Care that starts with listening, not over-treating: Why some patients stay with the same doctor for decades at this hospital

As Raffles Medical Group celebrates its 50th anniversary, long-standing doctor-patient relationships show how continuity of care can support changing healthcare needs over time

Dr Alfred Loh (right) has cared for some of his patients for many years, building relationships based on trust and familiarity.

PHOTO: RAFFLES MEDICAL GROUP

Published Sep 23, 2026, 04:00 AM

For the past 46 years, businessman Yeo Joo Ann has been seeing the same doctor. From annual health screenings and managing a chronic condition to undergoing a life-saving heart procedure three years ago, the 68-year-old has entrusted his healthcare to Dr Alfred Loh, senior clinical director, and the team at Raffles Medical Group (RMG). “I was introduced to Dr Loh in 1980. We hit it off and I’ve been seeing him since,” says Yeo.

A routine health screening revealed that Yeo was a Hepatitis B carrier, and Dr Loh has been helping him monitor and manage the condition over the years. Yeo has since been declared no longer a Hepatitis B carrier. He also encouraged Yeo to quit smoking after the birth of his first child, advice that prompted a lasting lifestyle change.

Businessman Yeo Joo Ann is a long-time patient of Dr Alfred Loh. PHOTO: COURTESY OF YEO JOO ANN

Businessman Yeo Joo Ann is a long-time patient of Dr Alfred Loh.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF YEO JOO ANN

Three years ago, that long-standing relationship also demonstrated the benefits of an integrated approach to care. When a scan detected a blocked heart artery, Dr Loh immediately referred Yeo to a cardiac surgeon, enabling him to undergo a stent procedure that very day. “We’ve become such good friends,” says Yeo. “Sometimes I ask for a shorter, 30-day prescription for my medication instead of a 90-day one, just so I have a reason to see him.”

Today, Dr Loh, 80, who is also the co-founder of RMG, only sees long-standing patients and their relatives.

A culture of continued care

This year, RMG celebrates its 50th anniversary , having grown from a two-clinic practice in 1976 into one of Asia’s leading integrated private healthcare providers.

It now operates more than 100 multi-disciplinary clinics across Singapore as well as hospitals and medical facilities across the region. The Group has achieved over 50 million cumulative patient visits since its founding in 1976.

Dr Alfred Loh (left) and Dr Loo Choon Yong (right) mark the Group reaching 50 million cumulative patient visits. PHOTO: RAFFLES MEDICAL GROUP

Dr Alfred Loh (left) and Dr Loo Choon Yong (right) mark the Group reaching 50 million cumulative patient visits.

The Group has achieved over 50 million cumulative patient visits since its founding in 1976.

Says Dr Loo Choon Yong, executive chairman and co-founder of RMG: “We are a group of physicians, nurses, and healthcare managers, using our talents, training, and experience for the benefit of all our patients.”

“As healthcare continues to evolve, our purpose remains the same – to provide quality, compassionate care, deliver value, and to always give our patients our best.”

He adds: “From primary and specialist care to hospital services, diagnostics, dental services and corporate healthcare, our team works together to deliver seamless, compassionate care at every stage of life.”

Patients like Yeo, says Dr Loh, reflect its long-standing focus on building relationships that extend beyond individual consultations. Underpinning these relationships is an integrated care model that has been continually expanded over the past five decades to meet patients’ changing healthcare needs.

That coordinated approach was what enabled Yeo to move quickly from detection to specialist intervention when his heart condition was found.

Trust built over years

Yeo’s experience is not unique. Retiree Tony Low Kim Peow, 70, has also been seeing Dr Loh for more than three decades. The former banker first visited him after suffering from persistent rashes that other doctors had been unable to explain.

“I kept having recurrent rashes on my body, and it was Dr Loh who found out it was due to a thyroid issue. He listened to me, did a detailed test and has been helping me manage the condition ever since. The rashes went away, and from then on, he earned my trust,” recalls Low.

That trust continued years later when Low required heart bypass surgery. Initially apprehensive about the procedure, he says Dr Loh patiently explained what to expect and referred him to the appropriate specialists.

“After talking to Dr Loh, I felt confident to go ahead with the operation. Even during my one-week hospital stay, I felt cared for by the team that constantly checked on me,” he says.

Continuity of care allows doctors to build a deeper understanding of a patient’s medical history, lifestyle and changing health needs over time. PHOTO: RAFFLES MEDICAL GROUP

Continuity of care allows doctors to build a deeper understanding of a patient’s medical history, lifestyle and changing health needs over time.

According to the Group, this reflects the strength of its Group Practice Model, where doctors, specialists, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals work together as a team to provide coordinated care across the patient’s journey.

“Continuity of care has always been a defining strength of RMG’s practice model,” says Dr Loh.

“By bringing together expertise across multiple disciplines, we are able to deliver coordinated, personalised care throughout every stage of a patient’s health journey.”

