Photo caption: Dr. Ayman Hassan, Neurologist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre (TBRHSC) and one of the co-developers of the app.
By: Keli Cristofaro, Stroke Community Engagement
Specialist Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network, Thunder Bay Regional
Health Sciences Centre.
Stroke care in Northwestern Ontario faces unique challenges, including vast geographic distances, limited stroke specialist access, and variable transport infrastructure. Addressing these barriers demands breakthrough innovations that harness technology and data to improve patient outcomes and system efficiency.
The Northwestern Ontario (NWO) Navigate Stroke application is a cutting-edge technological innovation developed to assist health care providers in Northwestern Ontario with efficient navigation of stroke patients to the most appropriate levels of care. This interactive digital tool integrates geomapping technology and machine learning algorithms to provide real-time decision support in navigating patients through the complex, geographically dispersed stroke care network of Northwestern Ontario.
“This app is tailored specifically to the unique challenges of our region," said Dr. Ayman Hassan, Neurologist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre (TBRHSC) and one of the co-developers of the app. “By using continuous and varied data inputs, health care providers are able to make informed decisions for their patients that can lead to better patient outcomes, better care coordination, and enhanced system efficiency."
The application consolidates critical information including patient location, stroke-specific timelines such as the last known well time, availability of diagnostic imaging at different health care facilities, and estimated travel times based on historical and current data. By combining these data points, the app offers health care providers the fastest routing options and the most appropriate access to stroke treatment sites, helping to reduce delays and improve patient outcomes for stroke patients across Northwestern Ontario. The system leverages machine learning decision models to accurately predict transport time intervals and coordinate stroke management pathways, ensuring alignment with evidence-based stroke care protocols.
This app was designed through a collaborative effort involving data scientists, clinicians, and emergency medical services operating within Northwestern Ontario: Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Lakehead University (Computer Engineering department) and Ornge, with funding through Northern Ontario Academic Medicine Association (NOAMA).
The NWO Navigate Stroke app exemplifies how artificial intelligence and data-driven innovations are transforming health care delivery, especially in rural and remote settings.
The app is freely available on Android, iOS, and web platforms, empowering clinicians working both locally and remotely to make timely, informed decisions regarding acute stroke care. This innovation not only advances patient care but also represents a significant step forward in using AI and data insights to address the logistical and clinical challenges of stroke systems in complex health care environments.
The NWO Navigate Stroke app showcases the value of regional collaboration in developing AI-based tools, the importance of customizing technological solutions to local contexts, and the critical role of data integration for real-time clinical decision-making. It is a beacon of innovation offering insight into how AI-driven navigation systems can shape the future of stroke care in Ontario and beyond.