How Kidcrew is changing the game for children’s healthcare

A clinic that kids actually want to go to might sound farfetched. It’s almost like trying to convince them veggies taste better than candy! But at this Toronto clinic, it’s a reality.

Kidcrew Medical is on a mission to change the game when it comes to pediatric healthcare. And they’re doing it well.

With two clinics in Toronto, one in Midtown and another in North York, Kidcrew is focused on providing a superior patient experience, family-centred care, and wellness for children and families of all ages through cutting-edge scientific research and the latest technology.

From pediatricians to allergists, neurologists, dermatologists, and gastroenterologists, they’ve got your family covered literally from head to toe.

Founder Dr. Dina Kulik tells Daily Hive that she wanted to be a pediatrician since she was just three years old. But when she graduated and began working at various pediatric clinics and emergency rooms in the city, she saw a lot of things she didn’t like. As she began to notice inefficient services and unsatisfied patients, Dr. Kulik had a lightbulb moment: I can do this better.

Building a unique clinic

Kidcrew

“I wanted to do it in a different way,” Dr. Kulik tells Daily Hive. “My vision for Kidcrew was to have a very efficiently run clinic where care was really accessible. But I also really wanted to focus on patient satisfaction — medicine, I think, is a service industry. I wanted to put together an indoor playground meets medical clinic. So that’s what we built.”

And she wasn’t kidding.

Walk into Kidcrew and you’re greeted by vibrant, colourful decor, friendly faces, fun playrooms, iPad stations, and cozy reading nooks. She always knew it would be a space where kids could actually get comfortable and enjoy themselves, and where parents could leave feeling relaxed too. But it ended up being more than that — people now even request to book the playrooms for birthday parties!

This too creates a better work environment for staff.  “Because kids are coming, having a good time, and because parents are relaxed and eager to bring them — that rubs off on the staff who are going to be treated better and with more respect. We also do a lot in terms of wellness, health, and mindfulness for our staff. We’re very supportive. We are a family. We do a lot of activities as a group, team building, and fun activities.”

Using AI tech to enhance healthcare

Kidcrew

Of course, Kidcrew isn’t just about fun vibes — it’s about getting children the care they need as quickly as possible, which decreases unnecessary emergency room visits and helps kids feel better faster. Because let’s face it, no one wants to be sitting in a waiting room all day, especially when they’re sick.

One of the ways Kidcrew keeps things running smoothly is by using AI-driven tech to streamline patient workflows before they step foot in the clinic. “If we run efficiently, we can see more patients every day,” Dr. Kulik says.

This includes practices as simple as sending out pre-visit questionnaires to collect key info from parents and caregivers ahead of time, which streamlines operations, reduces wait times, and improves the efficiency of care delivery. “It gives clinicians an opportunity to review beforehand and it avoids having to repeat all that data in person. We already know a lot about the patients before they step foot in the clinic.” 

Dr. Kulik explains that when a patient arrives, they’re checked in on a system called Chime, which alerts the nurse the patient is there so they can do their work. Next, it alerts the doctor to see the patient, and then alerts the nurse again to give vaccines, tidy the room, etc. It’s a communication tool as well as an efficiency tool.

“Let’s say patient Johnny G comes to Kidcrew. He comes, he checks in within two minutes, he’s in a room, he sees the nurse, he sees the doctor, and he’s out. Or, another example, a child wakes up, has a fever, the parent calls the office, emails, or books online. The patient comes to their visit, they move from the waiting room right away, and then afterwards they play if they have the energy to do so!” 

Looking to the future

Kidcrew

Looking to the future, Kidcrew’s biggest goal is expansion. They are set to open a third clinic in Etobicoke and are already planning a fourth.

To meet young patients where they are, Kidcrew has also recently opened a gender-based clinic in Toronto, something that Dr. Kulik says there is a growing need for. “There’s definitely a lack of care for non-binary and trans kids in Toronto and Ontario. So we’re proud to be able to offer this kind of service for a lot of youth that may have difficulty accessing care and may face stigma and discrimination in other medical settings.”

Dr. Kulik would love to expand Kidcrew to the rest of Canada and even into the U.S.

“It’s a model that works. I know that our patients are very happy, and our doctors are really happy too. The benefit of having all the services under one roof is something that’s dramatically helpful for clinicians. I think we’re providing an excellent service to the community. By adding more doctors and clinicians to our team, that’s how we’re hoping to expand.”

Whether you’re a physician considering joining the Kidcrew team, an investor wanting to explore partnerships for expansion, or a parent looking for accessible pediatric care, head over to kidcrew.com to find out more about this innovative clinic.

This content is sponsored by TELUS as part of Kidcrew Medical’s #StandWithOwners prize. Since 2020, TELUS has committed $5 million to the #StandWithOwners initiative, providing funding, technology, and national recognition to help small Canadian businesses thrive in the digital world. To learn more, visit telus.com/StandWithOwners