New Patient Empowerment Health Service Clinic launches with a mission to personalise educational approach in chronic disease management

Dr Siriwan sharing the details about ‘Empowerment Health Service Clinic’ service at Rheum Business meeting on 24 March 2025.

In line with the spirit of innovation and patient-centred care, a new initiative — the Patient Empowerment Health Service Clinic — was officially launched in May 2025 to support individuals living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). This pioneering service aims to enhance patients’ understanding of their condition and equip them with the tools and confidence to actively manage their health.

Bridging Knowledge and Action for Better Outcomes

Unlike conventional consultations, the Patient Empowerment Health Service Clinic offers personalised, multi-session education and coaching for patients with RA. Through one-on-one sessions, patients receive tailored guidance on topics such as the nature of RA, treatment options, medication adherence, goal setting, and practical strategies for daily self-management.

Dr Siriwan Lim, Senior Lecturer at NUS Nursing, leads the project. “The goal is to empower patients to take control of their condition on their own terms,” said Dr Lim. “Many patients with RA may appear outwardly well, but beneath the surface, they face a chronic, potentially debilitating condition. Early diagnosis and  treatment are key — and education plays a central role in achieving that.”

From Research to Real-World Impact

The clinic’s foundation is rooted in Dr Lim’s doctoral research. Developed as a practical extension of the Patient Empowerment to Medication Adherence Programme (PE2MAP) — a programme she designed during her PhD studies on RA and patient empowerment — the clinic represents a successful bridge from academic insight to clinical application.

The idea to bring this research into practice was catalysed by Adjunct A/Prof Peter Cheung, who served as Chair of Dr Lim’s PhD Thesis Advisory Committee. With his encouragement and support, Dr Lim began translating her findings into practice. In collaboration with the NUHS Innovation Transfer Office and the NUS Technology Transfer and Innovation Department, she secured a Letter of Agreement (LOA) in 2024 to formally implement PE2MAP within the clinical setting.

From left: A/Prof Peter Cheung, Dr Siriwan Lim

Clockwise: SSN Ginny Goh, ANC Chong Siew Hwa, SSN Ruby Ong and Dr Siriwan Lim

Following this, Dr Lim worked closely with rheumatology nurses (Nurse Chong, Ginny and Ruby), the NUHS operations team led by Chong Wei Ting, and the RHSO team led by Eugene Ng to finalise the clinic setup and launch it on the Thinkific platform.

Small Steps, Big Potential

Although still in its early phases, the clinic has already made an impact. One patient has completed the PE2MAP programme and reported increased awareness of her condition and greater confidence in managing her medications. Dr Lim and the clinic team are currently working to raise awareness of the service among clinicians and nurses to expand its reach.

“We’re starting small but with strong foundations, thanks to the unwavering support from Senior Consultants Associate Professor Dr Manjari Lahiri and Dr Margaret Ma including Rheumatology and Allergy Department HOD Associate Professor Amelia Santosa and Prof Lau Tang Ching” Dr Lim shared. “The initial feedback validates our belief that empowered patients make better health decisions.”

Looking Ahead

The vision for the clinic extends far beyond RA. In the coming months, Dr Lim and her team aim to:

• Increase patient referrals and expand outreach within the Rheumatology and Allergy Department
• Refine operational workflows for seamless integration into clinical practice
• Formally evaluate outcomes such as patient knowledge, medication adherence, and self-efficacy
• Scale the initiative to support other chronic conditions that could benefit from empowerment-based interventions

With its focus on patient education, self-management, and evidence-based practice, the Patient Empowerment Health Service Clinic reflects NUS Nursing’s continued commitment to translating research into real-world impact — helping patients live healthier, more informed lives.