See what I have found.
Dr Marc Tay on Channel 5's Rouge
AsiaOneHealth
This eye surgeon has done Lasik surgery on 10,000 eyes
IF numbers are anything to go by, one man here seems to have cornered the Lasik market.
Dr Marc Tay, consultant ophthalmologist at the Lasik Surgery Clinic, operated on 10,000 eyes last year.
At the Singapore National Eye Centre, where there are believed tobe 10 ophthalmologists doing Lasik surgery, it is understood that 5,000 eyes were operated on last year.
And at the TTSH Lasik Centre where there are four ophthalmologists who do Lasik surgery, the figure was 1,471 eyes last year.
Over at National University Hospital, there are three surgeons who do Lasik surgery who operate on 600 to 800 eyes a year. This does not include military personnel.
So how did one man come up with such impressive numbers?
Part of the answer lies in Dr Tay's expertise - he can operate on two eyes and finish within eight to 10 minutes, while other doctors typically take 15 minutes, his clinic's chief executive officer, Dr Cheryl Baumann, said.
A check with two doctors showed that how long a surgeon takes to perform Lasik depends on whether it is standardised or customised Lasik, the surgeon's expertise and how calm the patient is.
Dr Lynn Yeo, a consultant ophthalmologist at Asia HealthPartners, said: 'On average, I take about 15 minutes to operate on a patient with customised Lasik.'
The bulk of Dr Tay's work is Lasik surgery, but he also does three to four cataract operations a week.
FOCUS ON MEDICAL WORK
Part of the reason Dr Tay can perform efficiently could also be that Dr Baumann runs the day-to-day affairs of the clinic so that he is left to do what he does best, without having to deal with matters such as buying of equipment, hiring of the clinic space and so forth.
Dr Baumann, 39, who has a PhD in law, started the clinic with Dr Tay in April 2005 and is the majority shareholder.
Dr Tay, 47, does not own any share in the clinic. He is paid a salary.
Dr Baumann told The New Paper: 'In this way, the workload is divided and we can make the workflow very efficient.'
They started with a 600 sq ft space at Paragon Medical Centre.
As the number of patients grew, the clinic moved in 2006 to another floor in the same building with a 7,000 sq ft space.
The clinic now has 40 employees, including two other ophthalmologists, nurses, optometrists, a human resource team, a finance team and a marketing team.
The other two eye surgeons also do Lasik surgery.
Dr Tay said: 'I used to work in a one-man private clinic setting, where I had to do everything, from hiring the staff members to buying equipment.
'Now, it's much better because all those things are taken care of.'
He said that he takes breaks like everyone else. 'I have three weeks of holidays a year where I travel anywhere I wish.'
Dr Tay, who did not want to disclose if he was single or married, works from about 9am till about 8pm from Mondays to Saturdays. He works for an hour on Sundays.
On a typical day, he spends half his time seeing patients, counselling and going through the procedure with them. He spends the other half of the time operating.
Dr Baumann said: 'We worked out that Dr Tay does, on average, 34 eyes a day, if he works 288 days ayear.
'At 10 minutes for two eyes, he spends about five hours operating each day.'
Dr Tay estimated that he gets one complication in about 3,000 operations.
LOW COMPLICATION RATE
The clinic did its own study on its infection and complication rates and compared them to rates worldwide.
Their results showed that they had zero infection rate last year compared to 0.4 per cent in other international centres.
The clinic's complication rate was 0.27 per cent compared to 1.26 per cent in other international centres.
Their study was based on a total of 16,089 operations done at the clinic for 2007.
Ms Salimah Ali, a co-ordinator in a headhunting company, will be going for a Lasik procedure by Dr Tay next week.
She said: 'I attended a talk organised by the clinic and found Dr Tay very knowledgeable.'
She also said the clinic was well-known.
This story was first published in The New Paper on Apr 25, 2008.
Article from: http://www.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20080427-62095.html
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Lasik ;)
I want to see things clearly without spectacle or contact lens. Hahahaha... =)
I don't want to wear spectacle anymore. It makes me look nerd and I can't enjoy my sports. Neither do I like wearing contact lens. I have to buy the contact lens and the solution every month. I have to clean the contact lens after I use them. I have to take care of my eyes to prevent infection. And everytime I wear it, it get so dry, especially when I wear it for long hours.
A few years ago, three of my aunties and cousin asked me to join them to undergo the lasik procedure. I didn't join them because I was very concern of the consequences after the surgery. Will I go blind? Will my eyes have side effects after the surgery?
Last year, one of my ex-colleague asked me to join her for the lasik surgery too. Again, I didn't dare to do it.
