The newly renovated Mount Elizabeth Hospital recently hosted a Doctor for a Day experience for children. As a parent, I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity for my child to gain a real glimpse into the world of medicine and healthcare.
This year’s For Good edition lets children experience what it is like to be a doctor in Singapore, while learning the importance of care, empathy, and helping others.
Designed specially for children aged 5 to 9, we found it well-organised. The staff were warm, patient, and encouraging with the children from the moment we entered the hospital.
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Doctor for a Day at Mount Elizabeth Hospital Orchard
Registration
Registration was made efficient through the use of a QR code. From the get-go, everyone present was ready to welcome the children and helped to dress the children up in their complimentary mini scrubs.
I promise this was the cutest role play attire I have ever seen. We were also gifted a multifunctional bag with snacks, freebies and memorabilia from Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
Getting scrubbed in at the Urgent Care Centre
The children were each given an activity booklet. Each station required them to finish participating in an activity before they could receive a sticker to mark the completion of the activity.
First, the children gathered on a mat and were taught the proper way to thoroughly wash their hands. It was an interactive and informative session where they were able to ask and answer questions. I particularly enjoyed the detailed explanations as to why the handwashing needed to be so thorough in healthcare.
This was followed by a simple session on naming body parts and understanding the function of some organs. The children were taught using a life-sized model with removable organs.
The experience was most engaging because the children were tasked to followed the story of their patient, William, throughout his four-station checkup at the hospital. Their journey started at the Urgent Care Centre.
Who’s up for learning about Radiology?
The next station was the radiology department. It was an amazing experience for me to witness firsthand, the state-of-the-art equipment we have. It was like entering a documentary on healthcare of the future.
The staff took the time to explain how the large X-ray machine works to capture an image of the lungs or heart, showing how clearly the X-ray is able to show blood flow in the human body.
The children were then given a colouring activity sheet to trace the outlines of the different blood vessels in the heart. Don’t forget to collect your sticker for the activity before heading out to join the hospital tour guide!
Got guts? Head to the Endoscopy Station
Next up was the endoscopy station. This was by far the highlight of the entire tour for my daughter, as I am sure it was for all the other children as well!
After a short lesson on the digestive system, there was a live demonstration of an endoscopy for poor William who had bits of styrofoam and paper clips stuck in his guts.
The children clamoured to be volunteers. They all wanted a go at guiding the camera down William’s throat, into his stomach, and to use the forceps to clip bits of foam out of his guts. What a day to be William.
What impressed me most was how approachable and patient the staff were. They generously shared their experiences, answered questions, and helped make the environment both educational and engaging for the children.
Let’s get warded!
The last station the children visited was the patient ward. This reminded me of the time I gave birth and had to stay in the hospital for a few days.
The staff had kindly set up the equipment for temperature and blood-pressure taking. The enthusiasm of the children to play doctor and patient was hard to quell! They took turns to take each others’ temperatures and blood pressure, reading oxygen levels and deciding if the temperature taken showed if their friends had fevers or not.
They were then able to dress each others’ “sticker wounds” with cotton swabs and plasters.
Graduation and Photobooths
At the end of the tour, the children were handed personalised Doctor for a Day certificates.
There was also a beautiful photobooth set up with cute props for the children and parents to remember the time spent together at the experience.
There was also an array of games for the children to play with at the end of the lobby.
The staff were so patient in handling the flurry of activity. They did an amazing job showing the children the different parts of the hospital work and allowed the children to see what a typical day in the life of a doctor might look like.
It was inspiring for them to observe not only the medical knowledge involved, but also the compassion, professionalism, and teamwork required to care for patients.
Our Thoughts after experiencing Doctor for a Day
Experiences like this are incredibly valuable in helping young people explore their interests and better understand the dedication behind the medical profession. This year’s programme was done in support of the Autism Resource Centre (ARC).
Thank you to the team at IHH healthcare and Mount Elizabeth Hospital for creating such a meaningful and memorable programme for the children!
Check the Mount Elizabeth Hospital website for more details on future sessions!
Doctor for a Day
Where: Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Programme Fee: $30
