282-286 Jalan Ampang - 50450 Kuala Lumpur - MALAYSIA

Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, comprises a 330-bed tertiary care hospital and a separate Medical Office Building (MOB) accommodating consultants of various specialties and sub-specialties for outpatient medical tourism services.

The MOB comprises 110 specialists consulting suites, a 180-seat auditorium on the top floor with a retail pharmacy, a bank and a cafe the ground floor. Specialists practicing in the MOB are independent practitioners.

We are located in 282 & 286 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur and commenced operations on 1 August 1996.

Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur was officially opened by YAB Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamed, Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 December 1997. 
 
The shareholders of Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur are:

• Pantai Irama Ventures Sdn Bhd
• Gleneagles (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Parkway Healthcare Singapore)

Our medical travel patients are regarded as important individuals and each patient's needs, well being and comfort is our priority. In addition to high quality medical and nursing care, health tourism patients are provided with comfortable accommodation and quality meals. 
 
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SERVICES

AUDIOLOGY

Mei Healthcare's staff of highly trained audiologists are providing audiological services in Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre (GIMC). A complete scope of audiology and hearing conservation services are being offered in an independent setting.

The practice is dedicated in providing one of the most comprehensive preventive, diagnostic and rehabilitative hearing health care possible. This centre in GIMC allows almost anyone to take advantage of top professional hearing services and products close to home.

What is the Audiology Service?

The audiology service is an ancillary service by Mei Healthcare at Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, which provides hearing assessments and rehabilitative services for children and adults.

Who can benefit from the Audiology Services?

1. Newborn babies who are at high risk of having hearing loss:

• Family history of permanent childhood hearing loss
• Parental or caregiver concern regarding hearing
• In utero infections such as cytomegalovirus, herpes, rubella, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis
• Birth weight less than 1500 grams
• Apgar score of 0-4 at 1 minute or 0-6 at 5 minutes after birth
• Post natal infections associated with sensorineural hearing loss including bacterial meningitis
• Jaundice (yellow fever) that requires blood transfusion
• Craniofacial anomalies
• Stigmata or other findings associated with a syndrome known to include a sensorineural hearing or conductive hearing loss

2. Children who are delayed in speech development

3. Any individual who:

• is concerned about his or her hearing or the hearing of a loved one
• has difficulty understanding conversation in select situations
• is exposed to loud noises
• has ringing (tinnitus) in the ears
• is hearing impaired and would like to explore the option of hearing aids
• would like to obtain devices to protect the hearing
• needs an audiologist to speak about current and future technology for the hearing impaired individuals

What is an Audiologist?

An AUDIOLOGIST is a professional who specialises in evaluating and treating people with hearing loss. These professionals have the appropriate training and skills to evaluate the hearing of adults, infants and children of all ages.

The Audiologist conducts a wide variety of tests to determine the exact nature of an individual's hearing problems. They also present a variety of rehabilitation options to clients with hearing impairments. Other than that, audiologists dispense and fit hearing aids, and provide hearing rehabilitation training.

Audiologists refer clients to physicians if the hearing problem needs medical treatment.

What are the Audiological services provided?

Our audiologists in Mei Healthcare provide screening and a wide array of diagnostic hearing evaluations.

A) Hearing Screening

Hearing screening is done as a part of health check up. Mei Healthcare has complete equipment to screen the hearing of adults, children and infants.

B) Audiometry

Audiometry is a basic hearing assessment to determine the hearing level

C) Electrophysiological Tests

These tests are diagnostic and objective to further assess the hearing

Does the centre dispense hearing aids?

Mei Healthcare's professional staff dispenses a full range of digital and digitally programmable hearing aids to help a hearing impaired individual utilise his or her hearing in an effective manner. The styles of hearing aids available are behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in the-canal (CIC).

After the initial hearing aids fitting, our audiologists will be involved in the rehabilitation of hearing, with procedures such as hearing instrument analysis, adjustment period with hearing aids and follow up appointments for hearing aids adjustments and monitoring purposes.

DERMATOLOGY

Recent advances in medical technology have revolutionized the field of cosmetic surgery. Wrinkles and many types of scars can now be treated effectively by means of laser resurfacing.

