Institute of Infectious Diseaseand Epidemiology

Issue no. 1

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Institute of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology (IIDE) newsletter. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed of the developments and activities in our newly established institute.

Infectious diseases continue to pose a serious challenge to population health and our healthcare system. We have had an exciting year coping with emerging infectious diseases such as H7N9 and MERS-CoV. Singapore also experienced a major dengue outbreak this year.

In this edition, we highlight some of our milestones and hope that you will share our excitement as we grow and face the challenges of ever-changing infectious disease threats. Please enjoy our first newsletter!

Yours sincerely,

Prof Leo Yee SinDirector, Institute of Infectious Disease and EpidemiologyClinical Director, Communicable Disease CentreSenior Consultant, Department of Infectious DiseasesTan Tock Seng Hospital

The Institute of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology (IIDE) was established in November 2012 by Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and the National Healthcare Group (NHG) to create a comprehensive entity that integrates clinical service and academic training and research in infectious disease and epidemiology. It brings together the Department of Infectious Disease, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and the Communicable Disease Centre. These departments are organised alongside academic units involved in research, training and education, community outreach and special programmes.

Welcome Introduction to the

Institute of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology (IIDE)

IIDE is committed to leadership in managing and preventing infectious diseases through clinical excellence, compassionate care, innovative research and inspiring education. The integrated structure enables sharing of common resources and expertise, and facilitates the broadening of our services and activities. Closer interaction between clinical services and academic activities will aid the translation of research findings to quality patient care.

The formation of a unified, distinct identity will improve our visibility on a regional and international scale and in so doing, strengthen collaborations and position IIDE to be a leader in the field of infectious disease and epidemiology.

Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology

(IIDE)

Service

Department of Infectious Diseases

Communicable Disease Centre

Department of Clinical Epidemiology

Research

Training and Education

Community Outreach and Care Centre

Special Programmes

Academic

OrganisatiOn Of iiDE

Remembering SARS: 10 Years OnTTSH commemoraTed our SarS journey on 20 marcH 2013 aT THe TTSH aTrium.

World Health Summit Satellite Workshop

As part of our efforts to engage partners in the area of infectious disease epidemiology, IIDE organised an outbreak management training course from 15 to 19 April 2013. Participants were nominated by the Ministry of Health, Vietnam.

They were given an overview of epidemiological principles and their applications (e.g. surveillance and contact tracing) in outbreak

The commemoration was themed “Remembering SARS: 10 Years On” and it paid tribute to the healthcare workers who battled SARS.

Our Guest of Honour, Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong, delivered a speech and unveiled a commemorative plaque which is currently on display in the TTSH Heritage Museum.

Some 200 representatives, including top management of other hospitals, heads of government agencies, doctors, nurses

and allied health workers, attended the commemoration. The attendees observed a minute of silence in memory of lives lost.

TTSH and the National Heritage Board also jointly organised a SARS exhibition that was open to the public from 21 to 24 March 2013. This exhibition captured the spirit of our nation in its fight against SARS, and inspiring stories from our patients and healthcare workers were shared.

Outbreak Management Training Course

management. The course also covered areas such infection control, vaccination and international health regulations.

We used a variety of training tools in the course, including case studies and outbreak simulations. The course allowed ample opportunities for networking and sharing of experiences in outbreak management.

In conjunction with the World Health Summit Regional Meeting-Asia 2013, IIDE and the STOP-Dengue Translational & Clinical Research Programme hosted a satellite symposium titled “Infectious Diseases in Asia” on 8 April 2013.

The workshop brought together local and overseas infectious disease physicians, researchers and policymakers to discuss pressing issues on emerging and persistent infectious diseases.

EvEnts

Our participants in the outbreak management training course.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Singapore Polytechnic (SP) signed a Memorandum

TTSH-Singapore Polytechnic Collaboration

of Understanding (MOU) on the 17 June 2013 to enhance collaboration in infectious disease research.

Under the MOU, IIDE and SP Centre for Biomedical and Life Sciences (CBLS) will conduct joint research to improve early detection of new pathogen strains and infectious diseases. Additionally, final year SP students enrolled in the Diploma in Biomedical Sciences programme will be given opportunities to undergo a seven month internship in infectious disease clinical research.

