Nur Zakiah Sidek1,2, Amanda Wei Li Tan1, Rasyiqah Syarhirah Binte Rahim1, Esther Li Ping Lim1, Eleanor Chew1,3
1Division of Allied Health, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, 2Department of Radiography, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, 3Department of Physiotherapy, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
Biography:
Eleanor Chew is a physiotherapist with 18 years of experience at Singapore General Hospital and a PhD candidate at Curtin University, Perth, Australia. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Management of Pain from Edinburgh University and has received notable accolades, including the SingHealth Outstanding Allied Health Professional Award (2018, Singapore) and the National Day Commendation Medal (2024, Singapore).
She is the Lead of the Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Service Section in the Allied Health Division at Singapore General Hospital and a strong advocate for Value-Based Health Care. Internationally, she has contributed to training physiotherapists in Papua New Guinea and Cambodia, while her research focuses on joint replacement rehabilitation and health service improvements. She recently won Best Oral Presentation at the 2024 International Allied Health Conference.
Abstract:
Aim:
To enhance staff satisfaction among Allied Health Professionals through a structured engagement approach that integrates perspectives from junior staff, senior staff, and leadership to develop targeted interventions.
Methodology:
From 2021 to 2023, focus group discussions were conducted across all Allied Health departments in Singapore General Hospital. Each department held separate sessions for junior staff (Job Grade 14 and below) and senior staff (Job Grade 15 and above), with the number of sessions varying based on department size. Participants, randomly selected, represented 30% of each department’s workforce. Sessions included key institutional stakeholders such as the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman Medical Board, and Chief Human Resource Officer. Findings were reviewed with relevant stakeholders—including finance, human resources, the data office, and department heads—to develop targeted interventions. Outcomes and implementation progress were then communicated through department-wide meetings.
Results:
The engagement process identified key satisfaction determinants across different job grades, enabling more tailored interventions. The 2023 Employee Engagement Survey (EES) demonstrated significant improvements in Allied Health staff engagement compared to 2021, including:
– 6-point increase in the Staff Wellness Index
– 5-point improvement in communication metrics
– 16-point rise in perceptions of senior management’s interest in staff well-being, the most improved metric
Conclusion:
A structured, multi-tiered engagement approach, coupled with direct senior leadership involvement, effectively enhanced staff satisfaction and engagement. The initiative led to measurable improvements, particularly in wellness and communication. This framework underscores the importance of systematic stakeholder engagement and transparent communication in fostering a positive workplace culture and can serve as a model for ongoing improvements in staff satisfaction across healthcare institutions.