At-Home Care Startup Plans Expansion with Humana & More News...

At-Home Care Startup Heal Plans Expansion with $100M Investment from Humana

Home healthcare provider Heal is expanding with $100 million in new funding from Humana. Humana will work with Heal to expand its footprint to new markets, including Chicago, Charlotte and Houston. Heal will also use the funds to expand the services that it offers, including potentially offering physical therapy and dermatology. Heal makes medical appointments more convenient, especially for patients with chronic conditions or other potential health risks.

Announcing the RWJF Emergency Response Challenge Semi-Finalists

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Catalyst @ Health 2.0 are excited to announce the semi-finalists for their Innovation Challenges on Emergency Response for the General Public and Emergency Response for the Health Care System.

Emergency Response for the General Public Semi-Finalists:

• Fresh EBT by Propel- A technology tool for SNAP families to address food insecurity & economic vulnerability in times of crisis.   

• CovidSMS- CovidSMS is a text message-based platform providing city-specific information and resources to help low-income communities endure COVID-19.

• Front-Line Force- A platform that connects volunteers 1:1 with front-line healthcare workers to complete tasks for them in crises.

• Binformed Covidata- Binformed is a clinically-driven comprehensive desktop + mobile infectious disease, epidemic + pandemic management tool targeting suppression and containment of diseases such as COVID-19.

• Evva Health- Hub-and-Spoke model and A.I. Community Coordinator for individual and community-level personalization of support and resource coordination.

Emergency Response for the Health Care System Semi-Finalists:

• Qventus- Qventus is a patient flow automation solution that applies AI / ML and behavioral science to help health systems optimize resources for Covid, create effective capacity, and reduce frontline burnout.

• Path Check- Path Check provides privacy first, free, open source solutions for public health to supplement manual contact tracing, visualize hot spots, and interfaces with citizen-facing privacy first apps.

• Tiatros Inc- The first mental health and social support platform that combines clinical expertise, peer communities and scalable technology to advance mental wellbeing and to sustain meaningful behavioral change.

• Hikma Health- Hikma is the first affordable, lightweight, mobile, cloud-based EHR that provides dynamic data insights to physicians in refugee and under-resourced settings.

• University Hospitals Ventures- UH Innovates is a crowdsourcing platform for University Hospitals' 30k employees to generate, iterate, and implement ideas in real-time, within crisis response and beyond.

The five teams will receive $1,000 and advance to the next round of the competition. Three finalists will be chosen with the help of a panel of judges to compete in a virtual pitch (TBD). They will demo their technology virtually in front of a captivated audience of investors, provider organizations, health plans, tech companies, foundations, government officials and members of the media and compete for first, second, and third place. The winners will be awarded $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place.

Learn more about the semi-finalists for the Emergency Response for the General Public Challenge here. 

Learn more about the semi-finalists for the Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge here.  

RROCs: Tracking Innovative Health Tech Solutions in Response COVID-19

In collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Catalyst @ Health 2.0 is continuing to hold open calls connecting health care providers in need with health tech solutions. Rapid Response Open Calls (RROCs) are a fast way to source innovative solutions from Catalyst’s widespread network. 

If you are a healthcare provider in need of #healthtech solutions or a healthcare stakeholder looking to participate in a subsidized RROC, you can learn more and apply HERE.

Announcing: RWJF Emergency Response Innovation Challenges Semi-finalists!

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has underscored the need for efficient and innovative emergency response. Major health organizations, such as the American Hospital Association, have provided resources that can be utilized for organizational preparedness, caring for patients, and enabling the workforce during the pandemic.

As COVID-19 brought to light the lack of emergency response preparedness in the health care system, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Catalyst saw an opportunity to highlight digital health’s potential to support health care stakeholders and the general public. RWJF and Catalyst partnered to launch two Innovation Challenges on Emergency Response for the General Public and Emergency Response for the Health Care System. 

The Emergency Response Innovation Challenges asked innovators to develop a health technology tool to support the needs of individuals as well as health care systems affected by a large-scale health crisis, such as a pandemic or natural disaster. The Challenges saw a record number of applications— nearly 125 applications were submitted to the General Public Challenge and over 130 applications were submitted to the Health Care System Challenge. 

An expert panel of judges across the health tech, venture capital, design, and emergency response industries evaluated the entries and selected five semi-finalists from each challenge to advance to the next round. Congratulations to:

Emergency Response for the General Public Semi-Finalists:

• Fresh EBT by Propel- A technology tool for SNAP families to address food insecurity & economic vulnerability in times of crisis.   

• CovidSMS- CovidSMS is a text message-based platform providing city-specific information and resources to help low-income communities endure COVID-19.

• Front-Line Force- A platform that connects volunteers 1:1 with front-line healthcare workers to complete tasks for them in crises.

