Singapore is expanding programs that provide hospital-level treatment at home and specialized geriatric care in nursing homes to improve patient recovery and reduce hospital admissions.
Key facts
- •About 152 patients have benefited from the MIC@Home programme across three hospitals.
- •An additional 150 patients are expected to receive home-based care by the end of 2024.
- •Seniors account for approximately 40 percent of all acute hospital admissions in Singapore.
- •The THRIVE pilot resulted in over 60 percent of nursing home residents avoiding hospital admissions during the one-year period.
- •THKMC is currently exploring a paid version of its home support service and potential expansion to other health clusters.
Singapore's Ministry of Health has expanded the Mobile Inpatient Care @ Home (MIC@Home) programme to all government restructured hospitals, excluding the Institute of Mental Health. This initiative allows suitable patients to receive hospital-level treatment in their own homes. Additionally, a separate program is bringing specialist geriatric care directly into nursing homes to reduce avoidable hospitalizations among frail elderly residents.
By the numbers
Home-Based Inpatient Care
The MIC@Home programme, which began as a pilot in 2022, supports patients by providing home visits from healthcare professionals and teleconsultations with hospital doctors and nurses. To assist elderly patients who lack sufficient family support, public healthcare provider NHG Health partnered with Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC) in July 2024. A team of 60 THKMC staff members provides daily visits for five days after a patient returns home to monitor vital signs and assist with medication and wound care.
Specialized Care in Nursing Homes
Woodlands Hospital piloted the THRIVE programme at Ren Ci @ Woodlands nursing home to address the high rate of hospital admissions among residents. A team consisting of a geriatrician and nurses worked with facility staff to review health plans and adjust care. Following the one-year pilot, which involved 300 residents, unplanned hospital admissions and emergency department visits decreased by approximately one-third.
Timeline
- 2022The Mobile Inpatient Care @ Home programme was launched as a pilot.
- July 2024NHG Health partnered with Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities to provide home support.
- 2024The Ministry of Health expanded the MIC@Home model to all government restructured hospitals.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Channel NewsAsia.
