Aged ; Humans ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; etiology ; Male ; Polycythemia Vera ; complications ; diagnosis

In Singapore, chronic care is provided by both ambulatory primary care clinics and specialist clinics in hospitals. In 2005, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) embarked to build a diabetes registry to enhance the continuity of care for patients with diabetes and facilitate greater efficiency in outcome measurement. This Chronic Disease Management System (CDMS) links administrative and key clinical data of patients with diabetes mellitus across the healthcare cluster. At the point of patient care, clinicians view a summary of each patient's chronic disease records, consolidated chart with physical parameters, laboratory investigation results and the "patient reminders" listing the clinical decision support prompts when key laboratory and screening tests are due for each patient. The CDMS provides reports of clinical outcomes in a systematic and efficient manner for quality improvement and evidenced-based population management. These include process indicators consisting of the rates of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) and nephropathy tests; and intermediate outcome indicators of the proportion of patients with poor HbA1c (>9%) and optimal LDL-c (<2.6 mmol/L) control. From January 2007 to December 2008, the rates of the 3 process indicators were relatively unchanged and that of HbA1c and LDL-c tests were high. There was gradual improvement in the proportion of patients achieving target level of LDL-c in both primary care clinics and hospitals. Fewer patients at primary care clinics had poorly-controlled HbA1c. As a tool for chronic care delivery, the NHG diabetes registry has made clinical monitoring and outcome management for patients with diabetes mellitus more efficient.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Program Development ; Quality Indicators, Health Care ; Quality of Health Care ; Registries ; Singapore

INTRODUCTIONTraumatic diaphragmatic injuries (TDIs) are clinically challenging. We aimed to review TDIs treated at a tertiary trauma centre over a 12-year period.

METHODSThis was a single-centre retrospective review of adult patients with TDIs treated between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2014. Primary outcomes were mortality rates and Injury Severity Scores (ISS) associated with each TDI subtype. Secondary outcomes included proportions of TDIs diagnosed radiologically, operatively or during autopsy. We compared the TDI subtypes with respect to mechanism of injury, mortality rates and median ISS. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTSAmong 46 patients studied, the TDI subtypes noted were acute diaphragmatic herniation (n = 14, 30.4%), tears (n = 22, 47.8%) and contusions (n = 10, 21.7%). Patients with these TDI subtypes had a mortality rate of 35.7%-100%, while the ISS ranges for survivors and deaths were 22.0-34.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 6.5-23.0) and 53.5-66.0 (IQR 16.0-28.5), respectively. TDIs were identified via chest radiography (n = 2/33, 6.1%) and computed tomography (n = 6/13, 46.2%). All survivors (n = 21) and deaths (n = 25) underwent open surgery or autopsy, respectively, which confirmed TDIs. Blunt traumas and penetrating traumas were more frequently associated with acute herniation/contusions and tears, respectively. There were statistically significant differences among the TDI subtypes in their mechanism of injury, mortality rate and median ISS of survivors.

CONCLUSIONTDIs showed varying injury patterns with blunt versus penetrating mechanisms of injury, and were associated with significant mortality rates. Preoperative imaging had limited diagnostic use.

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to report the injury or disease patterns, challenges, key observations, and recommendations by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) team that embarked on an Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission in the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.

METHODSThe SAF medical team that provided HADR assistance to Nepal consisted of personnel from the SAF, Singapore¢s Ministry of Health and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal, the SAF medical team was assigned to the Gokarna district by the local health authorities. In addition to providing primary healthcare, the medical facility was equipped to perform resuscitation and minor procedures. We also assembled mobile medical teams (MMTs) that travelled to various remote areas of the country to deliver medical aid.

RESULTSA total of 3,014 patients were managed by the SAF medical team. Of these patients, 1,286 (42.7%) were men. 574 (19.0%) patients sustained earthquake-related injuries or illnesses, while 2,440 (81.0%) sustained non-earthquake-related injuries or illnesses. The team treated a total of 447 (77.9%) adults and 127 (22.1%) paediatric patients with earthquake-related injuries or illnesses. A significant number of patients developed exacerbations of underlying medical conditions. 2,161 (71.7%) patients were treated in our main facility in Gokarna, while 853 patients (28.3%) were treated by our MMTs.

CONCLUSIONThe ability to transport healthcare personnel and essential medical equipment within a short time allowed the SAF medical team to provide crucial medical care in the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brunei ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Emergency Medicine ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; Nepal ; Physical Examination ; Primary Health Care ; Relief Work ; Singapore