When a person experiences a sudden cardiac arrest, the chance of survival drops every minute without intervention. Knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to apply an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can drastically improve a person’s survival. While an AED delivers an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm shock, applying CPR in the absence of an AED is a fast and effective way to improve the chance of survival. 

Since 2014, the Nursing Development Unit (NDU) at NHCS has been conducting the Life Support Course, also known as the Basic Cardiac Life Support + Automated External Defibrillator (BCLS + AED) Course to equip staff with these essential life-saving skills. 

Come 2027, new regulations under the Healthcare Services Act will require all registered healthcare workers to maintain a valid BCLS + AED certification. As NHCS also provides BCLS + AED training for other SingHealth institutions such as Outram Community Hospital, SingHealth Community Hospitals and National Cancer Centre Singapore, there is an expected increase in demand for the course. Anticipating future needs, NDU formed Team Project-E to maximise course capacity and streamline processes.

Tackling the delays in registration delays was the team’s priority. Previously, attendees had to register via email, and administrative staff managed the sign ups using an Excel sheet. This manual process involved back-and-forth of emails about general enquiries, available slots and rescheduling which led to delays. Since course readings were sent to registered participants only two weeks before the course, the delayed in registrations might result in some attendees not being able to receive these materials in time.

 

To solve this issue, course registration was moved online using FormSG. The online form included a link to a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on NHCS website to address common questions participants might have before the course. By simplifying the sign-up process, the team saved an impressive 86 manhours per year and eliminated dropouts due to delayed email responses.

Another issue Team Project-E had faced was the use of hardcopy question and answer sheets for the course theory test. The method posed several logistical challenges such as ensuring the exact number of test printouts, rotating to the correct set of questions for different sessions, and manually marking each answer sheet. Additionally, storing the hardcopies for audit purposes was difficult due to space constraints and the risk of misplacements.

 

“In this digital age, shifting the test online was the logical next step”, expressed team member, Zubaidah Binte Hassan, Nurse Clinician, Nursing Administration, “Using an online platform makes it more convenient for everyone”. The team proposed hosting the course theory test on SingHealth’s Learning Management System (LMS). This change eliminated logistical issues and allowed participants to receive their test results instantly. As a result, digitising the test papers saved a whopping 453 manhours per year. 

 

Team leader, Nazeera Binte Hamzah, Senior Associate Executive, NDU remarked, “Sometimes the simplest changes can make the biggest difference.” And what a change it made! By implementing these straightforward yet effective improvements, Team Project-E reduced the time for registration and test-taking by 55%, meeting their goals. These improvements also increased satisfaction among staff and participants. 

The team’s efforts earned them a well-deserved Star Award at the recent Team Excellence Assessment. Kudos to Team Project-E!