Laser resurfacing is a new form of treatment using laser light to precisely vaporize thin layers of diseased skin layer by layer with minimal thermal damage to the underlying tissue. Previous published reports of improvement in wrinkles and acne scars were with the use of the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. However, CO2 laser treatment was associated with significant complications such as prolonged healing time translating into time off-work (downtime), post-operative swelling and redness (erythema), pigmentation and even scarring. These problems tend to be accentuated with darker skin types such as Asian skins.

DIAGNOSTICS

GIMC's Diagnostics Laboratory provides one of the most comprehensive programs available for patients with cardiovascular disease. It offers a wide variety of non-invasive screening and invasive procedures to test cardio-respiratory functions, providing the medical specialists with detailed clinical information about their patients.

The laboratory is sub-divided into Diagnostic Cardiac Laboratory and Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory.

The Diagnostics Cardiac Laboratory provides non-invasive investigations. These investigations do not require insertion of devices into the patient. The invasive procedures performed by the Cardiac Catherisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) require the insertions of catheters or other devices.

The laboratory provides for emergencies by providing a 24-hour on call service.

Diagnostic Cardiac Laboratory

The Diagnostic Cardiac Laboratory, equipped with modern equipment, offers excellent means to diagnose and measure congenital heart defects, valve abnormalities, and ventricular function abnormalities .

Our team of cardiologists coordinates with our highly skilled and experienced cardiac technicians and nurses in the planning, intervention and evaluation of individual care needs of the patient.

The range of investigations include: -

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

ECG is a simple test that records the electrical activities of the heart. It provides information on rate and rhythm of the heart, and the nerve conduction pathways. This test can assist the cardiologist in identifying various heart related problems such as conduction defects, myocardial ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle), myocardial infarction (heart attack).
It is a pain-free procedure and requires no special clothing or fasting.

Stress Test

There are several types of cardiac stress tests, designed to stress the heart and to monitor the heart's response to stress.

It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes and clothes for the Treadmill test.

The different types of stress tests offered at GIMC are:-

• Stress ECG (Treadmill) Test This test measures your physical condition and heart function, under stress. It requires the patient to walk or run on a treadmill. The treadmill starts at a slow rate with a slight incline, which progressively (every 3 minutes) increases in speed and inclination. The test stops when the patient can no longer continue, targetted level achieved or if the cardiologist thinks it is no longer safe. The average duration to complete the test is between 9 to 12 minutes.
  
  Results from the treadmill test provide information about the patient's overall health and their ability (age dependent) to exercise. Any symptoms felt (eg chest pains) during the test along with blood pressure and ECG readings will provide more information on the heart's condition.
  
• Stress Echo (Treadmill) Test This test obtains ECG recordings as well as Echo (ultrasound) images of the heart, before and immediately after the treadmill exercise, using cardiac ultrasound. The ultrasound images provide increased accuracy over the ECG recordings. The "before" and "after" results provides a comparison, to determine any abnormal changes, when the patient is under stress.
  
• Stress Echo - Pharmacological This test is recommended for elderly or immobile patients who cannot undergo the treadmill test.
  
  Drugs are administered during the procedure to increase the patient's hear rate (similar to the effect of exercise stress). As with the Stress Echo test, ECG and Echo images are obtained before and after for comparison.

Holter Monitoring (24hrs ECG)

This test provides a 24-hour recording of the patient's heart's rhythm or ECG pattern, under normal daily activities. The Holter Monitor is a portable device that is attached to the patient via a belt or strap. Electrodes are placed on the chest area with the leads attached to a small recorder.

The patient would need to keep a diary of activities and symptoms experienced during the monitoring period. The Holter monitor is returned after 24-hours, and is electronically scanned by an experienced cardiac technologist to produce an evaluation report.

Echocardiogram - M-Mode, 2-D, Doppler

The echocardiogram test provides an ultrasound scan of the heart. It provides single-dimensional images, known as M-mode echo that allows accurate measurement of the heart chambers.
The echocardiogram also offers more sophisticated two dimensional (2-D) Echo images, and is capable of displaying a cross-section of the heart, the chambers, valves and the major blood vessels.

