New Health Technologies Coming to Ontario
Province Supporting 15 Innovative Projects to Improve Patient Care at Home and in the Community
April 3, 2017 1:00 P.M.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Ontario is improving patient care through cutting-edge health technology by committing to provide grants for 15 new projects that will improve people’s care at home and in their communities.
Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was at the Impact Health Summit today to announce the new technologies that will be receiving support from the province.
Projects include:
- A new mobile device to help patients who have undergone cardiac and vascular surgery receive continuous vital sign monitoring in the hospital and at home, to prevent serious post-surgery complications and readmission to hospital
- New software to provide breast cancer patients with easy-to-access information about upcoming tests, appointments and treatment recommendations, while connecting family doctors with specialists for follow-up care
- New software to provide self-care tools to youth with mental health challenges, including a platform to support education, collaboration, engagement, intervention and goal-focused coaching.
The grants are part of Ontario’s Health Technologies Fund (HTF), which supports the development of Ontario-based health technologies that improve care for people, bring value to the health care system and create jobs.
Investing in innovative health technologies that help patients receive care closer to home is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to live healthy, and a health care system that is sustainable for generations to come.
Quick Facts
- Fifteen grants were awarded ranging from $95,000 to $500,000 each, totalling $5.4 million.
- The $20-million Health Technologies Fund is administered by the Ontario Centres of Excellence and the Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist (OCHIS).
- Minister Hoskins also announced the first three Innovation Brokers who will accelerate the work of the OCHIS by connecting health technology companies, health care providers, patients, and other key stakeholders to advance health technology innovations into practice.
- Each Health Innovation Team includes at least one provider of publicly funded health care services and at least one technology company with an R&D or manufacturing presence in Ontario.
- The next call for applications for the Health Technologies Fund will be announced in spring 2017.
Additional Resources
- Health Technologies Fund
- Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist
- Ontario Centres for Excellence
- Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care
Quotes
“The Health Technologies Fund is helping to develop exciting new tools that will improve the flow of health information and allow patients to receive high-quality care in their own homes and communities.”
“Technology is transforming our province, and that includes our health care system. The Health Technologies Fund recipients and the Innovation Brokers are helping foster a culture of health innovation across Ontario. Together, these initiatives will create jobs within the province’s knowledge economy, while also improving patient outcomes for all Ontarians.”
“The Health Technologies Fund is already having an impact in the health system because of the collaborations it has created between health service providers, health technology innovators and patients. We are finding new ways to solve our greatest challenges by harnessing the power of innovation to provide better care while creating jobs in Ontario.”
“Through Ontario’s Health Technologies Fund, Ontario Centres of Excellence is working with the government to strengthen our innovation ecosystem by supporting and accelerating development and implementation of made-in-Ontario health technologies. As a part of the Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, these projects will better develop coordinated and integrated care in communities, improve patient outcomes and help companies to build evidence for adoption.”
“The Health Technologies Fund will greatly benefit Ontario-developed technologies that address health system challenges, while growing Ontario’s economy and, most importantly, improving the lives of patients. This is one of a number of initiatives from the Wynne government that highlight its tremendous commitment to make Ontario the leading jurisdiction for adopting innovative medical technologies.”
“The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has consistently advocated for better integration of Ontario-based innovations in our public health care system. With today’s announcements, the Government of Ontario has taken a critical step along the path to transforming our health care system.”
Media Contacts
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David Jensen
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Joshua McLarnon
Minister’s Office
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