March 25, 2022 (Surrey, B.C.) – The Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network is pleased to announce that B.C.- based Fraser Health, and Ontario-based medical device company, SterileCare Inc. (SterileCare), are working together to reduce central line complications in B.C.’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patient population.
A central line, or central venous catheter, is a tube that is connected to the bloodstream and used to provide medication to patients. Although central lines are used for life saving treatments, they are a risk for complications such as catheter occlusions and serious infections. SterileCare’s KiteLock™ Sterile Catheter Solution is the newest and most advance product helping to tackle these complications.
“The KiteLock™ project is a terrific example of how we can work with our national partners to safely and quickly validate new solutions to our most pressing care needs,” says Jacqueline Per, Executive Director of Learning, Research and Innovation, at Fraser Health. “We launched this project with SterileCare to help improve outcomes for our Intensive Care Unit patients, of which 97% require the use of central lines. As the largest health authority in B.C., we take pride in being a vibrant hub of research and innovation.”
KiteLock™ is a catheter locking fluid that helps to reduce infections, reduce the frequency of replacing venous catheters, and reduce the need for blood-thinning medications. This solution has shown to decrease infection by over 70% which not only benefits patients, but has potential cost savings for the health-care system.
Currently, through this CAN Health commercialization project, Fraser Health is utilizing KiteLock™ within its ICU patient population with aims to advance quality of care, improve clinical outcomes, and decrease its ICU budget.
In December 2021, the CAN Health Network also announced that its Ontario Edge, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), introduced KiteLock™ with its oncology patient population through a Network commercialization project.
“We are excited and honored to work with research and innovation leaders like Fraser Health and Hamilton Health Sciences,” says Karen Mueller, CEO of SterileCare. “The work by CAN Health Network to develop these Canadian partnerships allows an opportunity to validate KiteLock’s ability to prevent dangerous infections and other venous catheter complications in patients with the potential to change clinical practice around the world.”
Funded in Western Canada by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), the CAN Health Network works with health-care operators across the country to help introduce Canadian medtech solutions to the industry, and help these homegrown companies validate and scale their solutions.
“Sterile Care is a great example of Canadian grit and determination,” says Naveed Ahmad, Senior Advisor, Business Development, at CAN Health Network.
“As the company takes on its second project with the Network, SterileCare has proven it is absolutely possible for young Canadian companies to make a large and positive impact on our health-care system. By leveraging the CAN Health Network, SterileCare’s cutting-edge solution is making its way into hospitals across the country, significantly advancing the quality of patient care.”
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ABOUT CAN HEALTH
The CAN Health Network is a Canada-first approach to technology adoption. It helps break down barriers to scaling in the health care system and provides an environment for companies to scale to their full potential. Currently operating in Ontario, Western and Atlantic Canada, the CAN Health Network plans to expand into Quebec and the North. The Network has received $3.5 million in 2019 and $3.25 million in 2021 from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), $3.5 million from PrairiesCan and PacifiCan, and most recently, $2.2 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to build a national platform that harnesses the purchasing power of health care organizations. To learn more about the CAN Health Network, visit canhealthnetwork.ca
ABOUT FRASER HEALTH
Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of nearly 40,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.
ABOUT STERILECARE INC.
SterileCare is an infection prevention company that provides safe and effective solutions that significantly impacts preventable complications and financial burden associated with health care acquired infections, thereby supporting global action plans on antimicrobial resistance, so patients can focus on improving their health rather than complications related to their treatment.
For More Information:
Natasha Zelinski
Communications Coordinator, CAN Health Network
Curtis Harling
Senior Communications Consultant, Fraser Health
Karen Mueller
Chief Executive Officer, SterileCare Inc.
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