Canberra start-up company SmartWard opens new offices

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher today joined with Canberra start-up company SmartWard Pty Ltd in officially open their new office premises in the Hall Village Court.

"The opening of the new SmartWard offices is further evidence of the innovation and entrepreneurial character of the ACT's business community," the Chief Minister said.

"SmartWard is quickly making its mark on the e-Health industry both locally and on a national level by commercialising a new health informatics technology for hospital wards.

"The technology being developed is the brainchild of local inventor Matt Darling and involves a computerised support system for staff caring for patients in hospital wards that seeks to lower costs, reduce errors and save staff time," the Chief Minister said.

The technology incorporates sterilize-able bedside computers, with identity recognition by radio-frequency identification (RFID) with smart patient and care software that optimizes pain and other medications for the best comfort and effectiveness in looking after the patient.

"The ACT Labor Government contributed $60,000 to SmartWard through the InnovationConnect grant program in 2011 and it was through this grant that the company has been able to move forward at a rapid rate and enabled them to accelerate their progress to market by expanding their development team and opening the office in the ACT," the Chief Minister said.

"The company has since also received funding from the ACT Government/ANU Discovery Translation Fund and the Commonwealth government through Commercialisation Australia.

"I commend SmartWard for having the foresight to seek new ways to revolutionize the way we manage our health," the Chief Minister concluded.