Over the past few weeks, Jos Bessemans, founder of Besco, visited several hospitals in Canada. These included the three campuses of The Ottawa Hospital – Riverside, Civic, and General – and the new Schroeder Ambulatory Centre.
The Ottawa Hospital has more than 1,200 beds, 28,000 sets, and 320,000 instruments. This makes this the largest SteMaTo project Besco has completed to date. Moreover, the implementation took place under exceptional circumstances: the existing software was no longer supported and had to be completely replaced within six months.
“Initially, almost no one believed this was feasible,” says Jos. “But through daily Teams meetings and strong collaboration with the project team at The Ottawa Hospital, confidence gradually grew. Ultimately, we created something exceptional together.
Personalized approach in two languages
During his visit, Jos gained a complete overview of the three Central Sterile Areas (known in Canada as MDRD) and more than fifty operating rooms. Discussions with staff and managers confirmed that experience and commitment are crucial factors in successful organizational change.
The personal approach was also impressive. Jos's ability to address the French-speaking staff in their own language created additional connections in bilingual Ottawa.
SteMaTo proves its value as a smart, efficient, and future-oriented solution for instrument management and traceability. The collaboration has grown into a lasting partnership based on mutual respect and trust.
Next hospital on the schedule
Besides The Ottawa Hospital, Jos also visited the Schroeder Ambulatory Centre, a brand-new hospital that will receive its first patients in 2025. Besco provided full SteMaTo equipment and provided on-site training for the staff, who will, in turn, train other employees.
“SteMaTo isn't just software,” concludes Jos. “It's the start of a more efficient organization that supports people to work better. With these achievements, Besco confirms its international position as a pioneer in the digitization of sterilization processes.”