Ontario healthcare provider signs $300-million “smart hospital” deal with Philips

Itbusiness.ca
Nov. 11, 2015
By David Hamilton

The Internet of Things stands to revolutionize many industries including healthcare where the quick exchange of information between patients, staff, and devices could lead to improved quality and efficiency - and even save lives.

Aiming to do just that, Mackenzie Health, a regional healthcare provider serving Vaughan and Richmond Hill, Ont., has signed a $300-million, 18-year partnership with Philips to advance Mackenzie Health’s “smart hospital” vision.

This will include services ranging from room design to cloud-based predictive analytics to new diagnostic technologies that improve service as well as the patient experience.

“To bring our smart hospital vision to life, we are partnering with industry leaders like Philips who are at the forefront of innovation,” Mackenzie Health president and CEO Altaf Stationwala said in a statement.

This managed equipment services agreement - the largest of its kind in the Canadian healthcare industry - will advance Mackenzie Health’s medical technology procurement and maintenance programs for the existing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, which will be completed in 2019.

Located in the quickly growing Southwest York region (just north of Toronto), the 350-bed Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will feature Philips’ latest healthcare technology innovations.

Mackenzie Health will have access to Philips’ healthcare-specific expertise in areas such as systems interoperability, diagnostic imaging equipment utilization, radiology practice management, patient-centric design, and alarm management.

Philips and Mackenzie Health will also work together to turn patient informatics - such as genetics and other health indicators - into actionable data that can be used for predictive medicine and for preventative health. Hospital staff could even monitor patients using wearable technology so they don’t have to visit the physical hospital. These capabilities could ultimately improve clinical outcomes for patients while also reducing costs.

“The new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital has the potential to transform the lives of residents in our community, who are in need of quality care throughout their healthcare journey,” Stationwala said.