Lakeridge Health, Oshawa’s Ontario Tech team up on ‘groundbreaking’ AI initiative

Lakeridge Health has teamed with Ontario Tech University to drive health-care innovation with a “groundbreaking” artificial intelligence initiative.

The Partnership for Advanced Technology in Health Care looks to enhance patient care and improve health outcomes for the community through the sharing of new research with practical applications.

“Partnering with Ontario Tech University allows us to explore cutting-edge AI solutions that will give our staff and physicians more time to focus on what truly matters – delivering exceptional care to our patients,” explained Dr. Ilan Lenga, Lakeridge Health’s Chief Information Officer. “As Durham Region grows and its population changes, we face significant challenges such as the global shortage of health-care workers. Through this partnership, we aim to alleviate these pressures by using AI to allow our teams to focus on direct patient care, and ultimately position our region as a leader in health-care innovation.”

The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed this week, combines the clinical expertise of Lakeridge Health and the academic strengths of Ontario Tech to help advance research and elevate practical health-care services through the responsible use of AI.

The collaboration signals the ongoing commitment of Lakeridge Health, which as five hospitals and more than 20 health care facilities under its umbrella, to seek new and effective ways to meet the health needs of its communities.

Lakeridge Health Oshawa

With Ontario Tech – an academic hub for innovative research with real-world applications – as a partner, the plans are to develop AI tools that will foster a more sustainable local health system for generations to come.

“Without question, the rapid advent of artificial intelligence places every industry, including health care, on the precipice of major change, and we need to be proactive in this exciting new world,” said Ontario Tech President Dr. Steven Murphy. “Our university champions the ethical application of technology and innovation to improve lives. This amazing collaboration with Lakeridge Health will showcase the importance of AI, and how it can be used as a tool to enhance health outcomes.”

Lakeridge Health has long been at the forefront of health-care innovation, having helped introduced tools like the Emergency Department Wait Times Tracker and Epic, a unified digital health record system. This new partnership further reinforces the organisation’s dedication to integrating technology that benefits both patients and health-care providers.

Ontario Tech University also has a deep history of collaborating with organizations, local and abroad, to uncover solutions to world problems and providing learning opportunities for its students. One example is an ongoing initiative with the CNIB to develop ‘explainable’ AI accessibility standards that will help eliminate societal barriers.

The university’s new collaboration with Lakeridge Health provides a unique learning opportunity for Ontario Tech students as they work to uncover AI solutions that will improve health-care services across Durham Region and beyond, noted Dr. Les Jacobs, the university’s Vice-President of Research and Innovation.

Ontario Tech University, Oshawa

“As data science, artificial intelligence and new technologies comprise one of Ontario Tech’s strategic research priority areas, this vital community collaboration with Lakeridge Health aligns perfectly with the university’s research and teaching strengths and its mission to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world,” said Jacobs said. “This new initiative takes our already strong partnership with Lakeridge in exciting new directions, while also affording our diverse and talented students access to new work-integrated learning opportunities.”

Lenga added that the partnership is “deeply committed” to ensuring AI is used ethically and equitably, focusing on the enhancement “rather than replacement of human capabilities, to deliver better, more inclusive outcomes for all.”

Areas of exploration for the project include patient safety monitoring, readmission prediction, and optimizing administrative workflows, all of which stand to benefit from AI-driven solutions developed by students and researchers at Ontario Tech University.

Cynthia Davis, President and CEO of Lakeridge Health, noted the importance of partnerships like this for the future of health care in Durham Region. “Our commitment to delivering high-quality care is exemplified by our willingness to embrace new ways of thinking. Collaborations with exceptional academic institutions, like Ontario Tech, are key to building a health-care system that not only serves today’s needs, but also anticipates the challenges of tomorrow.”

Dr. Ilan Lenga (from left), Dr. Steven Murphy, Cynthia Davis and Dr. Les Jacobs