The Doppler examination facilitates the measurement and recording of blood flow rate and pattern. The information is presented visually and as audible signals.

The information produced by these tests can assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of congenital heart diseases, diagnosis of structural abnormalities in the heart wall, valves, and blood vessels. The information also forms part of the evaluation, for heart muscle function and heart valve function.

Transoesophagael Echocardiogram (TEE)

This test requires a special probe to be inserted into the patient's throat and oesophagus. This allows the cardiologist to obtain better and clearer images of the internal structures of the heart and the major vessels, particularly in cases where images acquired from the normal echocardiogram (also known as trans-thoracic Echocardiogram) are not sufficient for diagnosis. The technical difficulties for normal Echocardiogram in obtaining clear images, could be caused by closely positioned ribs, obesity and emphysema (enlargement of air sacs), which limits the transmission of the ultrasound beams to and from the heart.
The patient needs to be sedated for this procedure in order to minimise the discomfort.

Respiratory Function Test (RFT) - Spirometry

Spirometry is a test most frequently used to evaluate the status of lung function and airways' flow. It provides measurements on lung volume and capacities.

Cardiac Catherterization Laboratory

Invasive procedures are carried out in our well-equipped Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory. Our Cath Lab is one of the few in the country, which has a Bi-plane X-Ray imaging system, where 2 simultaneous images of the heart can be obtained from 2 different angles, thereby cutting down radiation (X-Ray) exposure time. The lab is staffed with highly trained and experienced cardiac technicians and nurses to assist both adult and paediatric cardiologists, during the procedures.

The invasive procedures offered by GIMC's Cath Lab are:

Invasive Diagnostic Procedures

Right & Left Heart Catheterisation

This involves the insertion of special catheters (tubes) through the arteries / veins in the leg, into the patient's heart. Here, special contrast media (dye) are injected into the heart to obtain the outlines of the heart, in order to evaluate the anatomy such as hole-in-the-heart and abnormal valves. Blood pressures and oxygen levels are also measured to determine the severity of the disease and the appropriate (suitable) cardiac procedure for the patient.

Coronary Angiography

Coronary angiography is performed to detect obstruction in the coronary arteries, which can lead to heart attack or myocardial infarction.

Coronary angiography can be performed in conjunction with cardiac catheterization. Using the same technique as Right & Left Heart Catheterisation, the cardiologist inserts the catheter into the coronary arteries (blood vessels that supply blood flow into the heart muscles) and injects a dye, in order to outline the coronary anatomy. The doctor, then gets a complete diagnosis of the patient and determine the best choice of treatment for the patient such as PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty) or Bypass Surgery (CABG).

Interventional (Therapeutic) Procedures

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)

This procedure is one of the most common non-surgical treatment, for opening obstructed coronary arteries. The name itself says a lot about the procedure:-

Percutaneous means access to the blood vessel is made through the skin
Transluminal means the procedure is performed within the blood vessel
Coronary means that the coronary artery is being treated
Angioplasty means, "to reshape" the blood vessel (with balloon inflation)

This procedure is performed on patients whose coronary arteries are blocked. The cardiologists use special balloons and coronary stents, to open up the affected arteries, thereby eliminating the need for bypass surgery.

Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty

This procedure is used for cases in which the patient's heart valves are stenotic (narrowed). A similar technique as PTCA is used. The cardiologists are able to use bigger special balloons to open up the affected cardiac valves.

Occlusion Of Intra-cardiac Shunts (Hole-In-The-Heart)

This procedure is performed for certain intra-cardiac shunts like Atrial Septal Defect (hole in the wall between the 2 upper heart chambers) or Patent Ductus Arteriosus (opening in the main blood vessel).

These holes or openings can be occluded (closed) by using special occlusion devices or embolization coils. Similarly, other abnormal blood vessel for example blood collaterals and fistulas can also be occluded in the same manner.

Pacemaker Implantation

This procedure is performed on patients with symptomatic slow heart rate (which can be life threatening). The cardiologists implants a special heart pacemaker (battery), which helps to increase the patient's heart rate. For other patients whose problems are due to life threatening fast heart rate, other types of pacemakers can also be implanted.