A few months ago, my colleague made an appointment with the opthalmologist and asked me to join her too. She told me she was going for the pre-lasik consultation. The doctor will assess whether her eyes are suitable for the surgery. If she is a suitable candidate, she can then undergo the lasik procedure. After the surgery, the doctor will conduct the post-lasik consultation. Everything sounds so safe.
There are so many people undergoing the lasik surgery nowadays and it seems like nothing happens to them. I have been checking online on the lasik surgery clinics and asking relatives and friends who had underwent the lasik procedure. I found out that the lasik technology is very advance now and it is not as scary as I think.
Hence, I have decided to take the plunge. Now, I'm deciding which clinic I should go. =)
I don't want to wear spectacle anymore. It makes me look nerd and I can't enjoy my sports. Neither do I like wearing contact lens. I have to buy the contact lens and the solution every month. I have to clean the contact lens after I use them. I have to take care of my eyes to prevent infection. And everytime I wear it, it get so dry, especially when I wear it for long hours.
A few years ago, three of my aunties and cousin asked me to join them to undergo the lasik procedure. I didn't join them because I was very concern of the consequences after the surgery. Will I go blind? Will my eyes have side effects after the surgery?
Last year, one of my ex-colleague asked me to join her for the lasik surgery too. Again, I didn't dare to do it.
A few months ago, my colleague made an appointment with the opthalmologist and asked me to join her too. She told me she was going for the pre-lasik consultation. The doctor will assess whether her eyes are suitable for the surgery. If she is a suitable candidate, she can then undergo the lasik procedure. After the surgery, the doctor will conduct the post-lasik consultation. Everything sounds so safe.
There are so many people undergoing the lasik surgery nowadays and it seems like nothing happens to them. I have been checking online on the lasik surgery clinics and asking relatives and friends who had underwent the lasik procedure. I found out that the lasik technology is very advance now and it is not as scary as I think.
Hence, I have decided to take the plunge. Now, I'm deciding which clinic I should go. =)
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Starting life over at 60
Another article that I read. I find that I should learn from the elderly. :)
Starting life over at 60
Setting up a retail business is an achievable dream, whether you're 17 or 70
by Chan Seet Fun 05:55 AM Jun 07, 2010
Retired banker T S Soh, 60, has been working as a kitchen helper, a waiter and at the counter of cafes.
"I believe that there are opportunities in F&B. Everybody needs to eat but not anyone has time to cook. So, I want to have my own F&B business," said Soh, who retired in 2008, after more than 30 years in banking.
"I've tried to get a job but when they learnt about my age, they said 'so sorry' and they don't interview me. But I believe that you have to be adaptable. So, I will start something on my own."
With his business ownership dream in mind, he switched gears and went from managing a team at a bank branch to starting from scratch in the food and beverage industry. If that meant making tea and coffee, he was prepared to do it.
"I wanted to learn about the business, from the very basics. I wanted to find out first-hand what problems are faced by the staff and by the owners," he said.
Now, with two years of F&B experience under his belt, he is adept at making cappuccinos, sandwiches and pastries from frozen dough. Not only that, he is also "familiar with NEA (National Environment Agency) requirements".
And while he was chalking up valuable hands-on experience, he also went back to school. Last November, he earned a Certificate in Retail Studies from the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS). Last month, he completed SIRS' new "Set Up A Retail Business" course.
"I wanted to see what I could learn before actually setting up my business," he said. "I was the oldest participant in the class. But that's fine. I was there to learn. I should not have to feel inferior."
He added that the course was well worth attending. "Some of the things they taught us hadn't even crossed my mind. There are so many things to consider when starting a business. I've also learned how to do a business plan. This is important, especially if you need financial help. You can use it to present your case. It was a detailed and practical course. I would recommend it. It's short but you learn a lot in that short time. And with the 90 per cent subsidy from the Workforce Development Authority, I only paid $16.05," he said.
Soh is now on the lookout for a suitable location and hopes to get his business up and running within the next six months. For day-to-day support at his F&B outlet, he will look to his friends and family.
And once things find their rhythm, he might even go into consulting, drawing on his experience as a business owner, and his years in banking, to teach others about becoming their own bosses.
He said: "Some of my ex-colleagues ventured into business without any business experience and without taking any courses first. They just tried. And if they failed, they closed shop. But I am more cautious. I want to look carefully before plunging in. Money is not easy to earn."
Learning about the retail business
A new course on setting up retail businesses has piqued the interest of the members of the Women's Initiative for Ageing Successfully (WINGS).
