NHG USES SERIOUS GAMES TO ENHANCE PATIENT CARE
Healthcare professionals use game play for wellness care
12 August 2015
For Immediate Release
The National Healthcare Group (NHG) has much interest in serious games with interactive
technology and graphics to improve patient care. Working with the Serious Games Association
(SGA), some 23 teams from NHG - Singapore’s second largest public healthcare provider
competed in the first NHG-SGA Game Jam. Winning teams – those with the most promising
game concepts in the categories of patient education, health promotion and staff communication
- were announced at the Serious Games Conference 2015 Opening Ceremony today.
“There is a common misconception that gaming is purely recreational, and if misused,
detrimental to health. However, the technology is often state-of-the-art, and can be harnessed
for therapeutic purposes as well,” said Mrs Neeru Bahl, Membership Chair, Core Executive
Committee, SGA.
The NHG-SGA Game Jam is held in conjunction with the annual conference, which explores
how gaming technology can be implemented for the betterment of society. This is the first time
SGA is partnering a public healthcare group to make use of interactive technology to increase
the quality of patient care.
“We believe that serious games can help bridge gaps between caregivers and patients. There is
huge potential for various applications to address the needs of Singapore’s rapidly ageing
population,” said Mrs Bahl.
SERIOUS GAMING CAN BENEFIT PATIENTS
Research1,2 has shown that serious games can improve mental and social function, while also
helping patients learn new skills. Locally, serious games applications have had some success at
the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), which has developed web-based games to help patients
learn social skills.
“Serious games are games that play as games but have additional aims other than pure
entertainment. It has been widely used in education but its use in healthcare has until recently
been limited to physical rehabilitation. We have been involved in developing such games since
2008,” said Associate Professor Daniel Fung, Chairman Medical Board, IMH, a member of
NHG. An example is RegnaTales, an immersive adventure game with specific aims of improving
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M Henschke, D Hobbs, B Wilkinson. Developing Serious Games for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Case Study and Pilot Trial (2012)
CJC Lamoth, SR Caljouw, K Postema. Active Video Gaming to Improve Balance in the Elderly (2011)
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emotion regulation and cognitive training. Launched in 2013 as a web version, it is now
available on mobile devices. The project is a collaborative effort between IMH, Nanyang
Technological University and a commercial partner, Immersive Play, said A/Prof Fung. He
hopes that platforms like the Game Jam will help encourage greater collaboration between
clinical staff and game developers, to create more innovative therapies in the future.
Game concepts from the inaugural competition will now move into the next stage of feasibility
testing for prototype development.
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For media queries and more information, please contact:
Fabian Foo
Executive, Group Corporate Communications
NATIONAL HEALTHCARE GROUP
Direct: 6496 6262, Mobile: 9825 0025
Email: [email protected]
Tania Tan
Assistant Director, Group Corporate Communications
NATIONAL HEALTHCARE GROUP
Direct: 6496 6267, Mobile: 9692 2887
Email: [email protected]
About the National Healthcare Group
The National Healthcare Group (NHG) is a leader in public healthcare in Singapore, recognised at home and abroad
for the quality of its medical expertise and facilities. Care is provided through an integrated network of nine primary
healthcare polyclinics, acute care hospital, national specialty centres, and business divisions. Together they bring a
rich legacy of medical expertise to our philosophy of patient-centric care.
By designing accessible and seamless healthcare services around patient needs, NHG ensures that patient care is
fully coordinated within the cluster and is also extended to high level collaboration with other healthcare providers at
home and abroad.
NHG’s vision of “Adding years of healthy life” is more than just about healing the sick. It encompasses the more
difficult but infinitely more rewarding task of preventing illness and preserving health and quality of life. With some
12,000 staff, NHG aims to provide care that is patient-centric, accessible, seamless, comprehensive, appropriate and
cost-effective.
More information is available at: http://www.nhg.com.sg
About the Serious Games Association
The Serious Games Association (SGA) in an international trade organisation serving the entire serious games
community. Our community includes healthcare practitioners (clinicians and nurses), educators (primary, secondary
& tertiary), corporate human resource managers, marketers, developers, publishers, technology infrastructure
providers, analysts, consultants, academics and other professionals.
More information is available at: http://seriousgamesasia.com
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