Despite operating in Canada’s capitated healthcare system where investment in innovation is challenging, the leadership team at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) in Toronto, Ontario has found a way to make it part of their DNA. Using a collaborative, inclusive, and open approach, Holland Bloorview is blazing a trail and setting an example for other organizations.
Healthcare IT Today had the opportunity to speak with Julia Hanigsberg, President and CEO of Holland Bloorview (winner of the 2022 Medigy HITMC Award for Health IT Trailblazer of the Year) to find out more about their approach to innovation.
Innovation at HBRKH
Holland Bloorview is Canada’s largest children’s rehabilitation hospital. They serve children who have chronic medical conditions, disabilities, and trauma that requires complex rehabilitation programs. Some of the children Holland Bloorview helps, are part of a program for their entire childhood.
“We look at the whole child,” explained Hanigsberg. “Of course, we have physicians, nurses and all the therapy professionals, but we also have programs like music, arts, participation & inclusion, and pathways to employment.”
These programs were developed by listening to the needs of children and their families. They were not created by academics in an ivory tower. The programs reflect the desire to give patients in their care a path to as much independence as possible.
“Whatever we can do to increase the safety of our care is really important to us,” continued Hanigsberg. “And increasing access to services and reducing the barriers to services experienced by children and families. We are interested in using technology to create better access to care.”
Innovation Examples
Hanigsberg shared three examples of innovative projects that her team is working on:
- Brain-computer interfaces. They are looking at non-invasive technologies that can “read” kids’ thoughts and allow them to control their environment – be it a wheelchair, video game, or light switch. There is already a clinical program running for inpatients and outpatients.
- Anxiety meter. A smart watch application that allows a child and caregiver to be made aware that their anxiety is increasing. The child (or caregiver) can then use coping strategies to reduce the anxiety before it reaches a level where more drastic measures are needed. This technology has been commercialized by the team at AwakeLabs.
- Gamifying physiotherapy. By making exercises fun, Holland Bloorview hopes to increase the mobility and outcomes of children who sometimes find excuses not to do the required activities.
Over the past year, Hanigsberg and her team have also been worked with MEDITECH to implement Expanse. This upgrade provides better access to medical information for patients and improves/streamlines operations at the hospital.
Innovation in Healthcare
Holland Bloorview is demonstrating that being innovative is not a function of budget or payment model. They are successfully implementing new technologies and creating the next generation of applications because as a group, they believe innovation can lead to better care.
Of course it helps to have a leader at the top, like Hanigsberg who is not afraid to take calculated risks and who encourages those around her to challenge the status quo.
“We’re not the biggest risk takers [in healthcare], but you’ve got to think about the risk in not innovating,” said Hanigsberg. “The rest of the world is adopting technologies in all sorts of ways. Our patients expect that from us.”
Watch the full interview with Hanigsberg to learn:
- How virtual care opened up new options for patients and families during the pandemic
- What projects Holland Bloorview will be working on in the next 12 months
Learn more about Holland Bloorview by visiting their website: https://hollandbloorview.ca/
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