MindfulGarden is pioneering a non-pharmacological approach to the high human and economic costs of hospital acquired delirium by reducing the use of antipsychotics in patient care.
Demand Driven
A sudden change in the brain, delirium is an acute medical emergency affecting an estimated 70% of patients in critical care and 30% hospital-wide. Characterized by its sudden onset, agitation, and disorientation, delirium can be reversed if properly diagnosed and managed (unlike dementia which is progressive). While standard of care for decades has relied on antipsychotics and restraints to sedate and immobilize, research shows their devastating short and long-term implications. Multi-component non-pharmacological delirium reduction strategies do work – and MindfulGarden is an important frontline ‘tool’ that will integrate easily into patient care protocols.
Clinically Validated
MindfulGarden is the first clinically validated biofeedback platform for managing the agitated behaviours associated with hospital acquired delirium. Results of our foundational clinical study (NCT04652622) were published in NATURE npj/Digital Medicine in October 2023 highlighting a 25.7% reduction in use of PRN (as needed) antipsychotic drugs and a rapid de-escalation of agitation as measured by Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) scores. The platform is independent of hospital IT, does not collect any personal health information, trains in minutes, and is easily deployed. Approved by Health Canada as a Class I device (MDEL Lic. 26563) in April 2024, MindfulGarden is preparing for evaluations at select partner hospitals in Canada in Fall 2024.
Patient-Powered
Harnessing biometrics to influence bio-state: MindfulGarden’s patent-pending affective biofeedback platform is built on a game engine, responding to patient generated distress signals and translating the data to gently moving nature-based visualizations and sounds onscreen that level up or down as the patient calms. The goal is to distract, engage, and de-escalate adverse behaviours before the administration of drugs are considered, allowing the patient to return to homeostasis. One nurse called it ‘the videogame that the patient without agency doesn’t even know they are playing.’ Health research is confirming that this intersection of media and medicine has strong promise for brain health in the future.
An Urgent Global Priority
Delirium is globally ubiquitous, universally costly (by both human and economic measures), and to date, largely unaddressed. Brought into the spotlight during Covid-19 as the ‘epidemic within the pandemic,’ the public now knows what front-line staff have known for decades: delirium is a devastating medical emergency and worthy as a healthcare priority.
2.5x
Greater cost
of care
3x
In-hospital
mortality
2.5x
Increased readmissions
9x
Risk of future cognitive decline
Founders
Catherine Winckler
Founder & CEO
Catherine was the former founder of Switch United (active 1998 to 2017), a multi-million-dollar digital innovation company. Named one of ‘Top 80 Women in STEM’ in British Columbia and a former PROFIT 100 top women in business in Canada, Catherine’s personal story with her mother Esther (esthersvoice.com) stands at the heart of MindfulGarden and prompted the pivot of the company to digital technologies impacting health outcomes, beginning with delirium. Together with fellow design firm co-worker, Mark Ross, and two key employees, they incorporated as MindfulGarden Digital Health, Inc. in 2017.
Mark Ross
Co-Founder & Head of Product
With a long history in the digital sector, Mark oversees all aspects of the research & development of MindfulGarden, serving as front-line liaison with academic and industry partners, as well as working directly with clinical partners throughout North America. Mark manages the Company's intellectual property, regulatory and commercialization activities. Prior to MindfulGarden, Mark worked with Founder Catherine Winckler as Director of Business Development for Switch United, responsible for large platform projects for TV network productions and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Medical Advisory
Past Medical Director of Royal Columbian Hospital and a critical care specialist. As the Chief Medical Advisor to MindfulGarden, Dr. Reynolds is also the Principal Investigator on the just-completed foundational study on the use of MindfulGarden in acute care delirium. Dr. Reynolds is recognized for his leading work in COVID-19 research in Canada and was recently profiled nationally: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/coronavirus-covid-19-bc-study-ventilator-1.5535348
Chief Medical Information Officer & Clinical Informatics Fellowship Director at UC Davis Medical Center mentored MindfulGarden as part of the Berkeley Skydeck accelerator and stayed on as an official Advisor to the company, championing the expansion of MindfulGarden's delirium study and Co-Development Program to UC Davis Health.
President, Int'l Soc. Gerontechnology (NA Chapter), VP, Int'l Longevity Centre Canada, Dir. Emerita, Dept. Gerontology, Simon Fraser University. Dr. Gutman has been the Principal Investigator on the published studies on the use of MindfulGarden with dementia with behaviors in long-term care. Her November 2021 article in the prestigious Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports was well-received and facilitated invitations to present at two global conferences.
RN, BN, MS, GNC (C), NCA, Clinical Nurse Specialist for Medicine Clinical Network Team and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Fraser Health; Nurse Continence Advisor for New Westminster Specialized Seniors’ Clinic; Facilitator for Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum. Marcia has been an Advisor to MindfulGarden since its beginning, bringing front-line nursing knowledge to product development.
We have established great relationships with our partners and collaborators throughout North America:
