Achieving Synergy through Collaboration!

Updated: Sep 21, 2022

In 2019, my department was attempting to advocate 7 habits via social learning. One of the tasks each of my colleagues needed to do was to share a real life story about any particular habit, and share it via TTSH’s workplace@FB platform. Here is my real life story to share on how Synergy was achieved at the workplace through collaboration.

Habit 6 is about Synergy.

Achieving the Impossible

Katie Bouman recently made headline news by sharing the first ever taken picture of a black hole. What people don’t realize is that she was one of 200 researchers around the world who collaborated in the Event Horizon Telescope project. This melting pot of many different people with Interdisciplinary skill sets allowed the team to achieve what was seemingly an impossible task. It is a powerful reminder on the heights what Synergy can help achieve in a dedicated team.

When we truly listen to our colleagues, have a common goal in providing BetterCare for our patients, we can Synergize to create a BetterCommunity for everyone!

“Community on Wheels”

Another story closer to home… TTSH held a “Community on Wheels (COW)” event on 10 Jan 2019, in conjunction with Occupational Therapists’ (OT) Day. The event showcased storytelling, talks from AIC on framework for assistive devices prescription, a gallery walk, interactive activities and much more.

This same day we launched an online resource focusing on helping patients and caregivers on use of powered mobility devices. It consisted of training brochures and instructional videos that help educate staff, patients and caregivers on how to manage wheelchair/ powered mobility devices on MRT and buses, as well as to educate patients and caregivers on road safety during the use of manual and powered mobility devices.

COW team… Assemble!

I am fortunate to be part of a multidisciplinary team who helped create this educational online resource. The collaborators include OTs, LTA, SMRT staff as well as TTSH’s own HRPD eLearning & multimedia team. Each of whom contributed in the following ways:

OTs worked on the Script and Story-boarding of videos, provided Casting Crew (invited their colleagues, friends, relatives & family!), Voice-over talent, Education Materials (brochures in multiple languages), etc.

LTA who initiated the project, supervised the administrative parts of getting approval for filming at the different locations.
SMRT helped to charter an empty train and bus where the filming needed to be done. They also provided manpower support (e.g. bus captains, station staff) to be part of the footage.
HRPD eLearning and Multimedia team supported with Video-filming, editing, packaging the content to be delivered via an eLearning platform, integrating with QR codes, making it mobile-friendly, etc.
The event concluded successfully, raising awareness while celebrating the amazing work that our OTs do on a regular basis. However, for me there was an immense satisfaction that I was able to co-create something together with my TTSH Kampung and external dedicated partners, all with a common goal to make life better for patients who rely on powered mobility devices in their daily living.

How it all started

The interesting part of this story was how it all started from a much smaller scale project. Back in August 2017, I worked with Huixin and her team to create an eLearning Course titled “OTTER: e-Powered Mobility”. It was designed to help equip TTSH Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Therapy Assistants (TAs) with the knowledge on how to conduct standardized assessment and training relating to Wheelchair Skills Training Programme. Little did I realize that a year later I would be bouncing ideas with Florence & Heidi on doing some videos in collaboration with LTA & SMRT.

eLearning course I built on Powered Mobility Skills Training.

So, what started as a humble in-house project, ended up as building educational materials that would extend out to the community. Along the way, our HRPD multimedia team (Eng Piew, Jocelyn and Irene) got involved to assess the scope of work relating to video components.

Together with our dedicated OTs (Rui Min and her OT Day committee), we went through storyboards, scripting, discussed how end users will be accessing these training materials, etc. Eventually linking up with LTA and SMRT for filming.

What it means in the end

Our “Community on Wheels” story may not be on an international stage like Katie Bowman's, but I am proud to share it as an example of what can be achieved by building upon each other’s strengths.

When we truly listen to our colleagues, have a common goal in providing BetterCare for our patients, we can Synergize to create a BetterCommunity for everyone!

Now, isn't that an End-game that's worth fighting for? Whatever it takes.