DIETETICS DEPARTMENT

The aim of the Dietetics Department of GIMC is to improve the patient's quality of health, by providing expert dietary advice that is tailored for the individual need.

The services provided can be categorised as follows:-

Clinical Service

This is generally disease oriented and involves giving advice and education about therapeutic diets to patients and their care-provider. This service is provided for both inpatients and outpatients.

Inpatient dietetics services, requires referral by the medical consultants.

The dietician will obtain the relevant information and assesses the patient's nutritional status taking into account patient's weight, height, weight changes, diet history, clinical condition, bio-medical indices and social circumstances. The dietician will then estimate the patient's nutritional intake where possible and discuss with the patient or care-provider on the nutritional plan. Follow up will be made, when necessary.

Nutrition Assessment

Nutritional assessment examines a person's nutritional status, including laboratory results of blood work, weight/height relationship, weight loss/gain, appetite, food intolerance and allergies, as well as other factors that can influence an individual's nutrition status.

Methods to enhance nutritional intake will be recommended and educational needs identified.

Nutrition Education Service

This involves the promotion of healthier eating, to help prevent or manage the risk of chronic diseases. Counseling and education are essential for nutritional lifestyle changes to occur. Learning to apply this information - proper meal planning, label reading, recipe conversions and portion control - is the ultimate goal.

Promotion of healthy lifestyle Service

The Dietician is actively involved in patient education and promoting healthy lifestyle by participating in various public forums, seminars and informal client "chit-chats". For more information or appointment, kindly contact the Dietitian.

Inpatient Dietary Service

All GIMC inpatients are provided with this personalized service, whereby diet aides will collect patients' diet order on a daily basis.

Upon admission of a patient into the ward and after having been examined by the medical consultant or doctor, the nursing staff orders the diet for the patient based on doctor's order.

The diet aide will create a new "menu" according to patient's food choices and modify the menu according to the types of diet ordered by the doctor.

The diet aide will then pass the patients' menu to Food & Beverage Department for preparation of the food.

The Food & Beverage Department staff will deliver the food on a daily basis.

Menu for the following day will be distributed by the diet aides to patients in the ward before 8.30 am and will be collected after 11.30 am daily (may be subjected to changes).

EXECUTIVE SCREENING

GIMC's Executive Screening Centre provides one of the most comprehensive health examinations available. We invite you to join hundreds of individuals and executives who make a wise investment by participating in this comprehensive assessment of their health.

Our program offers individualized health assessments and consultations by a team consisting of a physician, consultants and a dietitian. Your good health is important to you, your family and your business. Our highly organised Executive Screening Centre offers you a thorough medical evaluation with access to our full medical, surgical, laboratory and radiological facilities.

The Program emphasises the identification of the individuals risk factors and then focuses on modification of these risk factors to maximize the individuals chances of protecting their most valuable asset, their health.

Our traditional diagnostic excellence with preventive medicine is combined in a convenient one to two day visits. Our comprehensive medical evaluation includes a complete history, screening test and physical examination. Our thorough medical examination will be tailored to your health concerns and medical needs. Designed for the busy executives and their employees, the Program is comprehensive and convenient. Many are recognizing the benefits and signing on.

Aims Of Screening Programs

• To identify well persons with potential health risk factors.
• To identify asymptomatic persons with early signs of the disease.
• To evaluate your health status & early prevention of disease

Why Screen In The First Place?

Early detection and prevention will reduce the incidence of diseases and ensure better chances of a full recovery.

Examples...

Resting ECG can detect heart strain and stress test can detect early signs of heart disease. Heart related problems can be controlled or prevented by:-

• Reduction in cholesterol.
• Reduction in high blood pressure.
• Reduction in weight.
• Well controlled diabetes mellitus.
• Reduction in smoking.

Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women and the incidence is increasing. Early detection increases the chances of a more effective treatment.

Effective treatment of cervical cancer (women) and prostate cancer (men) are more likely, if detected early.

