1. Executive Summary/Abstract:

Organisation: SingHealth Polyclinics

Mentors:

• Dr Peter Moey(External)
• Mr Benjamin Wang (Internal)

2. Project details:

• Find out the history of Eunos and information about the community living there
• Find information about Still Road Clinic (Primary) and Jamiyah Children's Home (Secondary)
• Find out about the working life at the now-defunct Still Road Polyclinic

3. Background information (Projects/Tasks)

Our group project was mainly about finding out the history of the Still Road Polyclinic. We discussed and decided to make two posters, one about Still Road Polyclinic and another about the community living in Eunos. On top of that, we also decided to make a 3D model of the former Still Road Polyclinic.

This project gave us the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of how polyclinics in Singapore worked, the importance of polyclinics, and the history of polyclinics.

Our group was assigned to Pasir Ris Polyclinic where we met up with our external mentor, Dr Peter Moey. However, we were not able to work in the Polyclinic itself as our external mentor was very busy and there was no space for us to do our research. Thus, we reported to Dr Peter Moey once a week to update him on our progress.

4. Elaboration/ Record of Activities Done

Before starting on the poster and 3D model, our group had to research on the 3 tasks to ensure we had sufficient content to include in the poster and 3D model. As this information was not easily found on the Internet, we had to come up with other ways to source for it.

Firstly, we searched the Internet to find whatever information we could get. When we first got started, we realised that a large part of the project could not be completed just with the Internet, except for a small section, which was about the history of Eunos.

Secondly, we went to the National Library to look at the material available on the National Archives where we hoped we would be able to find more information about Still Road Polyclinic in the past. We spent a few hours browsing through old newspaper articles and found some interesting articles and incidents that happened in the Still Road Polyclinic. We then noted down these details. As someone who likes history, I found this really interesting as it gave us a better idea of how life was like at the Still Road Polyclinic back in the day.

Thirdly, we also interviewed some people who have worked or been at the Still Road Polyclinic, which is where we got the bulk of our information. Dr Peter Moey gave us the opportunity to interview 2 ex-nurses and 1 ex-patient at the Still Road Polyclinic. Through the interview, we were able to get the information we needed, as well as listen to real life experiences from the nurses who worked there. Personally, i found the interview very refreshing as it was also a good break from all the research we had to do. I could tell that the nurses were very passionate about their job and I also understood how many things have evolved since the days of the Still Road Polyclinic.

Our WOW project required a lot of research and thus one of the main challenges we had to overcome was the frustration of not being able to find what we wanted. A large part of our research could not be done by just simply 'googling', thus it took us awhile to finally consolidate all the information we needed. All in all, we managed to persevere and pushed through, finding all the information we needed, which set the foundation for us to start on the poster and 3D model.

Another challenge I personally faced was not being able to design the posters well. One of areas that I lack in is creativity, and it showed when we had to design the poster. The poster that I worked on initially looked very dull, boring and overwhelming at first glance. However, my group mates helped me out and gave me design ideas which made the poster look nicer and more aesthetically pleasing.

5. Elaboration / Record of results / Deliverables / Impact of product

6. 3 content knowledge / skills learnt

One knowledge that I have gained through this WOW! project is that the advancement of technology has brought us greater convenience, specifically the medical industry. During the interview with the ex-nurses who worked at Still Road Polyclinic, we asked them what some of the major differences between polyclinics in the past compared to polyclinics now were. They immediately mentioned about how it has become a lot more convenient for the nurses to do their day-to-day work. One such example would be how patients’ information and medical details used to be recorded on paper and stored in physical files. Nurses had to write patients name, address, drug allergies manually, which made it very troublesome and tiring. This is in contrast to how current polyclinics have everything stored in one software, which nurses can easily access and edit with a few clicks on the computer. This makes processes a lot more efficient and eases the burden of the nurses working at polyclinics.

Another lesson that I have learnt from this WOW! project is that people are a lot less grateful for what they have compared to the time of Still Road Polyclinic. During the interview with the ex-nurses, they also mentioned how patients' attitudes towards nurses have drastically changed over the years. People nowadays do not even bother to say a simple "thank you" after a nurse has attended to them. One interesting fact that happened in the past was that passengers used to give up their seats to nurses on buses in the past, whereas people would not be willing to give up their seats to nurses in our current society. Patients are also less cooperative and would often make a fuss over the smallest of things.

The last thing i have learnt during this WOW! project is to be a more outspoken. We were required to interview many people during the project and I was forced to speak up more.

7. 2 interesting aspects of your learning

On the first day of the WOW! attachment, we were given a tour around the Pasir Ris Polyclinic by Dr Peter Moey. During this tour we saw many behind-the-scenes activities that occur in the clinic that we would usually not be able to see. Such examples would be how the nurses sort the different drugs and dispatch them in an orderly fashion. There were also many drug names that the nurses were required to know and differentiate. I think this tour was especially meaningful as I was able to see the nurses and doctors hard at work and be able to appreciate them more.

Through the research that we have done, I have also been able to see the changes that polyclinics in Singapore have undergone. That polyclinics are no longer only one floor high but now boast seven floors show how much polyclinics have evolved. In the past, patients were required to bring their own bottles to fill the medicine; nowadays, they are nicely packaged for the patients' convenience. In addition, there were once Sunday clinics which were meant to help and assist patients with chronic diseases. However, patients often misused the Sunday clinics, visiting the clinic when they had minor illnesses such as flu or cough. This caused unwanted queues and disrupted the main purpose of the Sunday clinics, thus these were closed down.

8. 1 takeaway for life

One key takeaway is to be passionate about what you are doing. During this WOW! attachment, I have seen many nurses tirelessly running around the polyclinic, assisting patients in whatever help they need. This was also apparent during the interview with the nurses. I could tell that they really love their job and enjoy caring for and helping those in need. Despite the challenges they faced, they would always find a way to get through. From this I have learnt that its more important to find a job you love than to find a job that is high-paying; only then will we be genuinely be interested in what we are doing.