14-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) – Smart technology is being implemented in hospitals in Singapore in response to the country’s aging population and a shortage of healthcare staff. Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s smart ward team, for example, uses digitalization, robotics, and artificial intelligence to improve patient care and lighten the load on a limited and aging workforce. Bedside tablets, wearable devices, humanistic lighting, predictive patient monitoring, and automated bed turners are among the smart devices that have been introduced in Singaporean hospitals.
With one in four Singaporeans expected to be at least 65 years old by 2030, hospitals are turning to smart technology to provide better and safer care to patients. By leveraging innovation, hospitals hope to address new determinants of health such as frailty and create a more nimble workforce that is not burdened by repetitive and labor-intensive tasks.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s smart ward engages patients, improves services, and allows healthcare personnel enough room for efficiency and upskilling. The hospital has tested over 20 innovations to date, with 14 initiatives introduced and waiting to be scaled up to other wards. Another 20 initiatives are expected to be rapid-tested in the next few years.
Other hospitals in Singapore have also adopted smart technology in their wards. The two smart wards at Alexandra Hospital have been operational since 2022, while Singapore General Hospital’s Smart Ward 45 began service in September 2021. Patients in the smart wards, who need frequent monitoring of vital signs, are also put on medical-grade wearables that read minute-by-minute vitals, relieving nurses of these tasks.
