Johor Specialist Hospital strengthens care coordination, supports timely diagnosis via integrated, multidisciplinary approach.
KPJ Healthcare Bhd has taken a significant step forward with the launch of its Heart and Lung Centre of Excellence at Johor Specialist Hospital (JSH), marking the group’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) focused on cardiac and respiratory care.
The launch reflects a deliberate effort to strengthen subspecialty care through more coordinated clinical practices, shared standards and multidisciplinary collaboration, particularly in the management of complex heart and lung conditions.
The designation recognises JSH’s maturity in both cardiac and respiratory services and its readiness to support care delivery at a broader system level, shared consultant respiratory physician and internal medicine specialist Dr Muhammad Redzwan S. Rashid Ali, together with consultant cardiologist and internal medicine specialist Dr Ngim Chin Aik. They noted that the centre’s establishment also aligns with KPJ’s longer-term direction towards a more integrated health system, where expertise, clinical pathways and quality practices are progressively aligned across hospitals through the KPJ Health System.
The decision to anchor the group’s first CoE at JSH is grounded in the hospital’s strong clinical foundation, depth of specialist expertise and experience in managing a high volume of complex cardiac and respiratory cases.
These strengths, combined with established multidisciplinary practices and a proven track record in specialist care, position JSH to serve as a reference point for the standards and structures expected of future CoEs within the KPJ network.
Beyond clinical capability, the designation reflects a broader commitment to coordinated care, shared learning and continuous improvement as KPJ advances towards a more connected, academic-driven healthcare model.
Standardised pathways and multidisciplinary teams
One of the most important goals of the Heart and Lung CoE is to unify the cardiac and respiratory care experience for patients across all KPJ hospitals, explains Dr Muhammad Redzwan.
This is achieved through detailed, evidence-based workflows that guide the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up for a wide range of heart and lung conditions. Such pathways ensure that every patient receives consistent, high-quality care, regardless of which KPJ facility they visit.
The CoE is also built on strong multidisciplinary collaboration, where patients benefit from faster diagnosis, smoother coordination and access to specialised services, all under one roof to ensure that treatment decisions are holistic and grounded in collective expertise, says Dr Ngim.
Within the CoE, specialists meet regularly to discuss cases, share diagnostic insights and jointly plan treatment strategies.
This collaborative approach supports clearer decision-making and more coordinated care, particularly for complex conditions that require input from both cardiac and respiratory teams. Patients can expect:
> Faster diagnostic access, supported by streamlined tests and investigations that help minimise waiting times
> Seamless care navigation, with guidance throughout the treatment process to ensure clarity and continuity
> Enhanced safety and outcomes, supported by standardised protocols and multidisciplinary oversight
> A patient-centred experience, where care decisions are communicated clearly and transparently.
Across both cardiac and pulmonary specialties, advanced imaging, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven diagnostics, catheter-based interventions and minimally invasive surgical techniques are reshaping modern care.
When combined with specialist expertise, these innovations help ensure that patients receive precise, effective and contemporary treatment.
Dr Muhammad Redzwan cites the examples of Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) and AI-enhanced positron emission tomography (PET) for lung cancer diagnosis and staging. These exemplify their vision of effective healthcare.
Besides clinical expertise and excellence, Dr Ngim emphasises that patients should feel supported and empowered throughout their journey, from the first consultation to diagnosis, treatment and eventual discharge.
Beyond acute clinical interventions, the CoE provides comprehensive rehabilitation and long-term follow-up programmes for respiratory and cardiac patients.
“These help to ensure that patients stay stable and functional, and remain empowered after their acute treatment,” informs Dr Muhammad Redzwan.
The rehabilitation team works together to design personalised recovery plans, including exercise therapy, breathing training, lifestyle counselling and medication optimisation.
The focus on recovery reflects a commitment to helping patients reclaim their lives, not just recover from illness.
Integrated academic health system
The launch of the Heart and Lung CoE represents a key milestone in KPJ Healthcare’s journey towards building an integrated academic health system, notes Dr Ngim.
It reflects a model that brings patient care, education, research and innovation closer together within a more coordinated ecosystem.
Under this approach, the group is strengthening its role in advancing specialised care, medical education and real-world research.
The long-term aim is to progressively establish more consistent standards of care across the network, strengthen clinical governance to enable meaningful benchmarking, enhance training and education as well as to support research and innovation as drivers of continuous improvement.
As this system continues to take shape, KPJ envisions a network where expertise is shared more effectively, supporting improved patient experiences and outcomes nationwide.
In working towards this, Dr Muhammad Redzwan notes that the group has engaged Mayo Clinic Global Consulting to support capability building and the development of clinical standards, contributing to improved outcomes and the adoption of evidence-based care within the KPJ Health System.
Why heart and lung health matters today
Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Malaysia, with its incidence continuing to rise.
Lung diseases are also increasingly prevalent, ranging from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to chronic respiratory infections seen across many populations.
According to both specialists, a combination of lifestyle factors, ageing, urbanisation and environmental pollution is driving this growing burden.
More concerning is the shift towards younger patients presenting with heart and lung conditions, reflecting a changing clinical landscape.
Lifestyle-related risks play a significant role, notes Dr Muhammad Redzwan.
Stress, sedentary habits and poor air quality are taking a toll, while obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking remain persistent challenges. Together, these factors place sustained pressure on long-term health and wellbeing.
Many heart and lung conditions also develop quietly, adds Dr Ngim, with early symptoms often overlooked. Warning signs such as fatigue, chest discomfort, breathlessness or palpitations should prompt early evaluation, even among individuals who otherwise feel well.
For respiratory conditions, Dr Muhammad Redzwan advises that a persistent cough lasting more than two to three weeks should always be assessed. “Do not ignore such symptoms,” he cautions.
Dr Ngim further emphasises the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle supported by timely screening.
“Identifying and monitoring risk factors such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, cholesterol levels and family history allows for earlier detection and intervention,” she explains, helping to prevent disease progression.
The strength of the Heart and Lung CoE lies in its dedicated multidisciplinary team, where coordinated expertise supports patient-centred care.
Heart and lung conditions often coexist, such as severe COPD alongside heart failure, making integrated, collaborative management essential.
Foundation of the future
The CoEs play a vital role not only in delivering high-quality patient care, but also in strengthening healthcare systems through training, research and clinical innovation.
By establishing clear clinical standards and supporting multidisciplinary collaboration, they help translate advances in knowledge, technology and best practices into meaningful outcomes for patients.
With the launch of the Heart and Lung Centre of Excellence at JSH, KPJ Healthcare has laid an important foundation for a more integrated, outcomes-driven approach to specialist care.
The centre brings together coordinated clinical pathways, shared expertise and structured governance to support consistent, high-quality management of complex cardiac and respiratory conditions.
Looking ahead, KPJ Healthcare has outlined plans to establish more CoEs across its network.
Each centre is intended to strengthen specialist capabilities, deepen clinical expertise and expand access to high-quality care, while supporting education, research and continuous improvement across the group.
The Heart and Lung CoE at JSH represents the first step in this longer-term journey, reflecting KPJ Healthcare’s commitment to building a connected health system that continues to evolve through practice, education, research and innovation.
For more information, contact the Heart & Lung Excellence Centre, Johor Specialist Hospital at 07-225 3182.
KKLIU: 0403/ EXP 31.12.2028
