Pathology has relied on traditional microscopy for over a century, but increasing demand for services and a shortage of pathologists have created a significant strain on healthcare systems. Unity Health is seeking to adopt a digital pathology solution, which offers the potential to enhance efficiency and accuracy through the use of digital slide scanners, AI-driven tools, and integrated data management systems. This transition will enable pathologists to handle growing workloads more effectively, improving diagnostic workflows and patient care. The project involves procuring scalable digital solutions to meet current and future healthcare demands.
Unity Health is posting this Call for Innovation to seek out qualified Canadian companies who can meet the following desired outcomes. Unity Health and CAN Health reserves the right to not move forward with this project at its full discretion and in particular if there are no qualified Canadian companies that can reasonably meet the desired outcomes.
To qualify for a CAN Health project, the company must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Headquartered in Canada (additional criteria apply for companies not headquartered in Canada)
- Majority ownership of both the company and the solution by Canadians
- Solution at Technology Readiness Level (TRL)>7, indicating actual technology completed and qualified through tests and demonstrations
- All the data and AI models (if applicable) must be hosted in Canada and comply with all the Canadian privacy regulations
- Possess all regulatory approvals required for commercialization, such as Health Canada approval
- Completion of all required clinical validity/unity studies
- No need for policy changes to be widely adopted
- Strong use cases in the Canadian health care system
If the company is not headquartered in Canada or the solution is not majority owned by Canadians, additional criteria apply:
- Independent autonomy over business operations and product development (for subsidiaries, affiliates or distributors)
- High Canadian job creation potential, especially in executive and senior management positions
- Commitment of over 70% of contract value to Canada
During the company selection process, preference is given to companies/solutions fully owned by Canadians, followed by those majority owned by Canadians, and finally international companies with a significant presence and economic impact in Canada.
Problem Statement:
The increasing demand for pathology services, driven by an aging population and rising rates of chronic diseases, is overwhelming for the limited pool of pathologists. This constraint ultimately compromises the quality and timeliness of diagnostic services, a critical component of patient care. Traditional microscopy methods are inefficient and cannot meet the growing needs of modern healthcare systems.
Objectives:
The project aims to enhance the efficiency of pathology services by digitizing workflows and integrating AI tools. This approach will automate routine tasks, resulting in faster case processing and reducing diagnostic delays, particularly for critical conditions like cancer. The implementation of remote access will enable pathologists to work more flexibly and efficiently, while improved collaboration will be facilitated through easy sharing of digitized slides, fostering better consultation and decision-making across teams.
Essential (mandatory) outcomes:
- Increased Efficiency in Pathology Workflows: The implementation of digital slide scanners and AI tools must streamline pathology processes, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses.
- Reduction in Diagnostic Delays: The project must result in shorter wait times for pathology results, particularly for urgent conditions like cancer, improving patient outcomes.
- Automation of Routine Tasks: The integration of AI must automate repetitive tasks, freeing pathologists to focus on more complex cases and enhancing overall productivity.
- Remote Access for Pathologists: The system must enable pathologists to securely access and analyse digitized slides remotely, supporting flexible work arrangements and improving efficiency.
- Improved Collaboration and Consultation: The digital system must facilitate seamless sharing of slides and data between professionals, enhancing collaboration and consultation among pathologists and other healthcare providers.
Additional outcomes:
Unity Health is seeking a one-stop-shop to procure digital slide scanners, data management solutions for the scans, and licensing software that includes AI tool integration.
Due to an aging population and increased chronic disease cases. Pathologist shortages further drive the need for more efficient solutions. Digital pathology, with AI and cloud-based data management, offers a way to modernize traditional workflows, enhancing diagnostic speed and accuracy while supporting remote work and collaboration. Key considerations include the high cost of implementation, scalability, integration with existing systems, and ensuring interoperability across healthcare platforms to meet the growing global demand for pathology services.
