Singapore introduces program that lets hospital nurses “bid” on patients
In an innovative new pilot program, nurses at the General Hospital in Singapore can now “bid” to care for a discharged patient at home, in their own time, using a new mobile app.
The Match-A-Nurse programs pairs up patients with a nurse living nearby, who can offer the services required, such as wound dressing.
Like calling a taxi
It works just like a taxi booking – a patient’s call is logged in the app, and nurses who successfully “bid” for a job receive a text message to let them know. After the visit, the nurse can update the patient’s information in the app. Charges for the service start from $13.95.
119 nurses have already enlisted in the scheme, which has been operating since April, and Dr Ang Seng Bin, the head of the service, says it will “greatly benefit patients who are wheelchair or bed-bound.”
“Traditionally, home nursing involves a nurse travelling from home to home. To boost efficiency, we wanted to test the concept of tapping nurses to perform tasks near their homes,” he said.
Patients who have used the app say it gives them comfort that they can receive care from a professional nurse at home and they don’t need to go to the hospital as frequently, according to Singapore’s Healthcare Manpower Plan 2020.
Coping with the demand for care
With the program proving to be a success, SingHealth now hopes to roll out the app to its Women and Children’s Hospital and offer services for paediatrics and women’s health. There are also plans to collaborate with community partners, Dr Ang said.
With the over-65 population predicted to rise to 960,000 by 2030, up from 460,000 in 2015, it’s just one of several services now being offered as Singapore shifts to having patients cared for at home or in the community.
Last week Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said the country needs to “make deep and fundamental changes to how we deliver care” and improve productivity by redesigning jobs and using technology.
“Only then can we meet the expected growth in health and aged care demand, and sustain good pay for our workers,” he said.
