Photo essay: Technology in health care

Dr. Paul Lebrun, Diagnostic Radiology, dictates the results of an exam using a voice recognition technology.

Since this technology was installed in November 2010, the average time to transcribe a dictated report and send it back to the physician who ordered the exam has gone from nearly 75 hours to under 20 hours. Also, the number of patient exams reported in less than 48 hours has more than doubled, going from less than 45 percent to more than 90 percent. These numbers also reflect significant cost savings.

The tools, information, therapies, devices and processes in health care are constantly changing. Health care organizations and providers are constantly challenged to adapt to new ways of working with each other and providing care to patients.

An ophthalmology resident practices a procedure to treat glaucoma on a cadaveric eye.

Using virtual operating rooms, simulators, lab space and a video/teleconference theatre, Skills Centre for Health Sciences offers a diverse range of courses, workshops and labs to health care professionals from throughout Atlantic Canada. 

Chris Nordland, an EHS advanced care paramedic, views a real-time map of ambulances currently dispatched in Halifax, including some that are on their way to the Charles V. Keating Emergency and Trauma Centre at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. The software allows him to see a patient’s condition and health information before their arrival.

Dr. Manohar Bance displays two types of bone-conducting hearing devices being tested in the SENSE Lab. The one on the left can be surgically implanted into the skull. The one on the right was developed in the SENSE Lab and can be inserted into the ear canal. 

Three large air conditioners operate around the clock to keep the data centre at approximately 19C. The data centre consumes approximately 180 kW every 12 hours – what a normal household would consume in two months. To replace the equipment, wiring, hardware, applications, operating system and licenses would cost approximately $25M.