Raffles Medical Group

Raffles Medical Group (RMG), (Chinese: 莱佛士医疗集团 : Lái fú shì yīliáo jítuán) is a private healthcare provider in Asia, operating medical facilities in thirteen cities in Singapore, China, Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia.[1][2][3]

RMG has a network of clinics with family physicians, specialists and dental surgeons[4] and owns Raffles Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Singapore,[4] which accommodates surgical centres, medical laboratories and 24 specialist centres in various areas like Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Cardiology, Oncology and Orthopaedics.[3]

RMG’s medical practice is based on the Group Practice Model.[5]

RMG has its own consumer healthcare division which develops and distributes nutraceuticals, supplements, vitamins and medical diagnostic equipment.[4]

RMG is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

History

Founding

In 1976, the group's founders, Dr Loo Choon Yong and Dr Alfred Loh, opened their first two clinics in Singapore's Central Business District with the aim of providing medical services to corporate clients. By 1989, this had grown to five clinics and it was then that the two friends decided to incorporate their clinics into a medical practice group. Expanding after its incorporation, RMG moved into Singapore's HDB heartlands with their first neighbourhood clinic in 1993. The first of these areas included Telok Blangah, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio, Siglap, Tampines, Pasir Ris and Bedok.[4][6]

In 1990, RMG tendered and obtained a contract with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to provide medical services to the passengers transiting through Changi International Airport as well as airport workers. This also marked RMG's first 24-hour clinic.

Patients of Raffles Medical Clinics that required specialist care were initially referred to the public hospitals or private specialists.[4] In 1991, RMG appointed specialists in its medical staff.[4][7] The Group consolidated its specialist service in 1993 with the opening of Raffles SurgiCentre at No. 182 Clemenceau Avenue – the first free-standing day surgery centre at Southeast Asia.[4][7][8] It had four operating theatres, 28 recovery beds and two beds in intensive care unit.[4]

By 1996, the network of clinics had grown to 30 branches covering most parts of Singapore.[4][7] When Raffles SurgiCentre saw a lack of space for further expansion, Dr Loo began looking for a site to build a hospital. They eventually settled on Blanco Court,[9] a commercial building at the intersection of North Bridge Road and Ophir Road.[4][7] Construction works to convert it into a hospital began in 1999. This culminated in the opening of the 380-bed Raffles Hospital on 31 March 2001.[4] It consists of 24 different specialist centres which provides specialist services such as obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiology, oncology and orthopaedics.[10]

Today, the Group is present in Singapore, China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Japan. The Group runs a network of 106 multi-disciplinary clinics across Singapore and medical centres in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Osaka.[11] Raffles Medical Group also has representative offices in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei and Bangladesh, as well as associates throughout the Asia-Pacific region.[6] Airport clinics in Singapore’s Changi International Airport and Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok International Airport are also managed by them.

Medical and clinical support services

Raffles Hospital
  • Health Screening
  • Outpatient and Inpatient Care
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Day Surgery
  • Angiography
  • International Patient Information and Customer services (Raffles IPC)
  • 24 hour Emergency Unit
  • Medical Evacuation[12]

Raffles Medical Clinics

These clinics offer primary healthcare services in various locations in Singapore.[13]

Raffles Specialist Centres
  • Raffles Cancer Centre
  • Raffles Children Centre
  • Raffles Chinese Medicine
  • Raffles Counselling Centre
  • Raffles Diabetes & Endocrine Centre
  • Raffles Dental
  • Raffles Dialysis Centre
  • Raffles ENT Centre
  • Raffles Eye Centre
  • Raffles Fertility Centre
  • Raffles Health Screeners
  • Raffles Heart Centre
  • Raffles Internal Medicine Centre
  • Raffles Japanese Clinic
  • Raffles Neuroscience Centre
  • Raffles Nuclear Medicine Centre
  • Raffles Orthopaedic Center
  • Raffles Pain Management Centre
  • Raffles Radiology
  • Raffles Rehabilitation Centre
  • Raffles Skin & Aesthetics
  • Raffles Surgery Centre
  • Raffles Urology Centre
  • Raffles Women Centre[14]

Raffles Medical International

RMG operates three medical centres in Hong Kong and medical centres in Shanghai and Osaka.[6][15][16]

Raffles Health

RMG has its own consumer healthcare division, Raffles Health,[17] which develops and distributes nutraceuticals, supplements, vitamins and medical diagnostic equipment.