Said WINGS programme executive, May Tan: "The response has been very good. We publicised this course, which is offered as part of our skills programme, in our weekly newsletter and within 10 days of sending out the email blast, all 24 spots were filled. There is a waiting list now."
She added that if the list grows, WINGS will talk to the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS), which runs the course, about organising subsequent intakes for WINGS.
SIRS introduced the course in April this year. Said the institute's manager of business development, Megan Ong: "The response has been tremendous. We've conducted more than 10 intakes since and a good number of participants have been seniors."
She added: "On the whole, the age of our trainees ranges from 17 to 70 and there has always been a fair proportion of mature trainees. Some courses, such as 'Sell Products & Services', are popular with seniors as the skills and certification acquired helps them work as promoters or in freelance sales positions. We have also seen that this group is interested in the 'Set Up A Retail Business' course. Some of them have retired and are ready to pursue a second career as a business owner."
The "Set Up A Retail Business" course provides insights and tools that will help participants in setting up their new business. Spanning 40 training hours, the course will show participants how to study the retail environment, develop a retail business plan and implement it.
Participants are taught by experienced trainers who aim to impart useful skills rather than just theory and they also benefit from networking with fellow participants who have prior working experience.
The course's first run in partnership with WINGS will begin on June 15 and those who have signed up include housewives, retirees and women who are working part-time. Tan said that one participant is employed full-time and will take leave to attend the course.
She added: "We constantly scout for new and exciting things for our members. And they come with open minds and are eager to learn."
Article from: http://www.todayonline.com/Silver/EDC100607-0000026/Starting-life-over-at-60
Starting life over at 60
Setting up a retail business is an achievable dream, whether you're 17 or 70
by Chan Seet Fun 05:55 AM Jun 07, 2010
Retired banker T S Soh, 60, has been working as a kitchen helper, a waiter and at the counter of cafes.
"I believe that there are opportunities in F&B. Everybody needs to eat but not anyone has time to cook. So, I want to have my own F&B business," said Soh, who retired in 2008, after more than 30 years in banking.
"I've tried to get a job but when they learnt about my age, they said 'so sorry' and they don't interview me. But I believe that you have to be adaptable. So, I will start something on my own."
With his business ownership dream in mind, he switched gears and went from managing a team at a bank branch to starting from scratch in the food and beverage industry. If that meant making tea and coffee, he was prepared to do it.
"I wanted to learn about the business, from the very basics. I wanted to find out first-hand what problems are faced by the staff and by the owners," he said.
Now, with two years of F&B experience under his belt, he is adept at making cappuccinos, sandwiches and pastries from frozen dough. Not only that, he is also "familiar with NEA (National Environment Agency) requirements".
And while he was chalking up valuable hands-on experience, he also went back to school. Last November, he earned a Certificate in Retail Studies from the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS). Last month, he completed SIRS' new "Set Up A Retail Business" course.
"I wanted to see what I could learn before actually setting up my business," he said. "I was the oldest participant in the class. But that's fine. I was there to learn. I should not have to feel inferior."
He added that the course was well worth attending. "Some of the things they taught us hadn't even crossed my mind. There are so many things to consider when starting a business. I've also learned how to do a business plan. This is important, especially if you need financial help. You can use it to present your case. It was a detailed and practical course. I would recommend it. It's short but you learn a lot in that short time. And with the 90 per cent subsidy from the Workforce Development Authority, I only paid $16.05," he said.
Soh is now on the lookout for a suitable location and hopes to get his business up and running within the next six months. For day-to-day support at his F&B outlet, he will look to his friends and family.
And once things find their rhythm, he might even go into consulting, drawing on his experience as a business owner, and his years in banking, to teach others about becoming their own bosses.
He said: "Some of my ex-colleagues ventured into business without any business experience and without taking any courses first. They just tried. And if they failed, they closed shop. But I am more cautious. I want to look carefully before plunging in. Money is not easy to earn."
Learning about the retail business
A new course on setting up retail businesses has piqued the interest of the members of the Women's Initiative for Ageing Successfully (WINGS).
Said WINGS programme executive, May Tan: "The response has been very good. We publicised this course, which is offered as part of our skills programme, in our weekly newsletter and within 10 days of sending out the email blast, all 24 spots were filled. There is a waiting list now."
She added that if the list grows, WINGS will talk to the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS), which runs the course, about organising subsequent intakes for WINGS.
SIRS introduced the course in April this year. Said the institute's manager of business development, Megan Ong: "The response has been tremendous. We've conducted more than 10 intakes since and a good number of participants have been seniors."
