A round-up of the recent accolades won by the Changi General Hospital (CGH) care team for its continuous improvement efforts and unwavering commitment to bettering healthcare.
 

Inspiring care that matters

Yang Ko Chun, Assistant Nurse
Clinician, CGH, CGH and SHQSA
2025 Superstar Exemplar
Professional Award (Nursing)
winner.

375 staff and service partners were honoured for their indomitable spirit, perseverance and outstanding contributions to healthcare at the Singapore Health Quality Service Awards (SHQSA) 2025. Among them was Yang Ko Chun, Assistant Nurse Clinician, CGH, who clinched the Superstar Exemplar Professional Award in the Nursing Category for her dedication to patient care, and award-winning initiative to ensure early intervention and best outcomes for renal patients.

Many of the patients Ms Yang cares for at the CGH Renal Clinic require dialysis and have multiple health conditions. Mindful of the serious side effects that they experience, Ms Yang goes the extra mile for her patients and helps them to change their lives for the better. To reduce the frequency of patients’ visits, she consolidates their appointments and treatments across the different clinics at CGH, and empowers them with knowledge and skills for self-care. “Sometimes, it may not be easy for patients to understand the advice given,” Ms Yang explains.

“So, I start by showing them their test results — explaining to them in simple terms what they mean — before I suggest small changes they can make at home, such as cutting down on high-potassium foods if they have conditions like hyperkalaemia.”

Her unwavering dedication to patient care can also be seen through her quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and care outcomes. A key project that Ms Yang championed was an award-winning nursing-led protocol that ensured early intervention for renal patients with semi-critical laboratory test results, leading to timely interventions for up to 97 per cent of cases. This in turn reduces the risk of more critical conditions developing.

A mentor and leader, Ms Yang also inspires her colleagues to innovate and deliver quality care for the best patient outcomes. The nurse with 14 years of experience shares her philosophy, “I believe that every patient deserves care that not only alleviates their pain but also changes their lives for the better,” she says.

Upskilling to elevate care

Ang Poo Yong, Principal Enrolled
Nurse, CGH and Tan Chin
Tuan Nursing Award for
Enrolled Nurses 2024 second
runner-up.

A firm commitment to elevating care for patients earned Ang Poo Yong, Principal Enrolled Nurse, CGH, the second runner-up spot in the 2024 Tan Chin Tuan Nursing Award for Enrolled Nurses. The award honours outstanding enrolled nurses who are committed to advancing the profession. A veteran with 35 years of experience, Ms Ang believes that the pursuit of nursing excellence requires continuous learning, staying updated on medical advancements, and refining clinical skills and capabilities. It also involves maintaining empathy and compassion even in the most challenging circumstances.

Her journey particularly shone during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she established crucial safety protocols, took on the challenge of learning critical intensive care skills such as electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation, and trained colleagues to operate respirators. Apart from furthering her technical proficiency, she ensured that patients maintained connections with their loved ones while apart, taking extra care to help touch up their appearance before video calls — a small but meaningful gesture to bring comfort to the patients’ families. “These experiences have left me feeling deeply accomplished, and strengthened my resolve to provide the highest level of care,” she says.

Looking ahead, she remains dedicated to advancing both her skills and the nursing profession. “By sharing about my work experiences — from the lives I have touched, to the personal growth I have achieved thus far — I hope to convey the profound sense of purpose nursing offers, and encourage others to view nursing as a compassionate, lifelong learning journey and rewarding career.”

Bridging medical science and patient care

Zhang Yajie, Senior Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials and Research Unit, CGH was a finalist in the 2024 Distinguished Contributor Award for CRCs.

Becoming a clinical research coordinator (CRC) may not have been part of Zhang Yajie’s initial career plan; the former nurse cared for patients in isolation wards and moved into quality control and training at a biotechnology laboratory, before finding her calling in clinical research at CGH in 2021. Reflecting on her unique path, Ms Zhang, who is a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials and Research Unit, CGH, shares, “It has been an unexpected journey, and along the way, I have developed a deep appreciation for the impact clinical research has on patient care and medical advancements.”

Ms Zhang plays a vital role in managing and supporting various research studies and trials that CGH is involved in. Her consistent delivery of high-quality, insightful and well-organised research activities placed her as a finalist for the Distinguished Contributor Award for CRCs last year. Presented by the Singapore Clinical Research Institute (SCRI), the award recognises exceptional CRCs who underpin Singapore’s clinical research ecosystem, and who have been instrumental in driving clinical research to uphold the quality of clinical trials conducted, ensuring their success.

“To me, clinical research means the opportunity to contribute to improving health and wellbeing,” says Ms Zhang when asked about what motivates her to excel. “It is about seeking answers that can lead to new treatments, better understanding of diseases and ultimately, better care for patients.”