Leading full-suite Canadian systems integrator, MOBIA, of Halifax, has announced that its SurgeCon software has been selected by Horizon Health Network (Horizon) to help address emergency department (ED) flow challenges, improve patient wait times, and manage patient surges.
The software will be rolled out across seven sites in New Brunswick. The project has been made possible through Health Canada and Innovation Solutions Canada who identified SurgeCon as a powerful tool to improve EDs through their COVID-19 Innovation fund.
SurgeCon will enable Horizon to automate workflows and proactively implement measures in the ED to improve patient outcomes and better support frontline staff. Through real-time surge protocol algorithms, SurgeCon, will instantly notify clinicians and healthcare administrators with specific actions to take based on situational changes – helping to move patients through the ED, shortening length of overall stay, minimizing surges and ensuring that the appropriate resources are deployed. The software aims to increase transparency and collaboration across departments in the hospital.
Proven to effectively reduce wait times and improve patient flow in the ED, SurgeCon was conceptualized by an emergency department physician and a nurse at Carbonear General Hospital. The software is designed, developed, and operated by MOBIA.
The development of SurgeCon’s software is supported by collaborative research partners from Eastern Health and Memorial University of Newfoundland who are conducting a clinical trial which is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government, and the Trinity Conception Placentia Health Foundation. The Newfoundland and Labrador Center for Health Information (NLCHI) and IWK Health Center are also supporting this initiative.
SurgeCon’s proven track record and quick start-up time helped to solidify Horizon’s decision. “We are committed to providing the best possible patient experience and driving positive patient outcomes,” said Jennifer Sheils (pictured), chief information officer (CIO), Horizon Health Network. “SurgeCon will enable us to transform the way we manage flow and capacity in our emergency departments by improving patient flow, decreasing wait times and empowering staff to act before a surge occurs. Early Indications show the system is easy to implement and very user-friendly.”
“We are thrilled Horizon Health will be using SurgeCon to support their care efforts,” said director of digital transformation, MOBIA, Nevin Pick,. “Technology has the power to aid clinicians and administrators in their work and SurgeCon is an exceptionally powerful tool, providing real-time data to make real-time decisions. Emergency room staff give every shift 110 per cent and are exceptionally busy. It is an honour to be able to help reduce some of their workload by streamlining and automating portions of their workflow and surfacing the information they need to make informed care decisions.”