High blood pressure, anaemia and weight problem can also be detected, and subsequently be treated and monitored.

One-on-One Attention

Tailored specifically to each participants age, sex and lifestyle behaviour, these thorough examinations are especially valuable in uncovering medical problems that may otherwise have gone undetected. Our program offers one-on-one attention, plenty of time for questions and discussion, personal follow-up and testing, all conducted at a nationally recognised medical centre, complete with modern technology and highly trained staff.

When To Screen?

Generally, individuals are encouraged to undergo a full medical screening every 3-5 years up to the age of 50 years.

This should then be followed by a similar screening every 1-2 years.

FERTILITY

Melbourne Fertility Services (MFS) Malaysia is a joint venture between eminent gynaecologist, Dr Jean Woo and Melbourne Fertility Services, Australia founded in 1992 by Dr Jeremy Osborn and Mrs Lucy Cushnahan.

Prior to this, the two doctors worked together in 1992 and were directly involved in the first ICSI, frozen embryo and TESA procedures ever performed in Malaysia. The association grew and strengthened, culminating in the establishment of MFS Malaysia in 1996 at Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

MFS Malaysia is one of the country's leading centre for a comprehensive range in fertility treatments utilising modern procedures and technology.

Our laboratory is situated on the first floor of the Medical Centre's main building.

HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT

Located on the 5th Floor, the 4-bedded High Dependency Unit is designed especially for patients who require more intensive observation, treatment and nursing care than usually provided on a general ward. The facilities at HDU provides patients and families with the reassurance that their loved one is in a suitably staffed and equipped facility, which can respond to the needs of the very ill.

Patients who do not require ventilator support and are relatively stable, but still need close observation are admitted to HDU. It offers a standard of care that fills the gap between the general ward and full intensive care.

ICU / CCU

The ICU/CCU is a 20 bedded unit located on the First Floor of Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, adjacent to the Operating Theatre and the Cardiac Diagnostic Laboratory. Situated on the same floor as the Operating Suites and Catheterisation Laboratory, the ICU allows easy access when emergency life-saving interventions or procedures are required.

The unit is designed to enable all beds to be placed in a semi-lunar arrangement allowing the nurses at the Central Station to strategically view all patients. The tall French windows permit sunlight into the rooms, brightening up an otherwise very clinical setting.

The unit is fully equipped with advanced invasive and non-invasive equipment designed to support the very specialized care so essential for the recovery of the many varied cases admitted to the unit. These cases could be Adult Cardiovascular, Paediatric Cardiovascular, Neurosurgical, Renal, Trauma, Medical and Surgical.

The medical and nursing teams coordinate and collaboratively manage the health problems of the patients in a consistent evidence-based approach to achieve high patient outcomes. The Critical Care Nurses are also trained to delineate nursing diagnosis and collaborative problems and formulate appropriate nursing interventions to deliver holistic care to all patients. The nurse-patient ratio is maintained at 1:1. in keeping with international standards.

IMAGING

Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre's Imaging Department plays an important role in providing clinicians with quality diagnostic information of their patients.

The department is well equipped with modern and high-tech imaging equipment. Our team of dedicated and qualified staff provides the full range of imaging procedures such as:

• Plain X-ray
• Ultrasound
• C.T. Scan
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Fluoroscopy
• Mammography
• Bone Mineral Densitometry
• Angiography
• Interventional Radiology

Ultrasound Examination

Ultrasound is a technique of imaging that uses high frequency sound waves, in order to produce an image of internal organs and structures of the body.

An ultrasound examination uses no x-rays; it is generally painless and non-invasive (there is nothing injected into your body). There are no known dangers or side effects associated with the use of ultrasonography. It produces images of soft tissue densities, detects tumors (cystic vs. solid), lesions, gallstones, kidney stones as well as produce images of blood flow in the major arteries. Ultrasound is also used to monitor pregnancy development.

