Lakeridge Health is partnering with Spark Centre to take innovation at the hospital to a whole new level.
“Growing and fostering innovation is what we do best at Spark Centre,” says the Centre’s CEO, Sherry Colbourne.
With locations in Oshawa and Whitby, Spark Centre provides advisory services to early stage or growing innovation and technology companies. Services include executive coaching, co-location and day-to-day operational support to help entrepreneurs reach their full potential.
“Through our relationship with Spark Centre, we have been able to connect with start-up companies that are developing some amazing products and services that can help improve the patient experience at our hospital,” explains Len Kleine, Lakeridge Health’s Director of Business Development and Innovation.
For example, wayfinding for patients and families is a common complaint on patient satisfaction surveys at Lakeridge Health, says Len. Spark Centre has connected Lakeridge Health with Innerspace, a Toronto-based company that has developed state-of-the-art ceiling-mounted camera technology. Together with Whitby-based software developer, Digital Ink Technologies, InnerSpace is helping Lakeridge Health develop a Wayfinding app that will have internal mapping capabilities that will allow patients and visitors to navigate the hospital with their mobile device.
“Spark Centre and its partners are helping us create innovation solutions to some problems we face every day,” adds Len.
Partnering with Lakeridge Health provides entrepreneurs at Spark Centre with an amazing opportunity to test their products and services in a real healthcare setting, adds the Founder of WeTraq, Ishaan Singla.
Ishaan has developed a device the size of a credit card that helps families track and monitor loved ones who are prone to wandering because of Alzheimer’s, Autism, Dementia and other conditions.
“Being able to test in a real-life health care setting boosts consumer confidence in your product or service especially when approaching investors for funding,” explains Ishaan.
With plans to grow Lakeridge Health’s Innovation Office in the future, Len hopes innovators at the hospital can also benefit from its partnership with Spark Centre by connecting with mentors and the support they need to grow their ideas.
