'Smart' Technology Comes to W21C

A new research project will soon be underway on Unit 36 to test an innovative tool known as Smart Camera Technology. The origin of the Smart Camera Project lies within the U of C's Electrical Engineering Faculty with its founder, Dr. Wael Badawy, who is also the President of Intelliview Technologies.

The Smart Camera System (SCS) is envisioned to have many beneficial contributions to the Calgary Health Region (Region), one of which is evaluating patients at risk for falls. Patient falls in hospital is a significant problem that increases patient length of stay, morbidity, risk of mortality, quality-of-life and transition difficulties back to the community. According to a study conducted by Dr. Deb White, falls rank second in incidence only to medication errors for acute care facility patients. Presently, there is no technology nor clinical process in use to identify patients when they are at risk for falling, prior to the fall.

This technology offers the opportunity to identify patients at risk for falls. The SCS was extensively evaluated in pre-clinical phase testing and this new phase of the project will soley pertain to the technical and Proof of Concept evaluation of the Smart Camera System regarding its ability to be implemented on the W21C.

For more information, please contact Susan Mide Kiss at susan.midekiss@calgaryhealthregion.ca.

Copyright 2008 W21C