Computerised Tomographic Scanning (C.T. SCAN)

C.T Scan provides an excellent anatomical examination to obtain a comprehensive cross-sectional image of the body, such as the head, chest, abdomen and spine. A C.T. scan is an x-ray procedure enhanced by a computer. This results in a two or three dimensional view (referred to as a slice or cross-sectional) of a particular part of your body. It is like selecting a slice of bread out of a loaf.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

The MRI machine utilises a powerful magnet, with a high field super-conducting system and radio-frequency pulses, to examine the body's internal organs. It is the technique of choice for imaging of the brain, spine (Central Nervous System) and musculoskeletal region. No radiation is involved in this procedure.

You will need to lie in the magnet bore for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Important Contra-indications

The devices/conditions listed below might prohibit you from having an MRI exam. If you have any of these devices, make sure your physician and the MRI staff is informed. If you have doubts or questions, be sure to ask!

• Pacemakers
• Artificial heart valves
• Neuro-stimulators
• Metallic clips used in brain surgery
• Implanted hearing aids
• Metal Implants
• Metal sharpnels in your body
• Metal fragments in your eyes
• Intra-uterine contraceptive devices
• Claustrophobia

Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a mode of imaging any part or organ of the body, in a moving form. A continuous x-ray beam is passed through the body part being examined, and is transmitted to a TV-like monitor so that the body part and its motion can be seen in detail. The images can be captured on hard copies.

Fluoroscopy is real-time imaging of the organs of the body with the use of an x-ray tube and image intensifier. The images are displayed on monitors.

Cardiac catherisation also makes use of fluoroscopy but this procedure is done in Diagnostic Department in GIMC.

Angiography

Angiography is the study of blood vessels and involves the injection of a radio-opaque 'dye' into a vessel via a specially shaped tube or catheter and taking of X-ray images in rapid succession. Abnormal vessels and tumours (which have abnormal vessels) can be studied this way. Stenosis, aneurysms that are dilatations of vessels and abnormally formed vessels called malformations are examples of blood vessel diseases.

Coronary Angiography is angiography of the heart. This is performed in Catherisation Laboratory in GIMC.

Angiography of all other blood vessels is performed in the Imaging Department.

Vascular Interventional Radiology

Vascular Interventional Radiology involves the treatment of some of these abnormalities using specially shaped catheters. Balloons and stents are used to dilate stenosis. Glue and particulate matter are injected to obliterate malformations; chemotherapeutic drugs can be injected directly into tumours via the arteries that feed them.

PTCA means percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. This is dilatation of the stenosed vessels of the heart and is done in Catherisation Laboratory.

The Imaging Department does angioplasty of all other blood vessels except those of the heart.

Non-vascular Interventional Radiology

Non-vascular interventional radiology has come to play an increasingly important part in the day-to-day work of the Imaging Department, and this trend will probably continue with current developments in patient management. It is a "Minimally Invasive Techniques" that involves the treatment of conditions that do not involve arteries and veins, by radiologists. Examples are drainage of abscess and blocked systems such as the urinary and biliary tracts.

Using X-rays, CT or ultrasound to help him 'see', the interventional radiologist is able to perform these maneuvers, using special tubes and devises via small punctures.

Many of these forms of treatment have replaced traditional surgery because of greater efficiency with lower complications and cost.

Mammography

A low-dose X-ray images of your breasts.

Bone Mineral Densitometry

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of tissues. This leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture, particularly the hip, spine and wrist.

Osteoporosis is often known as "the silent thief" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. One in four women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. One in eight men over 50 also have the disease. However, the disease strikes at any age.

The reduced quality of life for those with osteoporosis is enormous. Osteoporosis can result in disfigurement, reduction or loss of mobility and decreased independence. Hip, spine and wrist fractures are the most common fractures associated with osteoporosis. Collapsed vertebrae often result in severe back pain, loss of height or spinal deformities such as a stooped posture.

LABORATORY

Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre's Medical Laboratory assists the medical profession in :

1. confirming or rejecting a diagnosis
2. providing guidelines in patient management
3. establishing a prognosis
4. detecting disease through case finding or screening
5. monitoring follow-up therapy

The satisfaction of performance by the laboratory is attained through the implementation of external quality assurance programmes in the various disciplines of the laboratory i.e. Biochemistry, Haematology, Immunology etc. Currently the Laboratory participates in an external quality assurance programme call RIQAS (Randox International Quality Assessment Scheme), which originates in the United Kingdom.

