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Locum Lingo
Plain-language explanations of the words and abbreviations used in Singapore locum postings and GP clinics. Informal terms can vary between clinics.
Locum work
A doctor who temporarily covers clinical work instead of holding that clinic's permanent post. In Singapore GP postings, this usually means accepting individual dated sessions.
A specific, dated block of temporary clinical work with a stated start and end time. Postings also call it a session or slot.
A doctor taking occasional or one-off sessions without committing to a recurring roster.
A locum who repeatedly covers an agreed day or session, such as every Saturday morning. The phrase does not by itself describe an employment arrangement.
An informal Singapore industry term for the regular doctor associated with a clinic who provides continuity and may lead its day-to-day clinical work.
Staffing and workload
An ambiguous roster phrase that may refer to the main doctor, the doctor covering the full session, or the first of two overlapping doctors.
An additional doctor is expected to consult at the same time for some or all of the session. For a second-doctor shift, this can mean a main or anchor doctor is also present. It does not necessarily mean junior, assistant, or supervised doctor.
The locum is expected to be the only consulting doctor on site for some or all of the session.
Patients per hour: an estimate of consultation pace. For example, 6 PPH means about six patient consultations in an hour.
Clinic operations
The software used to run clinical and administrative work such as registration, notes, prescribing, billing, claims, and dispensing. Postings often use EMR and CMS loosely.
Synapxe identifies CAS WEB as Parkway Shenton's non-commercial clinic management system. Some postings use similar wording for Clinic Assist's web version, so locums outside Parkway Shenton should confirm which system, login and consultation workflow the clinic means. View Synapxe's Healthier SG CMS list.
A Singapore clinic management and EMR platform developed by Assurance Technology. It supports GP workflows including patient records, prescribing, billing and integrations with labs, radiology providers and government services such as NEHR and Healthier SG. Explore Clinic Assist's features.
A CMS name reported in OpenLocum clinic listings. Several unrelated products use the ClinicOne name, and no authoritative public source identifies which developer or edition these Singapore listings mean; ask the clinic for its onboarding instructions.
A system name reported in OpenLocum clinic listings. We could not verify a public Singapore GP product matching this spelling, so it may be an internal system or a variant name; confirm the software and workflow with the clinic before the shift.
A clinic management system used by Healthway Medical Group and other Singapore clinics. Galen supports Healthier SG care plans and reporting alongside clinical, insurance, laboratory and administrative workflows for primary-care practices. Read the College of Family Physicians Singapore review.
Singapore's GP-focused CMS and EMR, developed by Synapxe and introduced in 2017. It covers registration, consultation records, dispensing, billing and submissions to national systems including NEHR and SmartCMS; Synapxe reports adoption by more than 200 GP clinics. Learn more about GPConnect.
A digital medical assistant built by Singapore-based Klinify to help clinics manage patient data and clinical operations. Its public material does not document the exact Singapore GP configuration, so locums should confirm which modules the clinic uses. Learn about Klinify.
A CMS name reported in OpenLocum clinic listings, but not a uniquely identifiable Singapore product: several unrelated healthcare systems are called Medilink. Ask the clinic which vendor and version it uses rather than relying on another product's guide.
A clinic management and EMR platform developed by Singapore-based Plato Medical. It combines scheduling and registration with configurable clinical notes, prescriptions, billing, inventory and reporting, and supports Singapore GP and Healthier SG workflows. Explore Plato CMS.
Raffles Medical Group's custom-built, centralised Clinic Management System and EMR. It integrates registration, patient records, billing and medicine-dispensary information across Raffles clinics, so its workflow is specific to the group. Read Raffles Medical Group's system overview.
A configurable CMS and EMR developed by Singapore-based SGiMED. Its GP modules cover patient records, templates, dispensing and inventory, billing and claims, queues, patient e-services, and integrations with NEHR and Healthier SG. Explore Hummingbird's GP features.
A web-based CMS and EMR developed by Singapore IT provider Magicsoft Asia Systems. Vanda supports appointments, clinical notes and prescriptions, queues, inventory and dispensing, billing and claims, multi-branch operations, and Singapore programmes including Healthier SG. Explore Vanda CMS.
Programmes and requirements
The Community Health Assist Scheme, which provides eligible Singapore Citizens with subsidies for care at participating GP and dental clinics. Learn more about CHAS.
The Chronic Disease Management Programme, under which eligible patients can use MediSave for outpatient treatment of specified chronic conditions. Read the MOH CDMP guidance.
Singapore's preventive-care strategy in which residents enrol with a family clinic and work with their family doctor on a health plan and ongoing care. Learn more about Healthier SG.
A national screening programme offering eligible residents subsidised recommended health screening at participating clinics. View the screening resources.
A Public Health Preparedness Clinic: a primary-care clinic participating in national public health responses during outbreaks and other health emergencies. Learn more about PHPCs.
Registration with the Singapore Medical Council. Registration type and conditions determine where and how a doctor may practise. Read the SMC registration guidance.
A current certificate issued through the Singapore Medical Council that permits a registered doctor to practise during its validity period. Read the SMC practising certificate guidance.
Continuing medical education: recognised learning activities and points that doctors must accumulate for practising-certificate renewal. Read the SMC CME guidance.
Protection for specified professional liabilities arising from medical practice, subject to the policy or indemnity provider's scope, terms, and exclusions. Read our medical indemnity guide.