Simone Center

Rochester Regional Health Alliance has collaborated with Healthcare Idea Labs for over 10 years. The IdeaLab program engages volunteer RIT student teams with multidisciplinary expertise to solve unique problems faced by Rochester Regional Health. The students spend two days designing innovative solutions under the guidance of an RIT faculty mentor and a sponsoring Rochester Regional professional. Student teams then present their approaches to the Rochester Regional sponsor. Successful projects may then expand into ongoing student research to develop product or service prototypes.

IdeaLab participants have successfully worked on a number of Rochester Regional challenges such as: methods to alert patients who have left a needed cane or walker behind, improvement in ease of use of equipment in neonatal resuscitations, transport and process blood specimens, human-centered hand washing dispenser systems, wristband sanitizer, in-hospital patient tracking systems, and a feedback device designed to accelerate the recovery of those struggling with posture challenges.

The Studio 930 RIT Design Consultancy is a multidisciplinary studio focused on producing access and health technology products. This group is motivated equally by real-world learning and helping people with disabilities in our community.

Interdisciplinary groups of students are guided by a team of highly experienced mentors to work on accessibility and healthcare challenges. The program teaches students a humanistic approach to problem solving regardless of their professional discipline.