OCI to invest $8.2 million in health tech projects

TORONTO – The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) announced the funding of projects through the Innovating Digital Health Solutions Program (IDHS), an initiative, funded by the Ontario government, aimed at fast-tracking digital health innovations in Ontario. IDHS, delivered by the Ontario Centre of Ontario (OCI), will invest $8.2 million across 13 approved projects designed to revolutionize healthcare delivery across the province.

“The Innovating Digital Health Solutions Program (IDHS) showcases the collaborative efforts between Ontario Health Teams and companies with innovative digital solutions, demonstrating the incredible potential of such partnerships to advance healthcare innovation. The projects supported through IDHS are exceptional, representing a crucial step forward in transforming healthcare in Ontario and improving patient outcomes,” said Claudia Krywiak (pictured), president and CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI).

IDHS supports Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) and technology vendors in implementing innovative digital and virtual care solutions. The program addresses specific challenge statements to improve patient-centered care and enhance service efficiency. Approved projects include:

AI-Enhanced Emergency Care: University Health Network in collaboration with Hero AI, are integrating advanced AI technologies to monitor high-risk patients, optimize resource allocation, and improve communication in emergency departments.

Wound Care Assessment: William Osler Health System (WOHS) in collaboration with Swift Medical, are implementing cutting-edge wound care technology for more accurate wound assessments, better documentation, and improved patient care.

Streamlined Navigation: Partners Community Health, in collaboration with Trillium Health Partners and Caredove, are streamlining patient navigation by creating a centralized intake and referral system, reducing ED visits for non-urgent issues, and improving healthcare access.

Mental Health Triage: Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), in collaboration with OPTT Inc., are implementing an innovative digital mental health approach combining AI-assisted triage, online psychotherapy programs, and AI symptom monitoring to reduce wait times and improve access to mental healthcare.

Enhanced Healthcare Communication: Brightshores Health System in collaboration with Langs; Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance; Guelph Family Health Team; St. Thomas Elgin Hospital; Joseph Brant Hospital; North Simcoe Family Health Team and Hypercare are enhancing care coordination by facilitating secure communication among healthcare professionals, improving patient care and safety.

Breast Cancer Care: North York General Hospital in collaboration with MyJourney are improving breast cancer patient treatment and survivorship care and breast health management by offering personalized educational resources and streamlined information sharing between patients and their clinical teams.

Smart Cardiac Emergency Care: Ottawa Heart Institute in collaboration with Badal.io are implementing a secure mobile-enabled platform designed to streamline communication between emergency doctors and interventional cardiologists, aiming to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Geospatial Health Analysis: Southlake Regional Health Centre in collaboration with ESRI Canada and Carleton University are enhancing health system planning by using geospatial visualization tools to identify local health needs and gaps in service accessibility.

Measurement-Based Mental Health Care: Brightshores Health System in collaboration with Greenspace Mental Health Ltd. are implementing measurement-based care for mental health and addiction services, improving data-driven decision-making and client engagement.

Integrated Patient Records: Urgent Care Collaborative Inc. in collaboration with Health Espresso are implementing a patient-centric platform that enables coordinated care delivery, data collection, and system navigation.

Improving Patient Experience: Queens Square Family Health Team in collaboration with Chime Technology Inc. and Queen Square Doctors are improving how to coordinate scheduling for clinical staff, clinic checks-in, and how to effectively manage clinical exam rooms and other fixed resources more efficiently.

Timely Stroke Treatment in Northern Ontario: Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in collaboration with Aurora Constellations are providing timely access to treatment for patients who present with a suspected acute stroke in Northwestern Ontario.

Psychometric mental health screening: Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre in collaboration with Continicare to effectively triage, evaluate and measure patients’ mental health.

IDHS is designed to encourage and foster partnerships between Ontario Health Teams and Ontario-based Technology Vendors to evaluate, adopt, and implement market-ready innovative digital health and/or virtual care solutions that address Ontario’s health system priorities and to drive collaboration that improves patient outcomes, optimizes the impact of investment in health innovation and supports the opportunity to scale health innovation.

About the Ontario Centre of Innovation
The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) brings industry, academic, and government partners together to invest in collaborative R&D, technology development, and commercialization opportunities that generate the highest return on innovation for Ontarians. As an ecosystem connector, OCI initiates unparalleled partnership opportunities, develops, and manages successful industry-academic collaborations, supports high-potential SMEs in commercializing ground-breaking research, and provides hands-on training and skills development opportunities for the next generation of highly skilled talent. OCI drives economic growth and job creation through investments in the development, commercialization, and adoption of advanced technologies. For more information about the Innovating Digital Health Solutions Program (IDHS), please visit the OCI website at www.oc-innovation.ca.