Assistant Professor Lam Mei Ieng and Clinical Instructor Mok Sut Ieng of Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau recently visited Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) in Singapore for a five-day exchange and learning programme. The visit provided an in-depth understanding of Singapore’s healthcare system, the training and practice model of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), as well as the latest developments in smart healthcare and community health services.

During the exchange, the two faculty members visited various specialties, including diabetes care, wound clinic, nephrology, general medicine, geriatric medicine, and respiratory medicine, where they conducted clinical observations with APNs and Nurse Clinicians (NCs). At TTSH, APNs play a core role in the Multidisciplinary Team Care model. With a high level of autonomy in clinical decision-making, they are able to prescribe medications and adjust treatment plans under specific protocols. Serving as a bridge between doctors and nurses, APNs are also involved in diagnosis, prescribing, case coordination, and transitional care, thereby significantly enhancing the accessibility and quality of healthcare services.

The faculty members also visited the Clinical Research & Innovation Office (CRIO) and TTSH’s representative Smart Ward. Guided by the vision of a “Hospital Without Walls”, TTSH integrates AI, digitalisation, and automation technologies to optimise care processes. Through its professional design team, frontline clinical ideas are transformed into research projects, demonstrating an advanced model that is grounded in clinical needs and integrated with research and innovation.

Following the exchange, the two faculty members shared their reflections.

Assistant Professor Lam said that the development of TTSH’s Smart Ward was highly impressive. The hospital applies technology to enhance clinical care, patient safety, work efficiency, and patient experience, advancing ward development towards prediction, empowerment, and automation.

Clinical Instructor Mok noted that the exchange at TTSH enabled her to gain a

deeper understanding of Singapore’s internationalised, professionalised, and refined advanced nursing practice system. She gained a profound appreciation of the core value of APNs in specialty areas such as critical care, rehabilitation, chronic disease management, and community-based continuing care.