Innovation in the NFP sector
In responding to rapidly ageing population and the need to bolster support for mental health, Singapore’s Ministry of Health introduced the Community Mental Health Intervention Team (COMIT) and a few other programs. These programs are central to Singapore’s Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC) strategy. O’Joy Care Services (OCS) was the first Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) in Singapore to implement this pilot program in 2012, which has since been extended to seven other VWOs. In July 2013, the Health Oriented Ageing (HOA) program was conceptualized by OCS to complement existing programs. The program was launched with funding from Singapore’s Tote Board.
With funding support from the Tote Board, SCRIPT is working to develop a case study on this innovative experience. The aim of the case study is to undertake an in-depth examination of the experiences of OCS in their pilot of the Community Mental Health Intervention Team (COMIT) and Health Oriented Ageing (HOA) programs. The COMIT and HOA programs include multiple features of an integrated care model, including streamlined needs assessment, collaboration across healthcare settings (community, general practice, and hospitals), and the coordination of multiple types of care across multi-disciplinary care providers. We seek to answer the following questions:
- What is the current state of the COMIT and HOA programs?
- What is the role of OCS as an innovation catalyst for COMIT and HOA programs?
- What changes have been implemented to provide older adults with mental health services in the community? What has been effective? What could be improved?
- What are the key features that support collaboration between healthcare settings and multi-disciplinary care providers?
- What lessons can be distilled from the experiences of COMIT and HOA programs that are applicable to other VWOs in the ILTC sector, and in general?
Lead Program Faculty:
- Dr Heather DOUGLAS
- Dr Azad BALI
- Associate Professor Christopher VAS