• Binformed Covidata- Binformed is a clinically-driven comprehensive desktop + mobile infectious disease, epidemic + pandemic management tool targeting suppression and containment of diseases such as COVID-19.

• Evva Health- Hub-and-Spoke model and A.I. Community Coordinator for individual and community-level personalization of support and resource coordination.

Emergency Response for the Health Care System Semi-Finalists:

• Qventus- Qventus is a patient flow automation solution that applies AI / ML and behavioral science to help health systems optimize resources for Covid, create effective capacity, and reduce frontline burnout.

• Path Check- Path Check provides privacy first, free, open source solutions for public health to supplement manual contact tracing, visualize hot spots, and interfaces with citizen-facing privacy first apps.

• Tiatros Inc- The first mental health and social support platform that combines clinical expertise, peer communities and scalable technology to advance mental wellbeing and to sustain meaningful behavioral change.

• Hikma Health- Hikma is the first affordable, lightweight, mobile, cloud-based EHR that provides dynamic data insights to physicians in refugee and under-resourced settings.

• University Hospitals Ventures- UH Innovates is a crowdsourcing platform for University Hospitals' 30k employees to generate, iterate, and implement ideas in real-time, within crisis response and beyond.

The semi-finalists for the Challenges will be awarded $1,000 each to further develop their application or tool. After Phase II, three finalists from each Challenge will be chosen to compete at a virtual pitch hosted by Catalyst @ Health 2.0. They will demo their technology virtually to an audience of investors, provider organizations, health plans, tech companies, foundations, government officials and members of the media.  Judges will select the first, second, and third place winners live after a series of short demos from the finalists. The winners will be awarded $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place.

For further updates on the semi-finalists of the RWJF Emergency Response for the General Public and Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge and other programs, subscribe to the Catalyst @ Health 2.0 Newsletter, and follow Catalyst on  Twitter @catalyst_h20.

NSF Grants Funding to Patient Privacy Solution & More News...

UT and Vanderbilt Develop Tool to Safeguard Patient Data for COVID-19 Research

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $200,000 grant to researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas and Vanderbilt University Medical Center who are developing an open-source tool for COVID-19. The software aims to address security concerns behind personal-level data use and sharing as COVID-19 research continues and contact tracing apps become more widespread. Combining location data with a person’s medical history increases the risk of being able to identify patients. The tool could flag instances where data should only be shared on a restricted basis. 

Catalyst @ Health 2.0 Launches Rapid Response Open Calls (RROCs) in Response to COVID-19 

Applications for Rapid Response Open Calls (RROCs) are still OPEN! RROCs are launched on Catalyst’s Health Tech Responds to COVID-19 platform, and aim to connect health care providers with urgent needs to the digital health community. RROCs can be streamlined within days, and have the potential to support organizations, hospitals, health systems, and more to leverage health tech solutions to maximize their response to COVID-19. 

Interested in learning more about the ways we can work together to solve your organization’s needs? Click here. 

RWJF Emergency Response for the General Public Challenge: Apps Closing Soon

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is seeking digital health tools that can support the diverse needs of individuals during an emergency situation. During an emergency situation, (e.g. pandemics and outbreaks, natural disasters or severe weather, radiation and chemical spills) the public faces a deluge of information, misinformation, and recommendations. In addition, they may lack access to vital resources like health care, medications for chronic conditions, emotional support, food, and shelter. These challenges may have potentially life-threatening implications for individuals and their communities. 

Example solutions include:

• Solutions that help consumers understand clinical guidelines/recommendations during an outbreak

• Apps that connect consumers with resources (e.g. cleaning supplies, medications, testing capability) during an emergency or disaster

• Technologies that address consumers’ physical and mental well-being during and following emergencies

How the challenge works:
In Phase I, innovators submit their tech-enabled solutions addressing the challenge topic by June 12th, 2020 11:59 PM ET. Judges will evaluate the entries based on Impact, UX/UI, Innovation/Creativity, and Scalability. The top five teams will move onto Phase II.

Do you have a health tech solution that can address the obstacles faced by the general public during an emergency? Apply today! 

$25k Grand Prize: RWJF Emergency Tech Challenges

Applications for the RWJF Emergency Response for the Health Care System and General Public Challenges close in just 4 days! The Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge is seeking digital tools that can support the health care system during a large-scale health crisis (pandemic, natural disaster, or other public health emergency). Examples include but are not limited to tools that can support providers, government, and public health and community organizations. The Emergency Response for the General Public Challenge is looking for health technology tools to support the needs of individuals whose lives have been affected by a large-scale health crisis.

How It Works:

●     In Phase I, innovators submit their tech-enabled solutions addressing the challenge topic. Judges will evaluate the entries based on Impact, UX/UI, Innovation/Creativity, and Scalability. The top five teams will move onto Phase II.