She added: "On the whole, the age of our trainees ranges from 17 to 70 and there has always been a fair proportion of mature trainees. Some courses, such as 'Sell Products & Services', are popular with seniors as the skills and certification acquired helps them work as promoters or in freelance sales positions. We have also seen that this group is interested in the 'Set Up A Retail Business' course. Some of them have retired and are ready to pursue a second career as a business owner."
The "Set Up A Retail Business" course provides insights and tools that will help participants in setting up their new business. Spanning 40 training hours, the course will show participants how to study the retail environment, develop a retail business plan and implement it.
Participants are taught by experienced trainers who aim to impart useful skills rather than just theory and they also benefit from networking with fellow participants who have prior working experience.
The course's first run in partnership with WINGS will begin on June 15 and those who have signed up include housewives, retirees and women who are working part-time. Tan said that one participant is employed full-time and will take leave to attend the course.
She added: "We constantly scout for new and exciting things for our members. And they come with open minds and are eager to learn."
Article from: http://www.todayonline.com/Silver/EDC100607-0000026/Starting-life-over-at-60
Monday, June 07, 2010
Learning to succeed
I read this article this morning and find that it is good. :)
Learning to succeed
Take ownership of your career through constant renewal and reinvention
by Kamal Kant succeed@mediacorp.com.sg 05:55 AM Jun 07, 2010
The economic and social pressures today on organisations are so strong, they are changing the work world at a pace never encountered before.
Hardly have employees become familiar with new processes and work methodologies that they are asked to unlearn them and learn even newer and more sophisticated ways of working.
In the late '80s and early '90s, employees were principally selected to fill vacancies that required specified knowledge, skills and abilities to perform a specific job or combination of tasks.
Once employed, the person would probably do the same job for the rest of his career, climb the so-called career ladder and be remunerated on a seniority-based system.
But this career journey model is obsolete. Training and development have become a continuous process if one does not want to be rendered irrelevant in one's workplace.
Lifelong learning, acquisition of new knowledge, personal development, honing of competencies, skills upgrading and enhancement of abilities are now "must haves" in the working world. Ignore this at your career's peril.
In today's workplace, learning includes changing a broad spectrum of your work behaviour, ranging from developing new vocational skills to managing employees in ways that foster the greatest productivity, innovation and creativity.
The learning edge is how smart executives and managers stay ahead of the competition.
But what exactly is learning?
Certain key characteristics are obvious: Learning implies change. The change must be more than temporary - it must be the result of experience and repeated practice. Certainly, temporary change and performance cannot count as learning.
Learning is a difficult concept to understand, as it cannot be directly measured or observed. It is inferred from permanent changes in work behaviour, job performance and enhanced output after learning.
This is why certificates, diplomas and degrees are just the starting point in a job hunt or advancement in one's career.
The proof of learning is exhibited in your improved and enhanced performance.
Today, lifelong learning is about engaging your mind to bring creativity and innovation to your work so that you can become an employee of choice - not simply because of your paper qualifications, but for other forms of value you bring to the workplace.
It could range from a delightful, customer-lovable personality by developing your intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, to an effective and novel problem-solving technique using your engineering knowledge in resourceful and imaginative ways.
Exhibiting new learning is a major hurdle for many people. You do not want to be boastful nor arrogant in "advertising" your newly-acquired knowledge, skills and competencies.
The starting point must be your work itself. Apply the newly acquired learning in the task you do to ensure it works. Plan well ahead.
Before testing or practising the new learning at work, be sure you have an effective damage control or recovery strategy if something does not work and reverts back to the old way.
Offer to teach others in your workplace your new learning. Sharing knowledge is part of the lifelong learning journey. Share with others and they will share with you; be self-centred and conceited in today's multicultural team-based work environment and you probably will be an outcast at work. It will be to your detriment and loss.
Never lose sight of the definition of learning: It is about relatively permanent change in work behaviour occurring as a result of experience and practice.
Experience does not happen just from formal learning processes. It is also about doing it, feeling it and experiencing your learning outcomes in the workplace.
Learning is about changing the way you work and the way you think, analysing and solving problems. Learning includes improving your performance using newly-acquired knowledge, skills and abilities.
It is about making an attitudinal shift by taking ownership of your career and accepting that constant renewal and reinvention through a lifelong learning journey in the broadest sense is your passport to career satisfaction and success in tomorrow's world.
The writer is a career management professional and a lecturer in career-related courses at a local university.
Article from: http://www.todayonline.com/Business/Succeed/EDC100607-0000037/Learning-to-succeed
Learning to succeed
Take ownership of your career through constant renewal and reinvention
by Kamal Kant succeed@mediacorp.com.sg 05:55 AM Jun 07, 2010
The economic and social pressures today on organisations are so strong, they are changing the work world at a pace never encountered before.
