By Allison Johnson, Communications Manager, Windsor Regional Hospital
It is like a healthcare and technology mashup. All the best practices in healthcare are combined with the most advanced technology in this facility to make things easier for staff and make patients feel more connected.
In this hospital, robots deliver supplies and mix chemotherapy drugs, and patients can access their medical records or FaceTime with their nurse through a bedside monitor.
OPENING SOON: North America’s first fully digital hospital is scheduled to open October 18, 2015.
SNEAK PEAK: Earlier this month, members of the public were invited to check out the new facility before it opens.
Setting a new standard
I had the opportunity to check out the new hospital last week during a public tour. As we explored the facility as a group, words like amazing, breathtaking and overwhelming echoed in the wide open hallways that will soon be full of patients. Humber River is indeed all of these things.
When I spoke to the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer, Barb Collins, last year, she told me her team wanted to set a new standard for healthcare in North America. By all accounts, they have succeeded!
WATCH: 2014 video with Barb Collins talking about the new Humber River Hospital as it was under construction.
Going digital
By comparison, this place makes other new hospitals look outdated. Patients who come to Humber River can be confident knowing that every effort has been made to enhance their care through the use of technology.
Our tour guide – a Director at Humber River – tells me that when staff see their new digs, they leave smiling from ear to ear. Of course they do! Humber River is a beautiful, new building, that is full of natural light. It is also designed to allow staff to maximize their medical skills and spend more time caring for patients.
BARBS BLOG: Humber River Hospital’s Chief Operating Operator documents what it means go “Go Digital” in her blog. Click on the photo above to read Barb’s blog posts.
State of the art
None of the equipment from the hospital’s current facilities is being transferred to the new Humber River. The fresh start means they can use the most advanced equipment available. In addition, a 15-year Managed Equipment Services (MES) agreement with General Electric will allow the hospital to maintain its cutting-edge reputation, even when these machines are no longer considered state of the art. For the life of the agreement GE will maintain, service and REPLACE more than 1300 pieces of equipment as needed in the areas of Diagnostic Imaging, Surgical and Emergency.
According to our tour guide, this kind of infrastructure and innovation makes recruiting healthcare professionals easy. Who wouldn’t want to work in a place like this?
ALL NEW EQUIPMENT: All of the equipment in the hospital is new. Some of it is still in the packaging as you can see in this trauma room.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Through a partnership with GE, equipment will be maintained and replaced when they become outdated. That means an x-ray machine like this one will be replaced in approximately 5-7 years.
RADIOLOGY ROBOTS: The robots in this radiology suite can move around to capture images of the patient at all angles without the patient having to move. The images are projected on a monitor for physicians to see while they work.
Getting around
At 13 floors and 1.8 million square feet, this place could be a nightmare to navigate, but there are built in features to make getting around easy and safe.
THE CONCOURSE: The hospital is designed like an airport with several entrances located along a concourse. Outpatients will be told which door to enter when they arrive. From that door, they will never be more than 30 feet from the clinic or department they are looking for.
WAY FINDING KIOSK: Those who require more detailed directions can find them on one of the Multi-language kiosks. They will tell you where your appointment is, show you on a map, and allow you to download the directions to your smart phone so you can take them with you.
AUTOMATIC DOORS: There is no need to touch a door handle and transfer germs as you make your way around the hospital. All of the doors are motion sensored. You can literally just snap your fingers in front of this button to make the door open.
Comfort & control
Eighty percent of the rooms here are for single patients – that is the new standard in Ontario hospitals. These private spaces are larger and more comfortable than an average bachelor apartment and are well equipped with smart technologies.
BEDSIDE TOUCH SCREENS: From the computer device next to every bed, patients can see their medical records, FaceTime their nurse, order their meals, and control the lighting and temperature in their rooms and much more.
GUEST ROOM: At the back of each room there is a sitting area with a pull out couch for family members. Having family members present and part of the care team helps patients recover quicker.
FAMILY MATTERS: For times when the pull out bed just won’t cut it, or isn’t big enough, there is a Courtesy Room on each floor. These rooms offer more space to sleep, shower and unwind and can be reserved by family members.
CURTAIN-FREE WINDOWS: Electronic shades in the windows can be automatically controlled by the hospital, or manually controlled by patients. Once a patient is assigned to an area, they control how much sunlight gets in. In these small patient areas, one patient could be in full sunlight while his neighbor sits in darkness.
Moving Day
Beginning at 6 am on October 18, 2015, patients from 3 general hospitals will be transferred from their current locations to the New Humber River. By dinner, the hospital will be full, and in full swing.
Staff have been preparing for the move for months. They’ve been learning to use the new technologies and learning new procedures for healthcare delivery. Volunteers have been trained to help patients dive into the digital.
Being the first to test the fully digital waters is brave, commendable and inspiring. It must also be frightening. One patient on the tour asked with real concern how she will be able to order her food, because at 75, she is pretty sure she won’t be able to figure out the touch screen beside her bed. She was told volunteers will be available to help.
My guess is those volunteers will be pretty busy, at least in the short term. This digital revolution will transform healthcare as we know it, but will likely have some kinks and challenges along the way as everyone gets used to the new hospital.
Humber River patients know they are fortunate to be a testing ground for the latest in healthcare. The same patient who expressed concerns about the technology, also asked if she could make reservations to stay here when it opens, because the rooms looked so comfortable.
Over the next few years, while Humber River Hospital staff and patients learn what it means to be in an all digital facility, the rest of us will watch and benefit from the lessons they learn along the way. It is without a doubt, a game changer and has the potential to transform healthcare as we know it.
All the best to the team at Humber River as they continue this journey into the future of healthcare!
Windsor Regional Hospital 