Nova Scotia Health Authority making strides in improving orthopaedic diagnostics, treatment

" Our government is laying the foundation for Canadians to become more competitive and succeed in the global economy. Today's investment in the Nova Scotia Health Authority is building on our competitive advantages by embracing new medical technologies to boost economic growth and create good, middle class jobs for Canadians."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

"The research team at the Nova Scotia Health Authority has a well-earned reputation of fostering a productive research and development environment that results in innovation-based advances in healthcare. I am proud our government has chosen to support its collaborative and commercialization efforts with three Canadian companies to help improve standards of care for orthopaedic patients across Nova Scotia."

- Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism and Member of Parliament for Halifax

"The province is investing heavily to reduce wait times for orthopaedic surgeries like hip and knee replacements, and we're seeing improvements. It's hoped that further use of technology and new models of care could help reduce orthopaedic wait times further, and improve the quality of life for more Nova Scotians."

- Brendan Maguire, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Halifax Atlantic, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey

"Once again, we are drawing a straight line from research and innovation to improved patient outcomes. Nova Scotia Health Authority places a high priority on research and this particular project will advance the standard for patients who need orthopaedic care. We are very pleased to collaborate with industry partners to improve care for Nova Scotians. "

- Janet Knox, President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health Authority

"Today we see that meaningful collaboration fosters innovation. With the support of ACOA, our NSHA collaborative research partnership with Kinduct, Emovi and OrthoMX is bringing transformative innovations to patients across Nova Scotia."

- Dr. Michael Dunbar, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Endowed Chair of Arthroplasty Outcomes, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre

"We are extremely proud to be associated with this visionary project dedicated to improving patient care. Currently, treatment for knee osteoarthritis focuses on alleviating pain and symptoms rather than correcting biomechanical causes of disease progression and patient symptoms, which results in a tremendous economic burden on health networks and patients. The number of people who require a knee replacement is increasing dramatically and many physicians (46%) and patients (43%) are dissatisfied with the standard of care and believe that knee problems are not managed appropriately. Collaborating with Dr. Dunbar's team at NSHA is streamlining the process, improving the clinical efficiency and costs of both the conservative care and the surgical triage; and paving the way for better health for patients."

- Michelle Laflamme, Chief Executive Officer, Emovi Inc.

"Kinduct is proud to be part of this grass roots initiative to help improve delivery of orthopaedic care in Nova Scotia. Even though Kinduct has made its name in elite sports, we originated in physical medicine and have discovered that the tools required to empower and activate athletes are also effective for patients trying to optimize their health. Kinduct provides the backbone of this solution with our ability to ingest data from our partners and provide the derived meaningful insights in one consolidated platform. This collaborative project with Emovi, OrthoMx and NSHA really shows the potential of digital healthcare - networked data-driven systems that are focused on engaging patients and optimizing their outcomes."

- Dr. Travis McDonough, CEO and Founder, Kinduct Technologies

"This collaboration acts as a catalyst for patient-focused innovation. We are very pleased to integrate InStride with KneeKG and Orthomobility to create a product suite that will positively impact orthopaedic patients in Nova Scotia."

- Barbara Campbell, CEO and Founder, OrthoMX

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada invested $2 million in this project through ACOA's Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program.

• Annually, the NSHA administers more than $24 million in research funding and places a priority on translating the research into clinical practice.

• It is anticipated that the project will result in the creation of 20 highly skilled jobs.

• Kinduct Clinic, developed by Kinduct Technologies, is a patient engagement platform to deliver patient-specific content, and remote monitoring that enables a more effective flow of information between members of the patient's circle of care. Patients can also use the platform to access personalized care information, record their health status with surveys and wearables, and interact with their healthcare team.

• Emovi KneeKG system, developed by Emovi Inc., assesses knee joint functions dynamically and provides a written report of findings to the doctors who can then better understand causes of pain and symptoms to personalize and streamline care. It is a measurable improvement over the use of X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, which only provide a static image of the knee and provide no information on its function.

• OrthoMX, co-founded by NSHA orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Michael Dunbar, developed the Instride App, which is used on smartphones to track walking patterns and provide effective treatment monitoring of orthopaedic issues. It also enables remote monitoring of patients so clinicians can track progress and statuses without the need for an in-person appointment.

• The new Mobility Assessment Clinic at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre will take on the initial patient assessment and document triage of surgical versus non-surgical patients using the KneeKG system. Patients needing surgical consultation will be referred to the Orthopaedic Assessment Clinic, optimizing the triage process. The Kinduct Portal will be used to share patient file information with clinicians, who can access test results. Clinicians might also use the biomechanical markers identified with KneeKG to personalize and improve care for patients under conservative care or in preparation for their knee replacement. Patients will also have access to the portal and will be able to actively participate in their care and access educational tools. The OrthoMX InStride App will be used to monitor patients throughout their episode of care.

• The Regional Innovation Ecosystems stream of the REGI program supports the creation and growth of inclusive regional ecosystems that support business needs and fosters an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation, growth and competitiveness.

• The REGI program continues to build on the objectives of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan.