Six GTA hospitals collaborate, showcase advances

TORONTO – After banding together late last year to share and promote their in-house innovations, six Toronto-area hospitals demonstrated the initiatives in January at an exposition, called InnovationEX, which attracted the provincial health minister, Deb Matthews (pictured, on right), as well as a crowd of participants.

Held at North York General Hospital, InnovationEX was the brainchild of the newly formed Joint Centres for Transformative Healthcare Innovation. The six hospitals that formed the group showed off 25 of their pioneering ideas at the event.

The Joint Centres organization is made up of:

• Mackenzie Health (Richmond Hill)
• Markham Stouffville Hospital (Markham)
• North York General Hospital (Toronto)
• Southlake Regional Health Centre (Newmarket)
• St. Joseph’s Health Centre (Toronto)
• Toronto East General Hospital (Toronto)

“Events such as InnovationEX are an illustration of the exemplary work being done at the bedside to help transform the healthcare system,” said Minister Matthews. “It is inspiring and uplifting to see so many people, from across these incredible organizations, coming together to create measurable change for the people of Ontario.”

Innovations ranged from technological advances, to operating room practices and the inclusion of patient and family advisors across hospital practices.

“At Mackenzie Health, we are pleased to be a part of the The Joint Centres for Transformative Healthcare Innovation and to share our advancements with our peers and the people in our communities,” said Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, Mackenzie Health. “We view innovation as a key factor for our organization going forward and we are proud of our pioneering projects, which help us achieve our vision to create a world-class health experience for our communities.”

Mackenzie Health’s exhibits, all first of their kind in Canada, were as follows:

Innovation Unit – Smart Patient Room

A transformation in the delivery of patient-centred care that uses smart technologies to improve patient safety, efficiency and quality at the point of care.

Hardwiring Patient Safety and Quality Care Through Best Practice Guidelines

A collaborative, cost effective and innovative approach to reduce the incidence of Nurse Sensitive Adverse Events (NSAEs,) through the integration of best practice guidelines hardwired into the e-health record.

Connect: Automated Post-Discharge Phone Calls

A partnership between Mackenzie Health and National Research Corporation Canada (NRCC). It utilizes technology to reach out to all patients post-discharge to improve a safe and effective transition home.

Central Equipment Management

A first in Canada model incorporating four different technologies to create a comprehensive equipment management program to ensure that all equipment used for patient care is readily accessible and in working order.

An Idea Café held throughout the event invited guests to suggest their own ideas and approaches to solving some of today’s most pressing questions in the healthcare setting, such as increasing influenza immunization compliance, hand hygiene and encouraging innovation from boardroom to bedside.

Guests had the opportunity to log into an app on their smart devices to get a virtual tour of the expo, rate each exhibit and innovation, and join in the virtual conversation.

“Events such as InnovationEX are an illustration of the exemplary work being done at the bedside to help transform the healthcare system,” said Minister Matthews. “It is inspiring and uplifting to see so many people, from across these incredible organizations, coming together to create measurable change for the people of Ontario.”