Patient-Powered
MindfulGarden’s first device is a digital ‘crash cart’ designed to de-escalate anxiety and aggression in long-term care and hospital settings. Built on a videogame engine, and powered by the individual’s own agitated voice and gestures, MindfulGarden comes alive on-screen with engaging computer-generated imagery that progressively calms disruptive behaviours, eliminating or reducing reliance on drugs and restraints.
Game-Driven
In proof-of-concept at a regional hospital, MindfulGarden was perfectly described by a clinician as ‘the videogame the frail elderly doesn’t even know they are playing.’ In the first of what will be multiple ‘game’ experiences relevant to diverse cultural backgrounds and geographies, flowers bloomed and butterflies floated, fully engaging the hyperactive patients, and allowing care to begin sooner for underlying conditions.
Evidence-Based
MindfulGarden is working in a regulated medical device space and takes an evidence-based approach to user-centered design and development. The company currently has one approved Clinical Study for delirium in a hospital setting and two pending studies beginning in 2018/19 for dementia in long-term care. The team has been self-funded to date with significant grants from two internationally recognized leaders in funding brain health innovation for seniors and is currently seeking investment through the regulatory process to commercialization.
A Global Problem. Limited Treatment Options.
MindfulGarden is designed as a behaviour modification tool for
hospitals and long-term care facilities to:
Reduce Cost of Care
By targeting patients in the first critical minutes of adverse behaviours associated with delirium/dementia, MindfulGarden will reduce cost of care by shortening length of stay and minimizing close monitoring by staff.
Improve Health Outcomes
Reducing use of psychotropic drugs and restraints will lower risk of falls and adverse effects, promoting a faster and more positive journey back to health.
Protect Work Environments
By interrupting and de-escalating aggressive behaviours, violence against staff will be reduced, leading to more positive working environments and reduced workplace claims and leaves of absence.
MindfulGarden Founders
Catherine Winckler is the founder and owner of The Mindful Garden Digital Health, Inc. and founder and CEO of Switch United, a digital innovation company that since 1998 has built an international reputation for building immersive interactive experiences for entertainment and health/lifestyle clients. The company’s large interactive installations at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics are examples of digital work that gained world recognition. Catherine has been an active health advocate nationally on continuity of care issues. Her mother’s story of delirium and failing continuity of care at www.esthersvoice.com is the impetus behind MindfulGarden.
Mark Ross, Co-founder and Product Director Mark oversees all aspects of the research & development of MindfulGarden, and is the front-line liaison with medical, scientific research, and technology accelerator partners (Fraser Health Authority, Simon Fraser University, Emily Carr’s Health Design Lab, TELUS, Innovation Boulevard) advancing MindfulGarden from a proof-of-concept, to a clinically-validated platform. Mark also manages the intellectual property, and commercialization activities of MindfulGarden. Prior to working full-time on MindfulGarden, Mark worked with Founder, Catherine Winckler, running business development for Switch United since 2005.
Advisors
Strategic Transformation Advisor, Cabinet Office, Ontario Public Service
Peter is a distinguished technology innovation leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience in business development and transformation. Prior to joining the Ontario Public Service, he was the Managing Director at Fenwick & Associates, a management consulting firm servicing a broad range of health and technology industry clients. Previously, Peter served as Senior Provincial Director at Alberta Health Services, where he worked with the government to drive innovation adoption and health service improvement. Peter also held a number of senior leadership positions at GE Healthcare.
Peter has a joint MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, and the Schulich School of Business, York University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.
Peter will lead the System Transformation Office in Cabinet Office to support cross-cutting transformational initiatives that require an enterprise response to systemic change. His deep experience in the use of technology will support all-of-government initiatives to drive greater efficiencies in the delivery of public services. Peter will work closely with ministries to ensure central agency support in setting government transformation policy. He will also join the Deputy Minister Committee on Transformation and Technology.
Peter has actively served on several boards, including the Alberta Council of Technologies Society, the Community for Excellence in Health Governance and the Canadian College of Health Leaders, Southern Alberta Chapter.
Gloria Gutman, PhD, FCAHS, OBC, LLD (hon.), Professor/Director Emerita, Gerontology Dept. & Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University. In her positions as Professor Emerita and an SFU Gerontology Research Centre Research Associate Gloria’s focus is on research and advocacy as well as mentoring graduate students. Dr. Gutman has held a number of high profile roles including two terms as President of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, President of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, and President of the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse. She is a member of the World Health Organization’s Expert Advisory Panel on Ageing and Health, a member of the Research Management Committee of the Canadian Frailty Network, and Vice-President of the International Longevity Centre-Canada headquartered at the University of Ottawa. She is author/editor of 22 books and monographs, the most recent (with Andrew Sixsmith), Technologies for Active Aging (Springer, 2013), over 175 journal articles, chapters and technical reports and over 375 conference presentations. To date, she has been PI or a Co-investigator on 113 grants and contracts with a total value of $16,438,536.
Marcia Carr, RN, BN, MS, GNC (C), NCA, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Fraser Health Medicine Program. Marcia is a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for Medicine Clinical Network Team and Clinical Nurse Specialist of all areas for Peace Arch Hospital, Delta Hospital, Delta Community and Mountain View Residential Care Home; Nurse Continence Advisor for New Westminster Specialized Seniors’ Clinic; Facilitator for Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum. She’s responsible for identifying care gaps for medical patients throughout the whole health authority and to develop solutions to improve the overall system and direct care to close the care gaps. Concentration especially is focused in Medicine on Stroke care, oncology, respiratory, falls and injury prevention, challenging responsive behaviours and urinary and fecal incontinence. As a member of the Medicine Leadership Team, Marcia is responsible for identifying, developing and implementing/evaluating best practice, evidence-based solutions related to clinical practice issues and quality of care.
Fabio Feldman, PhD, Managing Consultant, Patient Safety and Injury Prevention, Fraser Health Authority & Adjunct Professor Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology Simon Fraser University. Fabio’s position enables him to pursue a unique research program in collaboration with investigators at SFU, UBC and various health facilities in BC. He has received external peer-reviewed funding as Principal investigator as well as Co-Investigator and such efforts have raised his profile in Fraser Health and BC. Fabio is now part of the Fraser Health Patient Quality and Safety program and responsible for implementation of new technologies to support quality and safety for Fraser Health’s patients. Previously, Fabio was part of the Fraser Health Older Adults program and mostly involved with dementia initiatives. He was also part of the BC provincial committee responsible for developing the BC Dementia Strategy.
Steve is a computer based cognitive scientist, artist and researcher. His main research areas are cognitive, character and expression based artificial intelligence, interaction and computer graphics. Steve is past Director of the Cognitive Science Program at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. And Professor at the School of Interactive Arts and Technology, and interdisciplinary computer based art/science research school with approximately 800 undergrads, and roughly 100 masters and PhD students.
Pieter Dorsman is CEO of RedPeaks Management, a Vancouver-based capital advisory firm that advises early and later stage technology companies. Pieter is steering The Mindful Garden through the start-up financing process towards commercialization and operations.
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