From Yesterday to Tomorrow: Celebrating Our Allied Health Professionals

By Seah Yi Ling

10/11/2023 12:00:00 AM | Stories from the Heart (NHCS)

The article is contributed/written by

Along with new and ongoing advancements in healthcare technology, our allied health professionals (AHPs) have to continually stay at the forefront of these developments, with their diverse roles to provide heart care to patients.

Do you know these essential AHP roles for excellent cardiovascular care?

A perfusionist operates and maintains the heart-lung machine, also known as a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, for open-heart surgery cases like coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve cases, as well as complex cases involving the aorta and heart transplants. Our perfusionists are required to standby inside the operating theatre cases that may need a pump run or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Occasionally, they travel to other government-restructured hospitals to assist ECMO patients and bring them back to NHCS for further care.

A nuclear medicine technologist performs nuclear cardiac scans, using sophisticated Gamma Cameras for routine heart assessments and research studies. Physicians will need to interpret the images to study and diagnose any disorder. They may also be involved in the preparation and administration of radiopharmaceuticals, which help diagnose different medical conditions.

In this issue as we celebrate AHP day, themed “Remember the Past, Celebrate the Present, Envision the Future”, Rosemarie Low Ying-Ling, a seasoned perfusionist of nearly seven years, and Abigail Wong Pui Choo, an accomplished nuclear medicine technologist with over two years of service, take us through their insights on their past, present and future journeys.

“I operate the heart-lung machine for patients undergoing open heart surgery, so that cardiac surgeons can work in a bloodless operative field, on a quiet heart.” – Rosemarie (above)

What do I love about my job?

It is dynamic and fast-paced; no two cases or patients are the same. Time whizzes by when we are very busy. It is immensely rewarding to hear about our patient’s recovery progress after a surgery. These updates may come from surgeons who share that the patients have been shifted out of the intensive care unit (ICU) to a general ward, or personally seeing these patients becoming mobile, such as eating on their own or doing physiotherapy around the ICU.

What challenges do I encounter at work?

It is physically challenging due to the weight of the equipment that we must push, pull and lift, not to mention being on call for 24 hours to stand by for any emergencies. Some cases span the entire duration of our 24-hour call, and we may need to hand the case over to the next day's on-call team. It is mentally and emotionally draining, especially in such a high-stress environment. Being able to ‘read the room’ and respect every individual in the operating theatre is invaluable, especially knowing that we are all here for one common mission: to help our patients in their journey to recovery.

How was it like when I first started working at NHCS?

The learning curve didn’t just rise steeply, it shot straight up! No local degree or course can adequately prepare one for this job, it is all on-the-job training experience, that starts from the basics and covers every aspect. Additionally, extensive self-reading is essential in every facet of perfusion for cardiothoracic surgery, whether it involves delving into textbooks or exploring online scientific journals.

There is no margin for error on our part during open-heart surgery. I am thankful for my experienced and knowledgeable seniors who have shared their expertise with me. We are each assigned to a mentor at the start of our perfusion journey and their practical advice helps us build a solid foundation in everything that we do. From there, we are partnered with senior perfusionists for cases, and they will give us feedback on how we can respond or do better in various situations.

How is the present for me like?

We are fortunate to come to know about more advanced equipment and technology, such as ECMO machines, heater-cooler units, syringe pumps, CPB machines, and even had the chance to use some of them. Some devices have a smaller footprint, some have gone digital, and others improved to have a multitude of features. I believe that these advances in medical technology are steps in the right direction as they help to increase efficiency and have led to the streamlining of certain processes.

What are my dreams for the future?

I would like to build a good rapport with the surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and everyone else whom I may cross paths with and to keep doing what I do, for as long as I can!

“I perform nuclear imaging scans on patients’ heart, so that they can address their cardiovascular issues early.” – Abigail (above)

What do I love about my job?

I find great satisfaction in combining my expertise in health sciences with technology skills, to ensure the proper functioning of the heart’s physiology. Additionally, I take pride in our ability to use nuclear imaging techniques to contribute towards accurate diagnosis of various heart conditions.

What challenges do I encounter at work?

A common challenge often faced is having language barriers when communicating with patients. For example, it can be difficult to explain procedures to a patient who speaks in a different language, which can result in confusion or misunderstanding. When such situations arise, I’ll usually seek help from my colleague or the patient’s family member to help with translation.

We also have to work with challenging patients from time to time. Patients may become agitated or frustrated due to the lack of understanding about the procedures that they need to undergo. Despite this, I will try my best to address any queries that the patients may have and patiently explain the procedures in simple terms so that it will be easier for them to understand.

How was it like when I first started working at NHCS?

I was excited to work in a sector that I am passionate in, but at the same time nervous as I had no prior experience in nuclear cardiac imaging. To ensure that I could perform my job well, I would revise the materials that I learnt for the day and seek clarification from my seniors about uncertain work issues. I also constantly reflect on my own performance and work on areas which could be improved on.

How is the present for me like?

I have had increased exposure to more research studies, new scan protocols and the opportunity to even train new staff! These expansion in my job scope allowed me to be more involved in research planning and data analysis. Moreover, the rise in underdiagnosed medical conditions allowed me to further progress my knowledge for new scan protocols and how these scans can provide a pathway for the required disease management for the patients.

Training new staff also allowed me to impart the knowledge and skills that I’ve learnt. Successfully training my juniors is a personal indicator of my grasp on the concepts and materials I teach. This furthers my own understanding, ultimately boosting my confidence.

What are my dreams for the future?

With advancements in technology for nuclear cardiac scans and the emerging use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, we must constantly upgrade our knowledge and skills. With that, I hope to further my studies to deepen my knowledge of nuclear medicine and technology in healthcare!