Online Social Services in the Offing

STAFF nurse Anita Wong, 63, gets advice on the medical conditions of the elderly residents at the Moral Welfare Home in Henderson Road, without having to send them to the hospital.

Once a week, Madam Wong, who is in charge of 143 residents, has a video-conference session with Alexandra Hospital geriatrician Jason Yap, to discuss the residents' ailments.

Using their medical records and what he sees on the video, Dr Yap then advises Madam Wong on what actions to take. If a case is serious, the resident is sent to the hospital. Mr Satyaprakash Tiwari, director of projects for the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society which runs the home, said this pilot project, which began last year, has eliminated the problem of miscommunication between the foreign nursing aides who accompany residents to the hospital, and the doctors.

Much time has also been saved as residents no longer need to wait their turn to be attended to. 'We have not worked out all the details yet, especially in patient confidentiality. But it is an effective tool,' he said.

Another social-work agency - Sinda's Family Service Centre (FSC) - has developed a number of IT-related projects over the last two years, to help its clients.

Ms V. Kavitha, its senior social worker, outlined the projects, which include:

• A bulletin board to share ideas with other FSCs;
  
  
• E-counselling for clients;
  
  
• A webpage through which Sinda receives at least two volunteers a day; and
  
  
• An e-mail group of 5,000 people from all walks of life, who refer clients.