Making the Rounds for More Collaborative Healthcare

Halifax, N.S. - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, today announced a Government of Canada investment of $500,000 in Boondoc Technologies (operating as The Rounds) which will allow physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare practitioners to draw on the expertise of their peers around the world.  MP Fillmore made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The repayable contribution is being made through ACOA’s Business Development Program (BDP) and will help prepare Boondoc to expand the reach of its health-care focused social networks both geographically and professionally. Specifically, the project will enable Boondoc to develop and market international versions of The Rounds—the company’s flagship product—for physicians; The Clerks, for medical students; and QID for pharmacists. These clinical social networks allow healthcare professionals to share ideas and questions, access a variety of resources, and consult in real-time.

In addition to allowing medical professionals to draw on a collaborative network of skilled professionals, Boondoc’s online tools also provide industry partners in Canada—such as pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, and health and life insurance companies—insights into current medical issues and physician concerns. This is accomplished through in-app/site surveys, panels, and learning events that gather user feedback and inform on future initiatives.

This project builds on the federal and provincial governments’ commitment to drive economic growth in Atlantic Canada, as outlined in the recently released Atlantic Growth Strategy.

Quotes

“Innovation in our healthcare system is essential to continuing to provide Canadians with the high quality, affordable care that they enjoy today. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting projects, such as this, which break down the barriers to collaboration, reinforce the creativity of entrepreneurs, make better use of existing resources, and build an environment where innovation can thrive. This type of work leads to exceptional care; and when that happens, we all benefit.”

     - The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

“We live in an increasingly interconnected world. By supporting a project such as this, we are helping physicians in rural Nova Scotia consult with specialists in the U.S.; medical students overseas study with and learn alongside medical students here on local campuses; and pharmacists across the region learn about new treatment options and drug interactions as soon as they are launched. This is an impressive project and an even more impressive result. These tools have the power to make a real difference as they shrink the world and make healthcare a global undertaking.”

     - Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax

“Physicians, pharmacists, and students register for our networks based on the promise that our products will connect them to the information and experts they need to deliver better care. They return over and over again because it works. Our clinical social networks allow healthcare practitioners to get answers to challenging clinical questions at the point of care. They streamline workflow, eliminate mistakes, and improve patient outcomes. Our tools solve real problems for both our members and our customers in Canada. Now, it’s time to take these solutions into new markets around the world. This has been an inevitability for some time now and, with ACOA’s support, it will quickly become a reality.”

     - Blair J. Ryan, Founding CEO, Boondoc Technologies Incorporated

Associated Links:

- The Rounds
- Atlantic Growth Strategy

Contacts:

Alex Smith
Director of Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(902) 426-9417
(902) 830-3839 (cell)
Email: alex.smith@canada.ca

Blair J. Ryan
Founding CEO
Boondoc Technologies Incorporated
(902) 403-2880
Email: blair@boondoc.ca 

Backgrounder:

Boondoc Technologies Incorporated was founded in 2012 in Halifax, Nova Scotia following company founder Blair Ryan’s year-long wait for a consultation on treatment options for his chronic liver disease. With the company’s launch, Ryan sought to create a technology that could facilitate collaboration among Canadian physicians across all specialties using only their personal computer, tablet or smartphone. The intention was to give users greater and faster access to information, trends and insights as a means to bring about better quality care for patients, save physicians’ time and improve lives. The company’s first product was the Rounds, followed by the Clerks and QID.

Networks: Boondoc’s networks allow healthcare practitioners from across the continent to communicate and learn from one another. Members have access to a personalized news feed, which includes curated journal articles, posts and clinical queries from colleagues; insights from subject matter experts; and communities of practice, which are used to learn, improve practice, and strengthen business efforts—ultimately allowing members to deliver better care.

Network

The Rounds

The Clerks

QID

Launched

April 7, 2013

September 9, 2015

March 15, 2016

Members

32,000

1,700

6,100

Current Reach

Canada

Canada

North America

Expansion

US and other English-speaking countries

US and other English-speaking countries

Global