Healthcare institutions still largely operate in an analogue mode, with brick and mortar visits to hospitals and clinics the norm. As we brace for a new surge of COVID-19 cases Canada, home to between 800 and 1,000 health-related technology start-ups, must work to unleash the power of digital invention and innovation for patients.
One of the biggest issues facing healthcare today is patient readmission. In Canada, 8% to 10% of patients are readmitted within 30 days, situations often caused by preventable clerical issues and unclear lines of communication.
Another problem is lack of staff. A recent study by Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care highlighted a system in crisis, with better and more funding, more staff and better working conditions urgently needed.
Drafted as part of Ontario’s long-term care modernization plan, the study provides strategic advice intended to support a better quality of life for residents and inform expansion plans for the long-term care system across the province.
BookJane: Reshaping the Healthcare Industry
At BookJane, we understand the challenges that hospitals and other institutions face when it comes to hiring staff. That’s why we built the world's first award-winning health care platform allowing healthcare facilities to digitally open shifts – for any position – to internal and external workforces, in order to reduce administrative burdens, increase shift fulfillment and deliver the very best patient care.
We are proud of how our platform is reshaping the healthcare industry by seamlessly connecting care facilities, agencies and care worker team members in order to facilitate filling shifts with the right, qualified people.
Our platform today services Care Communities including Retirement Homes, Long-Term Care, Hospitals, Child Care Centers and Agencies. We provide each of our users with scalable workforce management solutions powered by simple yet innovative technology.
Digital Hospitals of the Future
Whatever the chosen technology, hospitals are responding positively to the digital revolution. Ontario’s Humber River Hospital, billing itself as North America’s “first fully digital hospital,” has completely digitized and automated health records, robots delivering supplies and video links in rooms. Other hospitals such as Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill, Ontario have upgraded their wireless networks, with faster connections allowing for the installation of video communication stations in the rooms and smart beds allowing nurses to monitor how patients are sleeping. And the Scarborough Hospital in Toronto and the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal are both testing a surgery preparation and recovery app, available to patients on iOS and Android devices and on the web.
The Government of Canada is also stepping up, having committed $240.5 million to support the expansion of virtual care, with steps being taken across the country to deploy health care solutions to Canadians throughout the pandemic.
As well, Canada’s Competition Bureau has started a process to examine what may be impeding the adoption of healthcare tech, inviting Canadians to share their views on what may be impeding the uptake of digital care. Through the study the Competition Bureau hopes to encourage the adoption of policies across the country that will help ensure that Canadians have access to innovation and virtual healthcare solutions.
The world is an entirely different place than it was in 1918. Today, technology exists to strengthen the healthcare system and provide patients with the tools that are necessary to improve their healthcare experiences and their long-term health. The time is now to unleash the power of the digital healthcare revolution.
Learn how BookJane helps health care facilities improve shift fulfillment by 40%, dramatically decrease their time to fill shifts, and significantly reduce burdensome scheduling and administration time.
