The National Cancer Institute and the Office of National Coordinator for Health IT are throwing down $40,000 in an innovation challenge to encourage app developers to step and brainstorm ideas to improve cancer care, particularly improving transitional and follow-up care after cancer treatment, according to a statement on the ONC’s website.
The “Crowds Care for Cancer: Supporting Survivors Challenge” contest includes two parts. First, there’s the initial application in which participants submit wire frames to show a skeletal blueprint for the tool and documentation that describes how their tool or app is supposed to work and layout the plan to develop it. Up to three will be picked from this first phase and awarded $5,000. They’ll get feedback and support to improve their apps and will get promoted on Medstartr’s crowdfunding portal in the run-up to the second part of the contest.
In the second part, the competitors are judged and the winner gets $25,000.
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Here are some of the areas the challenge seeks to address, according to the ONC’s website:
- Optimizing patient-provider communication and customizing management of survivor care.
- Follow-up care needs like medication tracking and adherence, health promotion, appointment and symptom tracking.
- Improving communication across survivor care networks using tools to improve health data and interoperability standards such as Blue Button+.
Submissions will also be assessed on their ability to adapt to the evolving care needs of survivors, including the potential for integration with electronic care platforms and between family, friends and healthcare providers.
The deadline for the competition is May 28 at 11:59 pm Pacific time. To apply, click this link. The winners will be announced over the summer.
