Public symposium by NUSI marks the end of a series of
spine-related events that provide doctors with platform for
professional development and networking
SINGAPORE, March 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National University Spine Institute (NUSI) is a new
dedicated specialist spine institute under the National University Health System (NUHS) that
provides multidisciplinary care for patients with spinal diseases
and deformities.
With an experienced team of spine specialists backed by medical
best practices, methodologies and technology, NUSI is steadfast in
its commitment to adapting to the evolving healthcare landscape,
including addressing the rapid increase in complex spine healthcare
for both non-operative and operative demands in an ageing
population in Singapore.
Under the leadership of Associate Professor Gabriel Liu, NUSI aims to set new standards in
spine care through a patient-centric approach. A/Prof Liu said:
"NUSI differentiates itself by providing dedicated sub-specialties
within the spine practice, standardising work processes and
providing value-driven patient care across the cluster to address
spinal problems. NUSI is dedicated to developing community care
programmes for patients, with cases expected to rise in the coming
years partly due to an ageing population."
The ageing demographic in Singapore is a pressing concern, with the
nation set to attain "super-aged" status in 2026. By 2030, one in
four persons in Singapore will be
aged 65 and above, up from one in six now.
This shift puts a spotlight on age-related spine conditions such
as scoliosis, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease.
With about 1,000 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans ordered
at the National University Hospital
(NUH) a month, a new deep learning model known as SpineAI is
helping radiologists identify spinal abnormalities more
efficiently.
This application of artificial intelligence (AI) was shared by
Dr Jonathan Tan, Consultant in NUSI
as well as the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at NUH, at the
inaugural NUSI Fellows Best Practice and Research Conference on 20
March, which saw attendance from local and international spine
specialists who convened to share best practices and research
presentations on cutting-edge surgical techniques.
This event highlights NUSI's commitment to knowledge sharing and
global collaboration.
The international doctors in attendance are also NUSI spine
fellows, who have passed through the doors of NUH to gain exposure
to Singapore's healthcare industry
and hone their skills in their specialties through the hospital's
clinical fellowship scheme. The NUSI Spine Fellow Chapter is part
of the NUH Global Fellows Alliance, which boosts more than 900
clinical fellows.
Some 35 local and international doctors also attended the NUSI
Advanced Cervical Spine Surgery Cadaveric Course on 21 March, which
took them through the management of complex cervical spine
conditions via lectures and discussions, hands-on cadaveric
dissections and live surgery demonstrations.
These spine-related events will culminate in the first NUSI
Public Spine Symposium to be held at NUHS on 30 March, which
features free talks by NUSI doctors on a range of spinal conditions
from slipped disc to spine cancer. Attendees will also get to learn
exercises to strengthen the back, undergo free scoliosis and
osteoporosis screening and hear from members of Scoliosis Support
Singapore about what it is like living with and overcoming
scoliosis.
A/Prof Liu said: "NUSI is not just about transforming spine
care. We want to empower individuals with the knowledge and
resources they need for better spine health. Through our
comprehensive public engagement initiatives and community outreach,
we hope to foster awareness, education and prevention that will
better improve spine health among the community."
NUSI has a multidisciplinary approach that involves orthopaedic
spine surgeons, neurosurgeons and rehabilitation clinicians
across NUHS, to provide a seamless patient experience across the
full spectrum of spine care, from pain management to rehabilitation
medicine, and the latest in minimally invasive, navigation, robotic
spine surgery as well as complex surgical techniques for the
treatment of scoliosis, spinal tumours, degenerative spine
disorders and spinal trauma.
About the National University
Health System (NUHS)
The National University
Health System (NUHS) aims to transform how illness is prevented and
managed by discovering causes of disease, development of more
effective treatments through collaborative multidisciplinary
research and clinical trials, and creation of better technologies
and care delivery systems in partnership with others who share the
same values and vision.
Institutions in the NUHS Group include the National University Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General
Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital and Alexandra Hospital; three
National Specialty Centres – National
University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) and National University Centre for Oral Health,
Singapore (NUCOHS); the
National University Polyclinics (NUP);
Jurong Medical Centre; and three NUS health sciences schools – NUS
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (including the Alice Lee Centre for
Nursing Studies), NUS Faculty of Dentistry and NUS Saw Swee Hock
School of Public Health.
With member institutions under a common governance structure,
NUHS creates synergies for the advancement of health by integrating
patient care, health science education and biomedical research.
As a Regional Health System, NUHS works closely with health and
social care partners across Singapore to develop and implement programmes
that contribute to a healthy and engaged population in the Western
part of Singapore.
For more information, please visit www.nuhs.edu.sg.
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SOURCE National University Health
System (NUHS)