More than treating illness

As patients continue seeing the same doctor over many years, healthcare professionals also develop a deeper understanding of their medical history, lifestyle, family history and long-term health goals.

According to Dr Loo, this allows doctors to identify significant clinical changes earlier, make more informed clinical decisions and provide more personalised advice that supports better health outcomes over time.

Nurses work closely with patients to provide consistent care and support throughout treatment and recovery. PHOTO: RAFFLES MEDICAL GROUP

Nurses work closely with patients to provide consistent care and support throughout treatment and recovery.

Many patients and their families, such as Yeo, have remained with the Group for years, including his children, nephew and previously, his late parents. As the Group marks five decades of caring for patients, it says these relationships remain central to its philosophy of “To Our Patients, Our Best”.

For Yeo, the greatest benefit of staying with the same doctor is not simply familiarity. It is the assurance of being cared for by someone he trusts.

“I’m always grateful that Dr Loh has been very honest,” he says. “He’s very professional and has never tried to upsell me anything, only advising me on what I need.”

Here are the key moments that have shaped Raffles Medical Group’s growth and development.

1976: Dr Loo Choon Yong and Dr Alfred Loh acquire two clinics at Maxwell House and Cecil Street.

1980: The growing practice is renamed Raffles Medical Group (RMG).

1982: RMG establishes its flagship clinic, marking its entry into corporate healthcare.

1990: Wins a major contract to provide round-the-clock medical services at Changi Airport.

1993: Launches Raffles SurgiCentre, South-east Asia’s first standalone day surgery centre.

1997: RMG became the first full-fledged healthcare provider to go public in Singapore when it got listed on SESDAQ, the second board of the Stock Exchange of Singapore.

2002: Raffles Hospital was officially opened by then Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

2010: Expands to mainland China, opens its first medical centre in Shanghai.

2015-2016: Becomes the first and only private healthcare provider to collaborate with the Ministry of Health under the Emergency Care Collaboration scheme.

2019: First healthcare group to launch an integrated healthcare platform, Raffles Connect app, offering a comprehensive suite of services.

2021: Plays a key role in Singapore’s pandemic response, operating 15 vaccination centres and administering five million doses.

2026: Pledged $5 million over five years to advance healthcare, education and community support, and announced 50 healthcare scholarships over the same period.

Learn more about Raffles Medical Group’s 50 Years of Care.

值此莱佛士医疗集团成立50周年之际，长期稳定的医患关系表明，持续的医疗服务能够如何随着时间的推移满足不断变化的医疗保健需求。

阿尔弗雷德·洛医生（右）多年来一直照顾他的一些病人，建立了基于信任和熟悉的关系。

照片：莱佛士医疗集团

发布于 2026 年 9 月 23 日 上午 4:00

过去46年来，商人杨祖安一直看同一位医生。从年度健康检查、慢性病管理，到三年前接受挽救生命的心脏手术，这位68岁的老人一直将自己的健康托付给莱佛士医疗集团（RMG）的高级临床主任罗医生及其团队。“我1980年认识了罗医生。我们一见如故，之后我就一直在他那里看病，”杨祖安说道。

一次例行体检发现杨某是乙肝病毒携带者，多年来，罗医生一直帮助他监测和控制病情。杨某现已被宣布不再是乙肝病毒携带者。罗医生还在杨某第一个孩子出生后鼓励他戒烟，这一建议促使他养成了持久的生活方式。

商人杨珠安是罗医生多年的病人。照片：由杨珠安提供

商人杨珠安是罗医生的长期病人。

照片：由 YEO JOO ANN 提供

三年前，这段长期的医患关系也体现了综合治疗模式的益处。当扫描发现叶某的心脏动脉阻塞时，罗医生立即将他转诊给心脏外科医生，使他当天就接受了支架植入手术。“我们成了非常好的朋友，”叶某说，“有时候我会要求医生把90天的药量处方缩短到30天，这样我就有理由再见他一面了。”

如今，80岁的罗医生（同时也是RMG的联合创始人）只接诊老病人及其家属。

持续关怀的文化

今年是RMG成立50周年，RMG从1976年仅有的两家诊所发展成为亚洲领先的综合性私立医疗保健服务提供商之一。

该集团目前在新加坡运营着100多家综合诊所，并在整个地区拥有多家医院和医疗机构。自1976年成立以来，该集团累计接待患者超过5000万人次。

罗医生（左）和卢俊勇医生（右）共同庆祝莱佛士医疗集团累计就诊量突破5000万人次。图片：莱佛士医疗集团

罗医生（左）和卢俊勇医生（右）庆祝集团累计患者就诊量达到 5000 万人次。

自 1976 年成立以来，该集团累计接待患者超过 5000 万人次。

RMG执行主席兼联合创始人卢俊勇博士表示：“我们是由医生、护士和医疗保健管理人员组成的团队，我们运用我们的才能、培训和经验，为所有患者谋福利。”

