LHSC set to roll out new navigation app and cancer support program for young patients

The hospital is rolling out a navigation app to help users reach their destinations more efficiently. CTV London’s Reta Ismail has the details.

In an ongoing effort to enhance the hospital experience for both patients and staff, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is introducing a cutting-edge wayfinding solution designed to make navigating its sprawling facilities easier than ever.

Finding your way through LHSC can be a challenge. That’s why the hospital is rolling out MazeMap, a global navigation app that offers an interactive digital map to help users reach their destinations more efficiently.

“We have almost four-million in square feet across all our sites, so navigating hospitals is not always easy,” said Nick Vlacholias, vice president of Facilities and Support Services at LHSC.

The app, which is expected to launch in the coming weeks, functions similarly to common navigation tools, but is optimized for indoor hospital settings.

“We leverage parts of our network infrastructure within the hospital to do that blue dot location,” explained Andrew Mes, LHSC’s Chief Information Officer. “That’s how, as patients navigate through the system, they’ll know where they are on the map.”

Alongside its digital innovation, LHSC also unveiled a new Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program aimed at providing specialized cancer care for patients aged 15 to 39.

“Our hope is that this will allow access to specialized supportive care services, tailored to their psychosocial needs, sexual health, and fertility needs,” said Dr. Andrew Arifin, radiation oncologist at LHSC.

The program seeks to bridge a care gap by offering tailored services that address the unique challenges faced by young people undergoing cancer treatment.

When asked about his ongoing role at LHSC during Wednesday’s media briefing, David Musyj indicated that there would be no immediate changes.

“The answer is pretty much status quo,” he said.

The update marked the final public briefing before LHSC takes a break for the summer. Regular monthly updates are scheduled to resume in September.