●     In Phase II, five semi-finalists will be awarded $1,000 each to further develop their application or tool. Three finalists will be chosen at the end of Phase II to participate in a virtual pitch and present their solutions to an audience of investors, provider organizations, and more. The grand prize winner will be awarded $25,000 for first place.

Submit your solution today to help the health care system and general public address the challenges they face during an emergency situation. Applications for both challenges are due by June 12th, 2020 11:59PM ET.

To apply to the Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge, click here.

To apply to the Emergency Response for the General Public Challenge, click here.

COVID-19 Expert Insights & More News...

Announcing: Subsidized Rapid Response Open Calls (RROC)

With support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Catalyst @ Health 2.0 is proud to fund Rapid Response Open Calls for health care providers with limited resources to identify and source digital health innovation during COVID-19. RROCs can be launched within days and are designed to quickly connect health care providers with health tech solutions.

If you are interested in hosting a subsidized open call or learning more, click HERE!

COVID-19 Insights: Data Accessibility for Health Care Innovation

Catalyst is featuring experts in digital health, emergency response, and more. Lonnie Kurlander is the Founder and former CEO of Medal, whose mission is to enable a globally accessible and useful record of health. 

Lonnie Kurlander, Founder and former CEO of Medal, is driven by the idea that accessibility to data encourages innovation and interoperability.  She believes open-source databases and data visualization are important for combatting COVID-19 because they create data liquidity and provide access to relevant data points. Standards for health information exchange like HL7’s FHIR facilitate access to information. This can optimize care delivery across different modes such as telemedicine as well as  enhance current EHR capabilities. FHIR-based apps are now being used against COVID-19. For example, in April 2020, the CDC launched a FHIR-based application eCR Now, which automates COVID-19 electronic case reporting. It gives public health officials a more detailed and real-time view of the spread of the virus. Despite modifications to data sharing policies made earlier this year, such as the finalization of HHS’ information blocking rules, Lonnie hopes to see overarching policy changes for individual patient-level data transfer and the implementation of FHIR to improve care delivery.

Read more about Lonnie Kurlander’s insights and find more original content on Health Tech Responds to COVID-19.

Open Applications: RWJF Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge

According to the World Health Organization, health care providers fighting COVID-19 are at an elevated risk of exposure to hazards like pathogens and can face long working hours, psychological distress, fatigue, occupational burnout, stigma, and physical and psychological violence.

Catalyst, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has launched the Emergency Response for the Health Care System Innovation Challenge. It is seeking digital health solutions that have the ability to address health care systems’ needs and priority areas during pandemics, natural disasters or severe weather (hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, or earthquakes), radiation, and chemical spills.

How the Challenge Works:
In Phase I, innovators submit their tech-enabled solutions addressing the challenge topic by June 12th, 2020 11:59PM ET.

Submissions will be evaluated and scored based on the following criteria:

• Impact: How well does your technology address the challenge question?

• UX/UI: How strong is the design and intuitiveness of your technology?

• Innovation/Creativity: How unique is your technology?

• Scalability: What is the solution’s potential for widespread adoption?

Example Solutions for Health Care System Challenge:

• Apps that alert nearby healthcare professionals on emergency volunteer opportunities with an integrated registration form and checklist on what is needed

• AR/VR solutions that helps train professionals on emergency protocols

• Apps that analyze medical notes/symptoms and alerts health care providers if it matches CDC’s clinical guidelines/risks assessments on ongoing outbreaks

Do you have a health tech solution that can support the health care system when faced with an emergency? Apply today!

Announcing: Subsidized Rapid Response Open Calls

In collaboration with The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Catalyst @ Health 2.0 is proud to announce funding for health care providers with limited resources and urgent needs to identify and source digital health innovation during COVID-19 through our Rapid Response Open Calls (RROC). RROCs are streamlined calls for applications that connect health care providers to digital health solutions. Deployed as part of Catalyst’s Health Tech Responds to COVID-19 platform, RROCs can be launched within days to meet the host’s needs.

Catalyst created the RROC to address an urgent need from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Emergency Department for provider-facing, text based platforms to help healthcare professionals self-monitor symptoms of coronavirus, report burnout, and access helpful resources. Within one day, the Brigham and Women’s Health RROC was launched. In a 7-day application period, Catalyst received an overwhelmingly positive response with more than 80 quality submissions. BWH was able to evaluate the submissions through a streamlined process and 5 innovators were selected to demo their solutions to the BWH ED team. BWH began pursuing a potential partnership with one of the semi-finalists. 

If you are a healthcare provider with limited resources during COVID-19 (e.g. FQHCs, community health centers, etc.), apply for a subsidized RROC HERE! 

