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In healthcare, where every second counts, access to the right information at the right time can make all the difference. Doctors and clinic staff often spend precious minutes sifting through systems to find critical patient data. That’s where the Patient Care Summary (PCS) comes in.
Launching on November 24, 2024, as part of Singapore’s Healthier SG initiative, the PCS is designed to simplify the way healthcare providers access and use patient information. Imagine a single page containing everything you need to know about a patient—their medical history, recent test results, and vaccination records—all updated weekly. This is what the PCS promises to deliver, creating a more efficient and effective system for managing patient care.
This guide will explore how the Patient Care Summary works, what it includes, its limitations, and how it can transform your practice. Let’s dive in.
What is the Patient Care Summary?
At its core, the Patient Care Summary is a one-page summary that brings together key health information from multiple sources, such as the Healthier SG Annual Report (HSAR), National Electronic Health Record (NEHR), and National Immunization Registry (NIR).
Instead of navigating through different systems, GPs and clinic staff can view all the critical data they need in one place. Whether you’re checking a patient’s latest lab results or reviewing their vaccination status, the PCS consolidates everything into an easy-to-read format.
Key Features of Patient Care Summary
- Centralized Access to Patient Data: All essential data—like medical history, diagnostic results, screenings, and immunizations—are available in one easy-to-read format.
- Regular Updates: The PCS refreshes weekly, so GPs can be sure they are working with the latest information about their patients.
- Efficient Decision-Making: With everything on one page, healthcare providers can quickly spot any issues, missing screenings, or areas that need attention, making the decision-making process faster and more reliable.
- Compatibility with Healthier SG Systems: Integration with clinic management systems that support the Healthier SG initiative like Vanda, providing consistent, high-quality data across all participating healthcare providers.
What the PCS Doesn’t Do
While the Patient Care Summary is a fantastic tool for improving patient care, it’s important to know its limits. Here are a few things it doesn’t do:
It Doesn’t Replace a Full Clinical History
The Patient Care Summary provides an overview, but it doesn’t replace the detailed patient history that a healthcare provider gathers during a consultation. GPs still need to ask their patients about their lifestyle, symptoms, and other factors that may not be captured in the summary. The PCS is designed to enhance clinical decision-making, but it doesn’t replace thorough patient engagement.
Not Everything is Included
While the PCS covers a wide range of important information, it doesn’t capture everything. For instance, while it displays high-level results from tests, it doesn’t provide detailed lab results. For more specific data or in-depth information, the GP will still need to access the full reports from other sources.
Doesn’t Affect Service Fees Directly
While the PCS helps streamline patient care and decision-making, it does not impact claims for the Annual Service Fee (ASF). Clinics must still submit the appropriate documentation through the Healthier SG-compatible clinic management systems in order to claim ASF.
What Data is Displayed in the Patient Care Summary?
Now, let’s dive into the specifics of what data you’ll find in the PCS. Here’s an overview of the key sections and what each one includes:
1. Patient Information
- General Information: This includes the patient’s name, NRIC, gender, age, and race, along with their date of birth (DOB).
Source: HSAR - Diagnosis: This section lists any Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) conditions or Pre-Diabetes that have been tagged by the GP. Mental health conditions are categorized under “Other CDMP Conditions.”
Source: HSAR - Smoking Status: Shows whether the patient is a current smoker, ex-smoker, or never smoked.
Source: HSAR
2. Clinical Measurements
- BMI: The Body Mass Index (BMI) is included if submitted by the GP. It helps assess a patient’s overall health.
Source: HSAR - Waist Circumference: This is displayed if submitted by the GP, providing another important measurement for assessing risk factors.
Source: HSAR - Blood Pressure: This section displays the most recent blood pressure readings, which are key for monitoring cardiovascular health.
Source: HSAR
3. Clinical Investigations
- HbA1c: Displays up to five readings over the past 18 months to monitor blood glucose levels.
Source: HSAR + NEHR - Blood Glucose: Displays fasting or random blood glucose levels to help manage diabetes.
Source: HSAR - Cholesterol Levels: Includes measurements for total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides to monitor heart health.
Source: HSAR - Kidney Function: Includes serum creatinine and eGFR levels, along with urine tests, which are important for assessing kidney health.
Source: HSAR + NEHR - Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): Shows OGTT results, helping to monitor the patient’s glucose tolerance.
Source: HSAR
4. Immunizations
- Influenza Vaccine: Displays all doses of the influenza vaccine administered.
Source: NIR - Pneumococcal Vaccines: Information on different types of pneumococcal vaccines given.
Source: NIR - Other Vaccines: Displays vaccines like HPV, hepatitis B, and MMR, helping to ensure that patients are up to date on their immunizations.
Source: NIR
5. Screenings
- Colorectal Cancer Screening: The date of the last colorectal cancer screening, whether by FIT or colonoscopy.
Source: HSAR + NEHR - Cervical Cancer Screening: Displays the date of the last Pap smear and HPV DNA test.
Source: HSAR + NEHR - Breast Cancer Screening: The date of the last mammogram, ensuring that women are regularly screened.
Source: HSAR + NEHR
6. Diabetic Retinal Photography (DRP) & Diabetic Foot Screening (DFS)
- DRP: Up to three recent DRP dates are shown to help monitor diabetic eye health.
Source: HSAR + NEHR - DFS: Shows the results of any recent diabetic foot screenings.
Source: HSAR + NEHR
Patient Care Summary and Preventive Care
One of the standout features of the PCS is how it supports preventive care. By flagging overdue tests, vaccinations, or screenings, it helps providers take proactive steps to keep patients healthy.
For example, suppose a patient hasn’t had a colorectal cancer screening or is due for a flu shot. In that case, the PCS will make this information readily visible, allowing you to address it during the same consultation.
Conclusion
The Patient Care Summary is more than just a tool—it’s a step toward transforming the way healthcare is delivered in Singapore. By consolidating critical patient data into a single, easy-to-read format, the PCS empowers healthcare providers to make faster, smarter decisions while reducing administrative burdens.
From improving chronic condition management to supporting preventive care, the PCS has the potential to significantly enhance patient outcomes. As part of the broader Healthier SG initiative, it aligns with Singapore’s vision of data-driven, high-quality healthcare.
By embracing the PCS, healthcare providers can ensure they’re not just keeping up with the future of medicine—they’re leading the way.
Frequently Asked Question
The PCS is primarily for GPs in Healthier SG clinics. However, patients benefit indirectly through better care, faster consultations, and proactive health interventions
The PCS is refreshed every Wednesday, ensuring GPs always have the most current information.
No. The PCS is exclusively for HSG-compatible systems, as it integrates data from HSAR, NEHR, and NIR.
Unfortunately, no. The PCS is a display-only tool and cannot be downloaded, saved, or printed.
Not necessarily. The PCS only displays data submitted through national systems like HSAR, NEHR, and NIR. Records from private institutions that aren’t linked may be missing.
Starting January 2025, all Healthier SG clinics must adopt the PCS as part of their CMS.
The PCS complies with Singapore’s stringent data privacy regulations under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
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