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Island Hospital Elevates Patient Experience via Sustainability Initiatives
Sustainability is a critical component for healthcare establishments, both from an environmental and operational standpoint.
Leading quaternary care provider Island Hospital has reinforced its commitment to a journey of sustainability by adding two awards to its portfolio recently, namely the Silver Award for “Above 10 Years: Specialised Categories” from The Edge Malaysia Best Managed & Sustainable Property Awards 2024 and Company of the Year (Healthcare)– Excellence in Employee & Community Well-Being title at the Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards 2024.
“Island Hospital is here to, first and foremost, serve and add value to the lives of our patients. Sustainability is key to achieving this,” shared the hospital’s Chief of Staff, Lim Kooi Ling.
With an ethos “To Comfort Always”, Island Hospital’s focus on optimising patient experience is driven by the understanding that a positive environment impacts patient outcomes. As such, it aims to cultivate an environment that is safe, comfortable and conducive to recovery.
The hospital’s new Peel Wing, which opened its doors in 2022, is a case in point. The building was conceived with patient comfort in mind, providing a modern healthcare design perspective of ambience that aligns with the beautiful environment of George Town.
“We wanted it to have a distinctive appeal with a softer touch. This inspired the generous integration of green landscaping, with sky gardens offering a tranquil retreat to enhance the overall wellness environment. The building also attempts to welcome the outdoors inside, providing patients and visitors with wraparound views of the urbanscape, while inviting daylight into internal areas,” explained Lim.
In its focus on minimising its environmental impact, the Peel Wing incorporates eco-friendly features, such as unitised system panels with double-glazed low-E glass with thermal insulation for the facade to minimise heat transfer between the interior and exterior of the building, thereby reducing the energy required for cooling; aluminium cladding and extruded louvres along facades exposed to sunlight to prevent heat gain and further reduce energy usage; soil-less vertical green walls that uses less water for irrigation and provides additional insulation against external heat; and a dedicated rainwater harvesting system to irrigate the green walls.
“These features come together to enhance the patient’s journey by creating a more comfortable environment for their healing. Besides being better connected to the environment and landscapes outside, our patients benefit from a regulated environment with stable temperatures. Generous and well-planned spaces, on the other hand, contribute to a more efficient and seamless patient experience. Meanwhile, the use of greenery is a literal breath of fresh air that also offers a serene visual experience,” Lim said.
Besides that, Island hospital’s operations are guided by a person-centred system model, which prioritises personalised care. By focusing on the patient experience, it is able to enhance satisfaction and engagement, leading to better clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.
“When it comes to patient care, we employ a multidisciplinary approach. Our specialists, nurses and other healthcare professionals work together to ensure that each and every one of our patients receives holistic care,” added Lim.
Meanwhile, leveraging health information technologies such as Electronic Medical Records facilitates patient data management and documentation, reducing errors and improving efficiency. The hospital also rolled out a mobile app with patient-friendly features, such as an advanced booking system, easy access to important details like appointment times and clinic locations, and a real-time Queue Tracker that allows patients to virtually monitor queue statuses.
Cognisant that healthcare workers are the backbone of the hospital ecosystem, Island Hospital prioritises their physical and mental wellbeing to ensure that they are able to deliver effective, efficient and compassionate service to their patients. In cultivating a positive and welcoming work environment, the hospital debuted its Island Hospital My 2nd Home (IH2H) programme, aimed at creating a home-like atmosphere at the workplace. This includes setting up Staff Recreation Areas where they can mingle, enjoy meals and unwind during breaks.
“At Island Hospital, we are committed to ensuring that our team is well taken care of. We recognise that our employees are at the heart of patient care. By investing in them, we are not just cultivating a more productive and conducive work environment, but also enabling them to be physically, mentally and emotionally empowered and engaged to provide exceptional care,” said Lim.
The commitment to patient-care is one of the reasons why Island Hospital is a top medical tourism hospital in Malaysia. The hospital welcomed 200,000 foreign patients in 2023 and is on track to increase this number in 2024. It is also one of four finalists in the country’s premier Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital programme, which was conceived by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.
“We are fortunate to have a very engaged and dynamic team here. It is truly a team effort that we are able to put our best foot forward and deliver the best possible care to both local and international patients. As we continue striving for further improvements, we are excited to increase our contribution to Malaysia’s medical tourism industry,” concluded Lim.
For more details on Island Hospital, please visit its website at www.islandhospital.com or social feeds at https://www.facebook.com/islandhospitalpenang
DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS IN OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LIM KOOI LING, CHIEF OF STAFF, ISLAND HOSPITAL PENANG
LEADING HEALTHCARE IN MALAYSIA
Based in Penang, Malaysia, and founded in 1996, Island Hospital is a leading quaternary healthcare provider with over 80 full-time specialists across medical and surgical specialities and subspecialities. With a wide range of treatment services supported by cutting-edge medical equipment and technology, it features three core centres of excellence in Oncology, Cardiology and Neurology, and is a top-of-mind healthcare travel destination with international patient volumes increasing by 10% per annum historically.
Through the years, the hospital has garnered a plethora of local and international awards and accreditations that reflect its commitment to excellence. Recently, in addition to attaining full hospital-wide accreditation from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS), it also recognized the hospital’s Cancer Care services as a Centre of Excellence, proof of the hospital’s continuing passion for person-centred care.
Island Hospital was also included in Newsweek and Statista’s “World’s Best Hospitals 2024” list, claiming the 10th spot in Malaysia and number one in Penang; and recognised as one of the Best Specialised Hospitals Asia Pacific 2023 in Orthopaedics and Cardiology by Newsweek; as well as Health Screening Provider of the Year in Asia-Pacific, Value Based Hospital of the Year in Asia-Pacific, Smart Hospital of the Year in Asia-Pacific, Standout Jury Award- Hospital of the Year in Asia-Pacific and Most Sustainable Healthcare Institution of the Year in Asia Pacific at the Global Health Asia-Pacific Awards 2024.
EXCEPTIONAL HEALTHCARE OFFERINGS
Island Hospital is currently on a journey to develop Island Medical City (IMC), an integrated medical hub covering nearly 2 million square feet. IMC will not only up the total bed count to 1,000, but also incorporate 380 medical suites and a 440-room medical tourism-focused hotel as well as featuring expanded centres of excellence in Orthopaedics, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Cardiology, Oncology, Neurosciences Ambulatory Care, Health Screening, Aesthetics, Digestive Health, Preventative Medicine and Fertility. This strategic expansion is a vital component in complementing the hospital’s role as a significant contributor to Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry.
GLOBAL HEALTHCARE TRAVEL ICON
Island Hospital is among four finalists and the sole representative from the Northern region that is participating in the country’s premier Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital programme. Spearheaded by Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and fully endorsed by the Malaysian Government and Ministry of Health, the programme is a collaboration with international bodies IQVIA and Joint Commission International (JCI). As a vital component of the five-year Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint to provide the Best Malaysia Healthcare Travel Experience by 2025, the programme aspires to position Malaysia as a globally renowned icon for healthcare travel, focusing on the delivery of seamless patient experiences anchored on medical excellence, service excellence best practices and international branding.
