Canada bound – PainChek establishes Canadian headquarters

• PainChek has established a Canadian headquarters in Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Canada
• The region has built a strong reputation as a hub for health innovation, with strengths in AI, technology and life sciences
• With a strong presence in Canada and FDA DE Novo clearance pending, PainChek is well positioned for further growth in North America

Special Report: PainChek, the developer of a smart device-based pain assessment and monitoring application, has established its Canadian headquarters in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Canada as it looks to expand its global footprint.

PainChek (ASX:PCK) has developed the world’s first regulatory-cleared medical device that uses AI-driven facial recognition and smart automation to assess and score pain levels, particularly for non-verbal patients, like those living with dementia.

The PainCheck Adult App aims to improve quality of care, strengthen clinical decision-making and support caregivers in monitoring patients whose ability to self-report fluctuates over time.

Following a series of clinical studies in target markets, PainChek has been regulatory cleared in Australia, Canada, the EU, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the UK.

On July 21, PainChek completed its final submission for US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) de novo clearance. Final regulatory clearance is expected in early October.

The company is seeing increasing global demand with proven success in markets such as Australia, the UK where PainChek already has more than 110,000 annual bed licences in place and now in Canada, where there are more than 300,000 aged care beds that are applicable to PainChek.

PainChek recently announced successful completion of a Scottish Care Inspectorate pilot and InterSystems integration and implementation pilot at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Evaluation of the pilot confirmed significant clinical benefits including fewer falls and hospitalisations, positive changes in prescription use and improvements in quality-of-life indicators for residents, as well as an estimated £66 million in system-wide cost savings over five years.

The company said Canadian clients had been using the app seamlessly alongside existing clinical systems, including PointClickCare –  a cloud-based healthcare software for senior care facilities, widely used in North America.

Edmonton-based clients include St Michael’s Health Group and Sherwood Care, which have been using PainChek to assess and manage pain in long-term care residents since 2023.

Recent expansion of the PainChek programs at Bethany Seniors and Perley Health in Canada have successfully demonstrated the value of the app in the Canadian aged care landscape.

Improvements in clinical outcomes and workflows

St Michael’s Health Group director, resident care Tatsiana Haidukevich said PainChek represented best practice.

“We’re committed to giving the best quality of care to our residents, and tools like PainChek help us to do this,” Haidukevich said.

“Our nurses now feel better equipped, more empowered, and more thorough when conducting pain assessments.”

Sherwood Care CEO Kathy Fortunat said PainChek had transformed care in the aged care home.

“It not only enhances the quality of life for residents living with dementia or who are non-verbal, but it also improves the work experience for our staff,” she said.

“The app makes assessments quick, accurate, and simple – moving us away from paper-based systems to a tool that’s both efficient and easy to use.”

Edmonton welcomes PainChek

The Edmonton Metropolitan Region has developed a reputation as a hub for health innovation, with strengths in artificial intelligence, technology and life sciences.

From its new headquarters, PainChek will establish partnerships across healthcare and research sectors, while scaling its operations to meet rising demand across North America.

“Welcoming PainChek to Edmonton is about more than investment — it is about people,” Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said.

“Their technology will give a stronger voice to those who cannot always express their pain, improving care and dignity for patients and supporting the caregivers who work so hard every day.

“Edmonton is proud to be the place where this important work will grow and make a difference across North America.”

Morinville Mayor and Edmonton Global shareholder chair Simon Boersma said PainChek’s investment in the region enhanced its reputation as a place where business, research and healthcare came together to make a global impact.

“The region is excited to see the impact this announcement brings,” he said.

Edmonton Global is a not-for-profit corporation founded by 14 municipalities that make up the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, working to transform and grow the local economy.

The organisation focuses on attracting foreign investment to enhance the region’s global competitiveness.

“This investment will create highly skilled jobs and spark new collaborations between business, research, and healthcare providers, driving both economic and social impact across our communities” Edmonton Global CEO Malcolm Bruce said.

‘Significant step in PainChek’s global growth strategy’

PainChek head of business development for North America, David Allsopp, has relocated from Australia to Edmonton to lead the company’s regional growth and support the US team on their journey.

He said the decision to base operations in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region reflects the strength of its innovation ecosystem and positions PainChek to drive its North American expansion.

“With expertise in artificial intelligence, life sciences, and healthcare delivery, the region is the ideal launchpad for North American growth,” he said.

“From our new headquarters, we’ll collaborate with partners across the continent to ensure more residents, patients, and healthcare providers benefit from the accuracy, consistency, and improved outcomes that PainChek delivers.

“We look forward to building on our early success in Canada to scale our impact even further.”

This article was developed in collaboration with PainChek, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.