Our Work

Here are just a few of the things our interdisciplinary teams have been working on.

Come to our OpenHouse to see all of our current projects.

Image of three older adult women

NORCs

Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are regular residential buildings that have become home to a high density of older adults.

Two packages of sliced white bread, two cans of soup and a child's drawing of a robot are on grass.

Friendly Neighbour Hotline

The Friendly Neighbour Hotline is a volunteer-driven program to support low-income seniors with food access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two young women are sitting on either side of a senior aged woman wearing a virtual reality headset.

Prescribing Virtual Reality (VRx)

Prescribing Virtual Reality (VRx) is a suite of projects that design and evaluate therapeutic VR-interventions for diverse and challenging populations (patients, caregivers, providers), from community to acute care.

Hands holding a book titled "From People Who Know: An Insider's Guide to Ontario Works" handbook

Handbooks from People Who Know

In this series of handbooks, we tap into the expertise of people with lived experience to come up with practical advice, life hacks and ways to gracefully negotiate society’s big institutions.

A black-and-white illustration woman with a backpack pushes a person in a wheelchair, who is holding balloons. The background is yellow.

PODS (Patient Oriented Discharge Summary)

A simple tool and set of process changes to improve the hospital transition experience for patients codesigned with patients, caregivers, and providers.

mockup screen of phone app

Overdose Response Network

ORN is a mobile app connecting people who use drugs alone with peers who can respond to overdose alerts with naloxone. It takes the concept of a safe consumption site virtual.

AFIB innovation logo in green

AFIB Innovation Program

The AFIB Innovation Program redesigns the system and process of care for atrial fibrillation (AFIB) to improve patients' quality of life and the sustainability of the healthcare system from the Emergency room to the Family Doctor's office.

The facade of a brick building with the words "The Local. Health stories from Toronto's neighbourhoods."

The Local

The Local is an award-winning magazine exploring urban health and social issues in Toronto. It began as a hyper-local storytelling project at OpenLab in 2017 and, in 2019, The Local spun off as an independent non-profit.

Have an idea for a project?

With an ever-evolving health system, creative solutions are always needed to improve the way healthcare works. Have a challenge in mind? You don’t have to solve it alone. Let’s talk about your ideas for the next OpenLab project.

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Let’s Connect

OpenLab_Open Rounds

Join The Conversation The First Tuesday of Every Month

Curious about our work? Have an idea to contribute? Our monthly gathering is open to anyone who wants to meet our team, learn about current projects, and hear from thought-provoking guest speakers.

See Upcoming OpenHouse
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