“随着医疗保健的不断发展，我们的宗旨始终不变——提供高质量、充满关怀的医疗服务，创造价值，并始终竭尽全力为患者提供最好的服务。”

他补充道：“从初级和专科护理到医院服务、诊断、牙科服务和企业医疗保健，我们的团队齐心协力，在人生的每个阶段提供无缝衔接、充满关怀的护理。”

罗医生表示，像叶医生这样的患者体现了该机构长期以来注重建立超越个体诊疗范围的医患关系。支撑这些关系的是一种整合式医疗模式，该模式在过去五十年中不断扩展，以满足患者不断变化的医疗保健需求。

正是这种协调一致的方法，使得叶医生在发现心脏疾病后，能够迅速从检测阶段过渡到专家介入治疗。

多年来建立的信任

叶先生的经历并非个例。70岁的退休人士刘金平（Tony Low Kim Peow）也已接受罗医生治疗三十余年。这位前银行家最初是因为身上出现持续性皮疹，其他医生都无法解释其病因而就诊。

“我身上一直反复出现皮疹，是罗医生发现这是甲状腺问题引起的。他认真听取了我的描述，做了详细的检查，之后一直帮助我控制病情。皮疹消失了，从那时起，他就赢得了我的信任，”罗医生回忆道。

多年后，当Low需要进行心脏搭桥手术时，这份信任依然延续。他起初对手术感到忐忑不安，但Loh医生耐心地向他解释了手术过程中可能发生的情况，并把他转诊给了相应的专科医生。

“和罗医生谈过之后，我更有信心接受手术。即使在我住院的一周里，我也感受到了医护团队的悉心照料，他们不断地关心我的情况，”他说。

持续的医疗护理使医生能够更深入地了解患者的病史、生活方式以及随着时间推移而不断变化的健康需求。图片：莱佛士医疗集团

持续的医疗护理使医生能够更深入地了解患者的病史、生活方式和不断变化的健康需求。

该集团表示，这体现了其集团诊疗模式的优势，在该模式下，医生、专家、护士、药剂师和专职医疗人员组成团队共同工作，为患者的整个治疗过程提供协调一致的护理。

“持续护理一直是RMG实践模式的一大优势，”罗医生说。

“通过汇集多个学科的专业知识，我们能够在患者健康历程的每个阶段提供协调一致、个性化的护理。”

不仅仅是治疗疾病

由于患者多年来一直由同一位医生诊治，医疗保健专业人员也会对他们的病史、生活方式、家族史和长期健康目标有更深入的了解。

卢医生表示，这使得医生能够更早地发现重要的临床变化，做出更明智的临床决策，并提供更个性化的建议，从而随着时间的推移获得更好的健康结果。

护士与患者密切合作，在整个治疗和康复过程中提供持续的护理和支持。图片：莱佛士医疗集团

护士与患者密切合作，在整个治疗和康复过程中提供持续的护理和支持。

许多患者及其家属，例如叶先生，多年来一直选择这家医疗集团，包括他的子女、侄子，以及他已故的父母。值此集团成立五十周年之际，集团表示，这些医患关系仍然是其“竭诚为患者服务”理念的核心。

对叶来说，坚持看同一位医生的最大好处不仅仅是熟悉感，更重要的是能得到信任的人的照顾，让他感到安心。

“我一直很感激罗医生的坦诚，”他说。“他非常专业，从不试图向我推销任何东西，只会根据我的需求给出建议。”

以下是塑造莱佛士医疗集团成长和发展的关键时刻。

1976 年：卢俊勇医生和罗阿尔弗雷德医生收购了麦士威尔大厦和塞西尔街的两家诊所。

1980 年：不断发展的诊所更名为莱佛士医疗集团（RMG）。

1982 年：RMG 建立了其旗舰诊所，标志着其进入企业医疗保健领域。

1990 年：赢得一份重要合同，为樟宜机场提供全天候医疗服务。

1993 年：推出莱佛士外科中心，这是东南亚第一家独立的日间手术中心。

1997 年：RMG 成为新加坡第一家上市的全面医疗保健提供商，在新加坡证券交易所的第二个板块 SESDAQ 上市。

2002年：莱佛士医院由时任副总理李显龙正式揭幕。

2010年：拓展至中国大陆，在上海开设第一家医疗中心。

2015-2016 年：成为首家也是唯一一家根据紧急护理合作计划与卫生部合作的私营医疗保健提供商。

2019 年：首个推出综合医疗保健平台 Raffles Connect 应用程序的医疗保健集团，提供一套全面的服务。

2021 年：在新加坡应对疫情中发挥关键作用，运营 15 个疫苗接种中心，接种 500 万剂疫苗。

2026 年：承诺在五年内投入 500 万美元用于推进医疗保健、教育和社区支持，并宣布在同一时期设立 50 项医疗保健奖学金。

了解更多关于莱佛士医疗集团50年医疗服务的信息。