The Laboratory is divided to a few departments i.e. Biochemistry, Haematology / Coagulation, Immunology / Serology, Fluid & Excretion, Microbiology and Transfusion Medicine. Besides that the Laboratory also consist of a Histopathology and Cytology Department. GIMC, being a tertiary care hospital, the Laboratory also provides Blood Donation Services in order to cater our needs for blood and blood components. Within the Laboratory premise lies a phlebotomy area, which provides phlebotomy services i.e. blood taking, to our patients.

The Laboratory is also equipped with technological advanced instrumentation such as chemistry analyzers, blood gas analyzers, haematology analyzers and so forth. Some of the criteria in selecting appropriate instrumentation are cost, accuracy, ease of maintenance, ability to self-calibrate, quality control functions, reporting capabilities, safety, simple to use and capable of a rapid through-put (turn-around time).

The future direction of the Laboratory of course is to continue to become an important part of providing quality patient care. The need for an information system for the laboratory is crucial as real-time care in a prompt and accurate manner is the future of providing quality service in the healthcare industry. Besides that, continuous and appropriate education and training of laboratory personnel is also crucial in maintaining a high level of efficiency and quality.

ONCOLOGY

VISION

AusHealth Gleneagles Oncology Centre will be a Centre of Excellence providing Quality Healthcare serving Malaysia and the Region.

MISSION

• TO promote health and to prevent disease through education and research.
• TO make Quality our culture and to ensure continual improvement in the standards of care provided.
• TO maintain a dedicated team to serve the community.

GOALS

• TO be an integral part of a caring society ensuring Quality health services that are affordable, accessible and cost effective.
• TO provide Leadership in the implementation of quality patient centred services.
• TO maintain universally accepted health services by Quality Assurance Programmes.
• TO instill Quality consciousness amongst stakeholders, providers and consumers.

The Oncology Centre is a joint venture between Aus Health International (AHI) and Gleneagles Hospital (GH), with AHI holding majority shares. This smart partnership provides a healthy synergism to provide the people of Malaysia and the Region with comprehensive cancer services of a high international standard.

In July 2003 the Centre gained full accreditation status from the Malaysian Society of Quality in Health which is a member of the International Society of Quality in Health. This is the first Oncology Centre to be accredited. The Accreditation Award was presented by the Honorable Minister of Health.

Accreditation implies that the Centre is certified as having attained the nationally recognized standards in the provision of healthcare. It is committed to maintain the standards to provide safe and quality care.

Located in Sydney AHI specialises in the export of health services to Asia and the Pacific. Through AHI the Centre has access to cancer specialists in Australia, if required, and to ongoing manpower training.

The Centre is a one-stop centre providing consultation services by consultant oncologists, and has facilities for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It is equipped with machines with updated technology for the planning and delivery of radiation therapy to patients. Dr. Foo Yoke Chin has been trained in palliative care as well.

Nurses trained in oncology nursing look after patients receiving their chemotherapy as day care patients in the treatment ward.

The waiting area is large and bright, and there are nooks and corners for privacy as well as areas for socializing if desired.

Although it forms an integral part of the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre complex the Centre has its own entrance to provide privacy. The proximity to the hospital is beneficial as the hospital provides technological, inpatient and support services.

Depending on the nature and stage of your cancer you may need surgery or chemotherapy or radiation therapy or a combination of any of these.

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to combat cancer. If the cancer has spread the drug will combat not only the primary lesion but the cancer cells in other areas as well.

Radiation Therapy is the use of High energy X-rays. These X-rays are beamed directly to the growth to destroy the cancer cells. This therapy is performed by radiographers trained in the operation of the linear accelerator.

Support Services

During the course of treatment, you may need other services, e.g., dietetic advice, physiotherapy, emotional support, counselling and education. All these are available.

PHARMACY

GIMC's Pharmacy provides pharmaceutical care to patients who are admitted to the hospital and to patients who are visiting our doctors as outpatients.

Our qualified pharmacists and pharmacy assistants provide patients the instructions on taking the medications in the most appropriate way in order to maximize the efficacy of the medications.