Hardly have employees become familiar with new processes and work methodologies that they are asked to unlearn them and learn even newer and more sophisticated ways of working.
In the late '80s and early '90s, employees were principally selected to fill vacancies that required specified knowledge, skills and abilities to perform a specific job or combination of tasks.
Once employed, the person would probably do the same job for the rest of his career, climb the so-called career ladder and be remunerated on a seniority-based system.
But this career journey model is obsolete. Training and development have become a continuous process if one does not want to be rendered irrelevant in one's workplace.
Lifelong learning, acquisition of new knowledge, personal development, honing of competencies, skills upgrading and enhancement of abilities are now "must haves" in the working world. Ignore this at your career's peril.
In today's workplace, learning includes changing a broad spectrum of your work behaviour, ranging from developing new vocational skills to managing employees in ways that foster the greatest productivity, innovation and creativity.
The learning edge is how smart executives and managers stay ahead of the competition.
But what exactly is learning?
Certain key characteristics are obvious: Learning implies change. The change must be more than temporary - it must be the result of experience and repeated practice. Certainly, temporary change and performance cannot count as learning.
Learning is a difficult concept to understand, as it cannot be directly measured or observed. It is inferred from permanent changes in work behaviour, job performance and enhanced output after learning.
This is why certificates, diplomas and degrees are just the starting point in a job hunt or advancement in one's career.
The proof of learning is exhibited in your improved and enhanced performance.
Today, lifelong learning is about engaging your mind to bring creativity and innovation to your work so that you can become an employee of choice - not simply because of your paper qualifications, but for other forms of value you bring to the workplace.
It could range from a delightful, customer-lovable personality by developing your intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, to an effective and novel problem-solving technique using your engineering knowledge in resourceful and imaginative ways.
Exhibiting new learning is a major hurdle for many people. You do not want to be boastful nor arrogant in "advertising" your newly-acquired knowledge, skills and competencies.
The starting point must be your work itself. Apply the newly acquired learning in the task you do to ensure it works. Plan well ahead.
Before testing or practising the new learning at work, be sure you have an effective damage control or recovery strategy if something does not work and reverts back to the old way.
Offer to teach others in your workplace your new learning. Sharing knowledge is part of the lifelong learning journey. Share with others and they will share with you; be self-centred and conceited in today's multicultural team-based work environment and you probably will be an outcast at work. It will be to your detriment and loss.
Never lose sight of the definition of learning: It is about relatively permanent change in work behaviour occurring as a result of experience and practice.
Experience does not happen just from formal learning processes. It is also about doing it, feeling it and experiencing your learning outcomes in the workplace.
Learning is about changing the way you work and the way you think, analysing and solving problems. Learning includes improving your performance using newly-acquired knowledge, skills and abilities.
It is about making an attitudinal shift by taking ownership of your career and accepting that constant renewal and reinvention through a lifelong learning journey in the broadest sense is your passport to career satisfaction and success in tomorrow's world.
The writer is a career management professional and a lecturer in career-related courses at a local university.
Article from: http://www.todayonline.com/Business/Succeed/EDC100607-0000037/Learning-to-succeed
Saturday, June 05, 2010
New Sport Activities
My ABT class has just ended.
CardioMix class is ending soon in 2 to 3 weeks time.
I have signed up for the Muay AeroBox course. Muay AeroBox course is a course which combines both Muay Thai and Western Boxing involving the use of gloves and pads. This exercise offers participants a chance to achieve a good cardio workout, and at the same time allow them to pick up some basic skills in Thai boxing.
Where do I sign up for the course? You can visit this website at https://www.psi.gov.sg/NASApp/tmf/TMFServlet?app=SPT-WelcomeMenu&isNew=true&Reload=true Sports for Life! ;)
I also intend to sign up for Pilates course but I cannot find a situable timeslot. Hmmm... I will keep a look up for it. :)
CardioMix class is ending soon in 2 to 3 weeks time.
I have signed up for the Muay AeroBox course. Muay AeroBox course is a course which combines both Muay Thai and Western Boxing involving the use of gloves and pads. This exercise offers participants a chance to achieve a good cardio workout, and at the same time allow them to pick up some basic skills in Thai boxing.
Where do I sign up for the course? You can visit this website at https://www.psi.gov.sg/NASApp/tmf/TMFServlet?app=SPT-WelcomeMenu&isNew=true&Reload=true Sports for Life! ;)
I also intend to sign up for Pilates course but I cannot find a situable timeslot. Hmmm... I will keep a look up for it. :)
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