Notable births

The first ‘Raffles Baby’ was born on 19 July 2001 at 7:20pm, delivered by Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Joan Thong Pao-Wen. The healthy baby girl weighed 3250g at birth.[4] Raffles Hospital’s first triplets were delivered a few days before Christmas in 2004.[4]

Notable surgeries

Raffles Hospital undertook the surgical separation of a pair of adult craniopagus twins, Laleh Bijani and Ladan Bijani of Iran.[18][19] The surgery was led by Dr Pierre Lasjaunias, a French neuro-radiologist.[19] Separation was achieved.[18] However, both twins died due to significant blood loss in the blood vessel repairing process.[18]

Raffles hospital separated another set of conjoined twins Ji Hye and Sa Rang. They underwent a successful surgery on 22 July 2003. On 16 August, both twins were discharged almost a month after their operation.[1][20][21]

American Ryan Boarman was bitten by a shark on his right elbow on 25 April 2016. After spending some time in Balinese hospitals, he was transferred to Singapore’s Raffles Hospital on 29 April 2016, where he went under the knife of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Lim Yeow Wai. The American had suffered a 360-degree laceration around the elbow, with the shark biting, pulling off and shearing away at least eight muscles and tendons and injuring one nerve and one ligament.[22]

Corporate affairs

Financial performance

RMG started out as a two-clinic practice in 1976 under its founders.[2] In 2009, their revenue grew 8.9% to S$218 million, while profit after tax increased by 20% to S$38 million. The Group’s profits continue to grow through the financial year of 2010, reaching S$311 million in 2012.[2]

Corporate culture

RMG is an integrated private healthcare provider in Singapore based on the Group Practice Model. Full-time doctors practice exclusively and adhere to protocols and fee schedules set by the hospital.[5]

Charitable causes

RMG's humanitarian arm, Asian Medical Foundation (AMF), is a non-profit organisation was started in 2003 to offer medical expertise in areas with poor access to health care services.[23][24] AMF sent its first relief mission to Aceh on 26 December to assist in the 2004 Asian tsunami crisis.[5] AMF also sent medical aid to the earthquake victims in Nias, Indonesia and Pakistan in 2005.[5]

References
  1. Naidu, R.T. (2002). "Raffles Medical Group".
  2. "SINGAPORE BUSINESS AWARDS 2013" (PDF). Singapore Press Holdings Limited. 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  3. "Hospitals and Other Healthcare Organisations". AsiaPac Bio LLP. n.d.
  4. A journey of faith: The Raffles Medical Story. Singapore: Raffles Medical Group. 2006. ISBN 9810560850.
  5. "Vision & Philosophy". Raffles Medical Group. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  6. Ramchandani, N (11 May 2010). "Driven by a very simple vision". The Business Times.
  7. Poon, C. H. (20 May 2013). "Raffles medical chief had early start in business". The Straits Times. ProQuest 1353073953.
  8. "Growing from strength to strength". The Business Times. 5 April 2013.
  9. "RMG has done its homework". The Business Times. 28 March 1998.
  10. "Hospital: Overview". Raffles Medical Group. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  11. "Corporate Fact Sheet". Raffles Medical Group. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  12. "About Us". Raffles Medical Group. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  13. "Clinic Locations". Raffles Medical Group. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  14. "Our Services". Raffles Medical Group. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  15. Wong, S (2 August 2010). "Corporate: Raffles Medical Group expands capacity, attracts investors attention". The Edge Singapore.
  16. http://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/rafflesmedicalgroup-opens-new-medical-centre-in-osaka-japan
  17. "Raffles Health Singapore| Supplements, Health Screening, Beauty". www.raffleshealth.com. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  18. "Iranian twins die in surgery". BBC News. 8 July 2003.
  19. Revill, J. "If God wants us to live as two separate individuals, we will ..." The Observer.
  20. "Milestones". Raffles Medical Group. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  21. "Conjoined Korean Twins Undergo Separation Surgery At Raffles Hospital". Raffles Medical Group. Archived from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  22. Ong, Justin and Hassan, Nadia http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-doctor-saved-my/2755920.html
  23. "About us". Asian Medical Foundation.
  24. Chen, H. F. (24 May 2005). "Making a Difference". The Business Times.

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