The University of Northern British Columbia’s Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN) is set to test the latest AI wound care technologies, aiming to enhance patient outcomes and promote equity in treatment methodologies.
CTAAN, leveraging its network connections across the region, will introduce and validate innovative healthcare technologies that aim to revolutionize wound care treatments through the use of artificial intelligence. The research initiative focuses on standardizing treatment practices and improving patient outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.
Historically, healthcare education, wound care tools, and screening methods have been developed based on lighter skin tones, leading to disproportionately poor results for patients with darker skin tones. This issue is further exacerbated in communities with limited access to remote wound care services, resulting in alarming rates of major amputations due to diabetes wounds, especially among Indigenous populations.
To address these challenges, Digital, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, is collaborating with Swift Medical to deploy three cutting-edge technology tools designed to revolutionize patient care. These tools offer advanced wound evaluations, reduce variability in treatment approaches, and provide more accurate risk assessments.
Through collaboration with the National Research Council and other partners, CTAAN is at the forefront of validating these innovative technologies, which have the potential to significantly improve treatment accessibility and patient outcomes in rural and northern communities.
Dr. Richard McAloney, Director of CTAAN, emphasized the importance of introducing these technologies to the region, citing the center’s unique position to implement such innovations effectively. Dr. Shannon Freeman, Academic Director of CTAAN, highlighted the center’s established connections, partnerships, and processes that enable the testing and implementation of new healthcare technologies in real-world settings.
The partnership between Digital, Swift Medical, and other key stakeholders aims to enhance healthcare services through advanced AI solutions, increasing equitable access and improving health outcomes for all Canadians. By leveraging the expertise of various partners, including the University of Northern British Columbia, Brightshores Health System, and Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services, the initiative seeks to deploy cutting-edge wound care solutions in underserved communities effectively.
Overall, this collaborative effort underscores the potential of technology adoption and strategic partnerships in driving positive change in healthcare delivery, particularly in remote and marginalized regions.
