Jockey Club-funded simulation centre helps enhance surgical skills and quality patient care

12/10/2013

Local healthcare professionals now have the opportunity to enhance their clinical skills and teamwork with the opening of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Innovative Learning Centre for Medicine (the Centre), funded by a HK$53.53 million donation from the Club’s Charities Trust.

Operated by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (HKAM) in Wong Chuk Hang, the Centre provides scenario-based multi-disciplinary simulation training and research designed to deliver safe and quality patient care. Furthermore, under a five-year collaboration between the Academy and the Centre for Medical Simulation (CMS) at Harvard University, CMS consultants will conduct instructor courses to develop the Centre into a regional hub that excels in simulation based-training.

Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson joined Permanent Secretary for Food and Health Richard Yuen, Hospital Authority Chief Executive Dr P Y Leung, HKAM President Dr Donald Li, Working Group for Setting-up of Simulation Centre Co-Chairman Dr C H Leong and HKJC ICLM Management Committee chairman Dr W K Tung at the Centre’s opening ceremony today (10 December).

Noting that the Jockey Club had been a close partner of HKAM since its earliest days, Mr Stevenson said the Club was pleased to have made further donations over the years to the HKAM.  “I believe this project is the most significant yet and marks a further milestone in the Academy’s contribution to the city’s healthcare sector, as ultimately it will make simulation training commonplace for 63,000 healthcare professionals and 3,000 medical students in Hong Kong.”

Dr Donald Li expressed his sincere thanks to the Club, “Without this funding, our dream of having our own simulation centre may not come true so quickly. The Club most generously donated HK$165 million twenty years ago for the construction of the HKAM building, now they are outfitting us with more accessories. I am sure the unique model of philanthropy by the Club will continue to benefit many different sectors of the people of Hong Kong.”

The Centre is located on the 7/F of The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Jockey Club Building with a gross floor area of 550 square metres. It is equipped with virtual reality training room, procedural skills room and operating theatre to enable doctors to practise in a controlled and safe environment, and train them in highly specialised procedures with special equipment.

Apart from equipping the Centre and sponsoring the annual conference, the Trust’s donation also supports the five-year collaboration between the Academy and CMS.  Under this arrangement, CMS consultants will provide 240 hours of consultancy services each year, conduct 15 simulation instructor courses in Hong Kong, provide intensive training for 20 fellows at CMS in Boston and assist the Centre to get accredited.  It is expected that 100 local professionals will be trained and accredited by CMS in the first five years.  They will then be able to provide simulation-based courses and training services to about 5,800 healthcare professionals every year.

At today’s ceremony, the Academy and six other Hong Kong organisations – Department of Health, Hospital Authority, Private Hospital Association, Society for Simulation in Healthcare, Hong Kong University and Chinese University – formally established a Hong Kong Simulation Alliance to promote simulation-based training in a multi-discipline and multi-sector context. 

The Club has played a vital role in supporting local medical development, donating more than HK1.97 billion over the past decade.  Projects to improve the quality of healthcare professionals include a donation of HK$10 million to Hong Kong University to set up the Hong Kong Jockey Club Skills Development Centre at Queen Mary Hospital; and funding of HK$28 million for Chinese University to establish the Jockey Club Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills Centre at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world’s leading horse racing organisations, but also Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.95 billion in 2012/13. In addition, the Club is a major taxpayer, Hong Kong’s single largest by far, generating over HK$17.64 billion in 2012/13 for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.