such as the ReGAIn (Restoration of Gaitand Innovation) clinic, further support amputees in regaining independence.

Watch the video below to learn more about our Cancer Prehabilitation Programme!

HELPING PATIENTS SLEEP WELL AND BREATHE EASY

Sleep is often overlooked in fast-paced Singapore, where long working hours means rest takes a back seat. Yet poor sleep has profound consequences, from reduced concentration and memory lapses to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke and depression. In 2019, CGH established the Changi Sleep and Assisted Ventilation Centre, one of the largest sleep centres in the country, dedicated to tackling these challenges through patient care, research and education.

The Centre adopts a truly integrated model, bringing together specialists from ear, nose & throat, respiratory medicine, neurology, dental, psychological medicine, sport & exercise medicine, endocrinology, and bariatric surgery. This multidisciplinary approach ensures patients receive personalised care that addresses not only sleep disorders, but also their underlying medical and lifestyle factors.


At CGH’s Sleep Laboratory, Libny Cyril Bin Abdul Fakir, Sleep Technologist, prepares a patient for an overnight sleep examination.

For instance, patients with sleep apnoea and insomnia are managed through advanced diagnostics, including home sleep studies, overnight polysomnography, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration tests. For some, cognitive behavioural therapy may also help reshape sleep habits, while pharmacological options may be used carefully under supervision.

The Centre is also pioneering home-based ventilation for complex conditions such as Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome and advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, helping patients receive support without frequent hospital visits, and enabling safer, more comfortable recovery at home.

To complement the Centre, CGH runs the Sleep Laboratory, which is equipped with diagnostic capabilities to conduct advanced sleep studies by sleep technologists. Through sleep examinations and assessments of patients, CGH sleep specialists can better recommend therapies such as specialised breathing support, helping patients sleep more soundly and improve overall health.


Emerging branches of specialised care

Looking ahead, CGH is exploring new frontiers.

CGH has expanded the Department of Therapeutic Resilience and Complementary Services (TRaCS), which integrates therapeutic care, mental resilience and complementary approaches into a coherent programme. TRaCS offers preventive education in psychological support, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care services and resilience training. By incorporating nature-based therapy, wellness activities, and complementary therapies, TRaCS also reflects CGH’s ambition to provide whole-person care that extends beyond thehospital campus.

Integrative medicine in Singapore combines conventional medical practices with complementary therapies to address the whole person – body, mind and spirit. It emphasises a collaborative approach between patients and healthcare providers, incorporating evidence-based treatments alongside practices such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and mind-body techniques. At its heart, this approach focuses on wellness and prevention, not just treating symptoms.


The Geriatric Day Hospital, which operates as part of the CGH Geriatric Medicine Centre, offers an outpatient, short term programme for frail seniors who require a comprehensive and multidimensional care approach.

Another emerging focus is longevity medicine. Singapore’s demographic shift towards an ageing population requires more than lifespan extension; it calls for ‘healthspan’ – the ability to live well for longer. CGH’s integrative medicine symposiums and its partnerships with national agencies highlight a growing emphasis on mind-body medicine, nutritional therapy, and programmes that address chronic conditions before they become acute.

(left) Dr Shi Haiyuan, Consultant, Department of Diagnostic Radiology (middle), together with the care team at the CGH Breast Centre, carrying out a cryoablation procedure.
(right) Sim Ann Ling, Acupuncturist, Acupuncture Service, demonstrates the use of acupuncture for relief of lower back pain.

As the healthcare ecosystem in Singapore and around the world continues to evolve, CGH is primed as a regional leader in helping patients age healthily, complementing national initiatives such as Healthier SG and the development of longevity clinics. These emerging areas of expertise will further propel the hospital towards holistic, future-oriented care that nurtures health across every stage of life.


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