The Pharmacy is sub-divided into Inpatient Pharmacy, Outpatient Pharmacy and Oncology Satellite Pharmacy.

The Inpatient Pharmacy provides pharmaceutical care to patients admitted into the hospital.

The Outpatient Pharmacy provides pharmaceutical care to outpatients.

The Oncology Satellite Pharmacy provides pharmaceutical care to patients in Oncology Centre and patients who need chemotherapy treatment.

At the moment, Pharmacy provides 24-hour service on on-call basis. The 24-hour satellite Pharmacy service will commenced in September, located in Hospital block, A&E department.

REHABILITATION UNIT

GIMC's Rehabilitation Unit is dedicated in helping people with different levels of disability and conditions to regain or improve their physical functions. This empowers them with improved physical independence, enabling them to participate more fully in social, family and vocational pursuits. The rehabilitation team understands that injuries or illnesses that causes disabling conditions, affects the lives of not only the patients but their families as well.

We operate in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teamwork approach, providing a comprehensive rehabilitation management to our patient. The patient and their family members form part of the team. We have an extensive range of rehabilitation services and programmes that can be tailored to individual needs.

The rehabilitation services that we provide includes :

• Rehabilitation Medicine consultation
• General Physiotherapy
• Neurological rehabilitation
• Spinal cord rehabilitation
• Paediatric rehabilitation
• Sports injury rehabilitation
• Amputee rehabilitation
• General occupational therapy
• Speech therapy

A multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary assessment will initially be carried out. This assessment will enable our team to design and plan a goal-orientated programme, based on the needs of the individual. The programmes can be designed to accommodate the preference or needs of the patient of being treated as an outpatient, day-care or inpatient.

The programme may include combinations of activities from the following areas: -

Mobility Training

Activities to improve strength, endurance, and balance.
Training on walking with or without aids and wheelchair mobility. The training may include indoor, outdoor, negotiating stairs and barriers.

Medical Management

Bladder and bowel training.
Skin care and pressure sore prevention.
Sexual counseling and management.

Self Care Training

Activities to improve grooming, hygiene, bathing, dressing and eating skills.
Activities to improve on work and home skills for example cooking, gardening and others.

Swallowing and feeding Training

Activities to improve on feeding, chewing and swallowing.

Speech & communication Training

Speech assessment
Activities to improve speech, understanding and reading.
Alternative communication for example use of communication aids.

Cognitive Training

Cognitive assessment.
Activities to improve memory , attention span and perceptual problems.

Counseling & Education

Group/individual counseling for patient and family.
Education session on the medical, rehabilitation and social aspect of the disabilities.
Training for carer.

Assessment Consultation

Wheelchair assessment & prescription.
Orthotics assessment and prescription.
Driving assessment and prescription.
Vocational assessment.
School assessment in view of school placement.
Gait assessment and training.
Development assessment and training.

Day care facilities

Activities during the session, include group therapy, indoor games and social interaction.

Rehabilitation and home support equipment and aids.

Assessment, purchasing, delivery, training and maintenance of these equipment.

Our rehabilitation team consists of rehabilitation physician , physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and rehabilitation nurses.

Our team is complemented by other consultants such as neurologist, psychologist, psychiatrist, prosthetist /orthotist, etc depending on

ROOMS

At Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, you have a choice of :-

• Presidential Suite
• Executive Suite
• Junior Suite
• Suites (3rd - 6th Floor)
• Executive Single
• Single Room
• Two-Bedded Room
• Four-Bedded Room

All rooms are furnished with bedside table, cupboard, a visitor chair and attached bathroom. Four-bedded rooms have 2 attached bathrooms shared between 4 patients.
All rooms except for four-bedded rooms are furnished with telephone and TV, complete with ASTRO programmes.

Executive Single rooms have additional facilities such as a sideboard with mini-fridge, and a settee that can turn into a single bed, for the comfort accompanying family member.

Patients staying in a Suite will have more privacy with a separate lounge and dining area with a separate toilet for visitors/family. It also comes complete with refrigerator and a microwave oven.