PCC Charity Dinner21 September 2013, Saturday Hilton Hotel Singapore

In conjunction with the third ASEAN Dengue Day, IIDE and STOP-Dengue team organised the 3rd Dengue Conference Update on 15 June 2013. The seminar received overwhelming responses this year with over 150 general practitioners and healthcare workers in attendance.

Speakers from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Prof Leo Yee Sin, Dr Angela Chow and Dr Emily Rowe), Ministry of Health (Dr Joanne Tay), National Environment Agency/Environment Health Institute (A/Prof Ng Lee Ching) and College of Family Physicians Singapore (Dr Leong Choon Kit) covered topics such as dengue epidemiology and management of dengue in primary care.

EvEnts

TTSH PaTienT care cenTre (Pcc) Held a cHariTy dinner on 21 SePTember 2013 aT HilTon HoTel.

PCC conducted its 16th Annual Volunteer Training in August 2013. Held over 4 Saturday afternoons, the training equipped new volunteers with theoretical and practical knowledge in

PCC Annual Volunteer Training

of Singapore, as our guest of honour. PCC volunteers entertained guests with song and dance performances. The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of a golden sculpture of Mr Nathan’s hand that was specially moulded for auction during the dinner. This event raised about $300,000 that would go towards PCC programme for patients living with HIV/AIDS.

The theme of the dinner was “Embrace - The Gift of Life” and we were privileged to have Mr S R Nathan, the Sixth President

General Practitioners and healthcare workers in attendance.

Dr Lee Cheng Chuan, Chairman of the organising committee, with our emcees.

Mr SR Nathan, with Prof Leo, unveiling the hand sculpture.

Preparation of rations for delivery to the needy patients.

MOU Signing Ceremony

caring for patients living with HIV/AIDS. Current volunteers also shared many of their inspiring experiences on interacting with our patients.

nEwsrOOm

stay in tOuch

External Visitors

Feedback and Comments We would like to hear from you! For suggestions or comments regarding the IIDE Newsletter, please email iide_cme@ttsh.com.sg

Professor John PerfectDuke University Medical Center5 April 2013

Professor Chwan-Chuen KingNational Taiwan University28 May 2013

Professor David HeymannLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine28 October 2013

Professor Clifford LeenUniversity of Edinburgh27 June 2013

Professor Monica SlavinThe University of Melbourne12 – 23 August 2013

Speaking at the 10th Anniversary of SARSCommemoration Event on 31 May 2013, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that a new National Centre for Infectious Diseases will be built at Tan Tock Seng Hospital to replace the Communicable Disease Centre. This new hospital will house about 300 beds with capacity for expansion.

The new infectious disease hospital will be equipped with its own medical support facilities such as an operating theatre, an intensive care unit, a radiology unit and a laboratory. The outpatient unit will be equipped with isolation facilities and it will have the capability to perform emergency screening during outbreaks.

Safety is a major design feature in the hospital. Air ducts will be fitted with HEPA filter chambers and all fresh and

National Centre for Infectious Diseases

used air will flow through multiple HEPA filtering chambers. Additionally, used air will be treated by ultraviolet rays before it is emitted to the environment.

There will be seamless connectivity between our healthcare buildings and neighbouring amenities to ensure smooth and efficient people movement. Designated sky bridges will be built to ease patient transfers between hospitals and will complement existing transfers by ambulance. These bridges will also facilitate staff movement. There will be a basement pedestrian connection with a concourse for visitors and residents living around the medical hub to travel with ease.

The new infectious disease centre is scheduled to be ready by mid-2018.

•ProfLeoYeeSin Director, Institute of Infectious Disease & Epidemiology; Clinical Director, Communicable Disease Centre; and Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Disease

•DrAngSzePengBrenda Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Disease, Communicable Disease Centre

National Health Group (NHG) Distinguished Achievement Award

•DrLeeChengChuan Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Disease

•NawHserBwe Senior Staff Nurse, Communicable Disease Centre

Healthcare Humanity Award

www.facebook.com/pages/Institute-of-Infectious-Disease-and-Epidemiology-IIDE/122914707902108

www.ttsh.com.sg

Editorial TeamDr Wong Chia Siong • Dr Barnaby Young • SN Amy John • Ms Chloe Lim • Ms Koh Yi Ting

awarDs

Group photo of the award recipients.

Artist impression of the new National Centre for Infectious Diseases.