By: Allison Currie
Gautam Sadarangani is no stranger to occupational therapy, a field dedicated to helping individuals develop, recover, or sustain the skills essential for daily living. Although he currently calls Vancouver, Canada home, Sadarangani was born in India and grew up in Singapore where his mother is an occupational therapist. As a child and young adult, he spent countless hours not only in her clinic but also observing firsthand the challenges and rewards of the profession. Because of what he learned from her, and because of his own fitness journey later in life, Sadarangani clearly understands one of the largest challenges occupational therapists and physical therapists encounter in effectively helping their patients – the limited in-person time they can spend supporting them.
“Clinicians do incredible work with patients in the clinic,” says Sadarangani. “But 98% of the time, patients are at home, away from that direct, hands-on support. That’s when the challenges arise. Patients may have lingering questions or concerns, and they often wonder if they’re performing their exercises correctly. Over time, their commitment to home exercises can begin to fade. So, we started asking ourselves, ‘How can we help therapists extend care beyond the clinic walls?’
This question led to the creation of Tenzr Health a Vancouver-based health-tech company focused on gamifying rehabilitation to increase patient engagement and enhance the support that clinicians can provide to their patients outside the clinic. Founded by Sadarangani and Lukas-Karim Merhi, the Tenzr platform is designed to bridge the gap between in-clinic sessions and at-home rehabilitation, providing a continuous support system that empowers both patients and clinicians.
Tenzr is a Health Canada licensed wearable device equipped with advanced sensor technology that tracks and provides gamified feedback on movement quality and frequency. This data, combined with patient feedback, offers clinicians real-time insights into their patients' progress. The result is actionable information that enables personalized, evidence-based rehabilitation plans, tailored to the unique needs of each patient.
By incorporating elements of play, the platform motivates patients to stay active and involved in their recovery while clinicians can monitor patients remotely, adjusting treatment plans as needed based on real-time data. This approach helps patients stay on track with their rehabilitation regardless of location, while enabling clinicians to make timely, informed decisions about their care.
As part of a Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network commercialization project, Tenzr is currently in the test and try phase with Nova Scotia Health’s Acquired Brain Injury Program to bring this experience to patients. The project will evaluate Tenzr’s ability to improve patient adherence, track rehabilitation progress and enhance clinical workflows in the Acquired Brain Injury Program.
The Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub lies at the core of this initiative, pioneering the testing and implementation of new treatments, technologies and solutions to enhance healthcare. With a focus on impactful partnerships, the Health Innovation Hub works to deliver accessible, transformative solutions that ensure timely, high-quality care for all Nova Scotians.
The team collaborates closely with clinical operations to understand the needs of the system, healthcare providers, and patient families, identifying solutions that effectively address these challenges. Through the CAN Health Network, the initiative supports test-and-try phases with funding, enabling the deployment and evaluation of innovative solutions in real-world clinical environments.
"We’re incredibly excited to have Tenzr added to our toolbox,” says Natalie Thornley, Interdisciplinary Clinical Leader at the Acquired Brain Injury Program. “Ensuring patients stay engaged and committed to their rehabilitation once they leave the clinic can be a challenge. With Tenzr, we can monitor their progress in real-time, helping to provide timely adjustments to their treatment plans. We’re seeing firsthand how it boosts patient engagement and empowers them in their recovery. It’s a support system that extends beyond the walls of the clinic."
By addressing the ongoing challenges of time and location, Tenzr is reshaping the landscape of rehabilitation, a development that bodes well for patients and clinicians in Nova Scotia, beginning with this test and try.
Updated March 2025
Based on a successful initial roll-out of Tenzr on iPads, and clinician and patient feedback, the test and try was expanded to make rehab even more accessible and flexible. Nova Scotia Health patients can now access Tenzr directly on their mobile phones, putting rehabilitation at their fingertips, wherever and whenever they need it.
By integrating digital tools that connect patients with care beyond traditional settings, this initiative is improving access, enhancing patient outcomes and reducing barriers to rehabilitation.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Nova Scotia Health's Information Management & Technology (IM/IT) and Privacy Risk and Assessment teams, Cyber Security and Digital Solutions, and Tenzr, the Acquired Brain Injury program has become the first in Canada to deliver rehab in this way - digital, connected and built around patient needs.
