The Ohio Third Frontier Commission recently awarded the Bon Secours Mercy Health foundation a $350,000 technology validation and startup fund grant.

This grant will be matched by the Mercy Health foundation to establish a $700,000 technology validation fund to support the development and licensing of health care technologies.

This is the second award for Mercy Health. In 2020, the ministry was awarded $200,000 by the commission, which was matched by foundation funds to establish the first of these technology validation funds.

Grant money will be used to develop prototype equipment which would lead to product development and the identification of startup businesses to license the technology.

In total, the Mercy Health of Toledo innovation team has garnered more than $5 million in grant funding to support local development of technological advancements.

“This second grant from the state shows the impact that Mercy Health is having on fostering technological advancements in our region and we couldn’t be more proud of the work that is going on in this very important space,” said Bob Baxter, president, Mercy Health.

“Mercy Health has already seen successes in creating new and innovative ways of looking at medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics and health information and technology. We now look forward to helping bring to life many more innovated ideas,” he added.

One such health care challenge that has already been addressed as a result of the Ohio Third Frontier funding program has been to create software to better help navigate non-emergent dental conditions that present into area emergency rooms.

ER staff was finding that the number one reason for visits were for non-emergent dental conditions.

In fact, more than two million ER visits each year are a result of dental pain that could be more appropriately and more economically treated at a dental clinic.

As a result of this issue and subsequent solution being brought forth, a software solution was developed to help triage these patients to qualified dental centers, which in turn reduced the burden on the emergency department, increased follow-up compliance, reduced opioid prescribing and improved overall care.

Implementation of this process at Mercy Health of St. Elizabeth Youngstown resulted in a 78 percent compliance rate among patients needing this help.

“This is just one example of the types of solutions that can be created when we cultivate innovation and grow ideas,” said Matt Sapara, VP of operations and government affairs.