Shaping the Future of Healthcare with Information, Communication, Automation & Technology

7-9-2023

Defining what it means to be "state-of-the-art" starts long before shovels hit the ground for new hospital construction projects. In the coming weeks, Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) staff, professional staff and hospital users will begin this journey with the help of Angus Connect, a division of HHAngus & Associates Ltd.

Following a competitive process, the leading technology consulting firm was selected to develop and implement an Information, Communication, Automation, and Technology (ICAT) strategy for the New Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital (NWEACH) Project. This multidisciplinary team of IT, healthcare and engineering professionals will support the project through the indicative design, tendering and construction stages.

"It is an exciting time to be part of planning that can support a lasting legacy for the hospital and the Windsor-Essex Community," says Chris Byczko, Digital Strategist for the project.

Byczko says healthcare in Canada is experiencing a technology-driven renaissance as it moves away from the dark ages of paper-based care and today's hospital is much more advanced than those built even a decade ago.

In 2015, Humber River Hospital opened North America's first fully digital hospital in Toronto. Now, according to Byczko, many of the features that made it unique on opening day have become standard design features, and WRH is well positioned to build on the pioneering work of recently built hospitals, like Humber, and look for opportunities to advance the use of smart technology systems and push the envelope even further.

Project Lead Catlin Campbell says there is no one definition for a smart hospital. The possibilities are endless when it comes to innovation and it is important to customize the use of technology to meet each organization's needs.

"We don't want to add technology for the sake of adding technology. It's about building smart, and spending wisely."

 

Members of the Angus Connect project team bring a wealth of experience to the project, having worked on the ICAT strategy for a number of hospital projects including the Michael Garron Hospital that opened earlier this year in Toronto and the Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. They are also working on the new South Niagara and Ottawa Hospital projects.

Over the next several months, they will work with WRH to develop an ICAT vision and standards for the use of technology in the new state-of-the-art hospital.

As part of the process, they will examine opportunities for traditional and innovative uses of technology, including everything from nurse calls, patient information, and entertainment systems to smart rooms and automated guided vehicles.

Users will be guided to think outside of the box and imagine how technology can help ensure a seamless and comfortable journey for patients and support staff in providing timely and efficient care. Smart technology in hospitals offers a wide range of benefits that can significantly improve patient care, streamline operations, and enhance overall efficiency.

Before joining Angus Connect, Smart Logistics Consultant Robyn Munro worked as a nurse at several hospitals, including the new Humber River. She says at Humber, she immediately felt safer and more supported in her job than she did in previous hospital environments and felt her patients were safer, more comfortable, and better connected.

With a "real-time tracking system" she says she never felt isolated when working alone with patients and could easily connect with other nursing staff or the command centre with the click of a button.

Electronic medical records and test results available at the bedside allowed patients and families to play a more active role in care.

"With easy access to this information, patients have a better understanding of their care and treatment, ask more informed questions, and are more comfortable making decisions."

Using the same touch screen, patients can also order meals, adjust the lighting and temperature, and see the name and title of hospital staff entering their room.

Munro says the smart patient room will continue to get smarter as hospitals discover new ways to make use of advanced system capabilities, make use of the data they provide, and explore new system connections and integrations.

In developing an ICAT strategy, planning teams will look at what is working well and lessons learned from early adopters of advanced digital solutions. They also examine new and innovative ICAT solutions being explored and introduced in US hospitals.

"Even if that technology isn't immediately adopted into the new build, we want to make sure the right infrastructure is in place to support it in the future," said Munro.

She says it is impossible to imagine how technology will be used 20-30 years from now, but it is important to plan ahead and have the right pieces in place so the new facility can accommodate growth in the future and remain "state-of-the-art" for generations to come.

The final ICAT strategy is expected to take 4-6 months to complete and will be used to inform the final design of the hospital.