MedEssist Receives Digital Main Street Lab support to Help Independent Pharmacies Prepare for Spring Vaccine Release
As part of the Digital Main Street Lab program which launched this summer under the Future Proof banner, Digital Main Street in partnership with the FedDev Ontario and the Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) is proud to announce that MedEssist has been selected to pilot their solution to a select group of independent pharmacies in Peel region.
The MedEssist platform enables independent pharmacists to manage refills, vaccines, COVID-19 testing, and medication inventory online. Through this pilot, independent pharmacies will gain access to the platform, which also enables high-risk patients and essential workers to be identified and matched with available inventory. This is a critical component of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan which can reduce healthcare costs and hasten economic recovery.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to support the Digital Main Street and see innovative technology pilot studies like this one to help MedEssist accelerate development of a multilingual, user-friendly platform to help local pharmacies support their community members. We are proud to work with Digital Main Street partners including Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), Communitech, Invest Ottawa, NORCAT and the Regional Innovation Centres to help our innovation ecosystem grow stronger,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.
This Digital Main Street Lab funding will support improvements to the MedEssist platform including the addition of multilingual functionality and important upgrades that will enable independent pharmacies to distribute the upcoming COVID-19 vaccines efficiently and equitably. Once complete, users will be able to request and book appointments to receive a vaccination in a safer, more convenient, and paperless new way.
“The RIC Centre is pleased to provide support and mentorship services to our client, MedEssist, as they develop their technology platform and field test new features to help prepare small, independent pharmacies to participate efficiently in COVID-19 vaccine distribution,” stated Pam Banks, Executive Director of the RIC Centre.
About Digital Main Street
Digital Main Street is a program that helps main street businesses achieve digital transformation. The program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs, and our Digital Service Squad, a team of street-level team members who help main street businesses grow and manage their operations through technology.
Digital Main Street was created by the Toronto Association on Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) with direct support from the City of Toronto. DMS is also supported by a group of strategic business partners, including Google, Mastercard, Shopify, Microsoft, Facebook, Intuit QuickBooks, Square, and Yellow Pages. A $42.5 investment from FedDev Ontario and an additional $7.45 million from the Government of Ontario brought together the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, Communitech, Invest Ottawa, and the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association to expand the Digital Main Street Platform in order to support more businesses to go digital as a response to the impacts of COVID-19.
About the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA)
The Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) is a non-profit umbrella organization working with the 84 Business Improvement Areas within the City of Toronto, who in turn represent more than 40,000 business and property owners
About RIC Centre
RIC Centre is a not-for-profit innovation hub and business incubator serving the Peel Region and Southern Ontario. RIC Centre’s focus is to be a dynamic catalyst for tech companies. The team consists of more than 100 expert advisors, industry, academic and government partners. RIC Centre helps companies in Advanced Manufacturing, Internet of Things, Hardware & Software, Cleantech and Life Sciences to commercialize their products and get them to market faster.
About MedEssist
MedEssist is a Toronto-based healthcare company that helps independent community pharmacies manage and coordinate medication refills, vaccinations, COVID-19 testing, and other healthcare services. By subscribing to the MedEssist application, local pharmacies are transformed into modern and comprehensive healthcare hubs for their communities.
About FedDev Ontario
For more than 10 years, FedDev Ontario has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation and growth in Canada’s most populous region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects.
