Dr Stephanie Ko

Consultant, Advanced Internal Medicine, National University Hospital Lead, NUHS@Home

Stephanie is a Consultant in Advanced Internal Medicine at National University Hospital in Singapore. She completed her undergraduate medical training in the United Kingdom, and a Masters in Public Health at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. She specialised in Advanced Internal Medicine to further her interest in improving the delivery of healthcare to the evolving population. In 2020, she led a multidisciplinary team to start the NUHS@Home program to delivery hospital-level care beyond the hospital walls. This care model was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the funding of a sandbox and subsequent mainstreaming of Mobile Inpatient Care at Home (MIC@Home) in Singapore in April 2024. Alongside the development of the clinical service, she also leads a collaborative research group to evaluate the implementation and scaling of such care models.

Hospital Care Beyond Hospital Walls

In this talk, we will explore the concept of "Hospital at Home" or “Mobile Inpatient Care” programs, which aim to deliver hospital-level care in the comfort and safety of the patient's own home. We will discuss the public health implications, including how these programs can alleviate hospital overcrowding, reduce healthcare costs, and potentially lead to better health outcomes by minimizing hospital-acquired infections. Join us to delve into case studies, technology integration, and policy frameworks that are shaping the future of at-home hospital care.