RWJF Challenge: Health Care Emergency Tech

Catalyst @ Health 2.0, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is seeking health technology solutions that can support the needs of the health care system (e.g. providers, government, public health and community organizations, and more) by addressing several obstacles during an emergency such as:

●     Resource Management: Shortages of equipment, staff, and cash flow

●     Health Data Exchange: Limited information and access available on patients’ health histories

●     Training and Communication: Limited training and cumbersome communication between responders and clinicians

●     Capacity: Limited beds, equipment, and resources and a need to maximize patient flow/throughput

Innovators must submit their tech-enabled solution by June 12th, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET.

Can you create a digital tool that supports the health care system during a large-scale health crisis? Apply today!

COVID-19 Fingerprint Test in Development & More News...

Rapid COVID-19 Fingerprint Test in Development

Intelligent Fingerprinting, a diagnostics firm in the UK, has partnered with Imperial College London to develop a COVID-19 fingerprint test. Built upon Intelligent Fingerprinting’s existing technology, the test collects fingerprint sweat onto a small cartridge for analysis. It is read by a portable DSR-Plus analysis unit, which provides a positive or negative result on-screen in 10 minutes. If the approach is validated, the fingerprint-based test could be used by non-medical staff in settings such as care homes and workplaces. 

Cloud-based Platform Analyzes SDoH to Support Contact Tracing Efforts

Verato, an identity services provider, has launched Verato Enrich. The platform uses their cloud-based enterprise master person index (EMPI) to make demographic and SDoH information more complete in order to facilitate COVID-19 contact tracing efforts. It can append a wide array of data ranging from basic contact information like missing phone numbers and addresses to lifestyle data like income, ethnicity, transportation options and access to resources. Access to this type of data allows public health officials to gain access to key insights to support contact tracing, a vital next step in flattening the curve of the pandemic.

Announcing the 2020 RWJF Emergency Response Challenges

Catalyst @ Health 2.0 is proud to power the RWJF Emergency Response Innovation Challenges. The Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge seeks digital tools that can support the health care system during a large-scale health crisis (pandemic, natural disaster, or other public health emergency). Examples include but are not limited to tools that can support providers, government, and public health and community organizations. The Emergency Response for the General Public Challenge is looking for health technology tools to support the needs of individuals whose lives have been affected by a large-scale health crisis.

During a large-scale health crisis, the health care system is at risk of reaching patient capacity and workflow bottlenecks. The public faces a lack of credible, easy to understand information and access to critical resources like food, shelter, and emotional support.

If you have a digital health solution that is in a unique position to help consumers navigate information, find needed resources, and more during these difficult times, apply today!

To apply to the Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge, click here.
To apply to the Emergency Response for the General Public Challenge, click here.

Announcing: 2020 RWJF Innovation Challenges

We are excited to announce the launch of two innovation challenges, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and powered by Catalyst @ Health 2.0! 

The Emergency Response for the General Public Challenge is looking for health technology tools to support the needs of individuals whose lives have been affected by a large-scale health crisis (pandemic, natural disaster, or other public health emergency). The Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge is seeking digital tools that can support the health care system during a large-scale health crisis. Examples include but are not limited to tools that can support providers, government, and public health and community organizations.

How It Works:

●  In Phase I, innovators submit their tech-enabled solutions addressing the challenge topic. Judges will evaluate the entries based on Impact, UX/UI, Innovation/Creativity, and Scalability. The top five teams who will move onto Phase II.

● In Phase II, five semi-finalists will be awarded $1,000 each to further develop their application or tool. Three finalists will be chosen at the end of Phase II to participate in a virtual pitch and present their solutions to an audience of investors, provider organizations, and more. The grand prize winner will be awarded $25,000 for first place.

Applications for both challenges are due by June 12th, 2020 11:59 PM ET

To learn more about the Emergency Response for the Health Care System Challenge, click here.

To learn more about the Emergency Response for the General Public Challenge, click here.

Prehab Tool and AI Win Big at the 2019 RWJF Live Pitch

Six finalists competed in an exciting live pitch for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 2019 Innovation Challenges at the 2019 Health 2.0 Annual Conference. They demoed their technologies in front of an audience of health care professionals, investors, provider organizations, and members of the media. The Home and Community Based Care Challenge sought technologies that support the advancement of at-home or community based care. The Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge called for solutions that increase access to services related to social determinants of health.

During the 3-day Conference, Jessica DaMassa, Executive Producer & Host of @WTF_Health, spoke with the finalists about their experience competing in the RWJF Innovation Challenges, their personal highlights, and what’s next!

Home and Community Based Care Innovation Challenge Finalists

First Place:

Ooney’s home-based web-app for older adults, Prehab Pal, delivers individualized prehabilitation to accelerate postoperative functional recovery and return to independence after surgery.

Second Place:

Wizeview uses artificial intelligence to automate and organize information collected during home visits, supporting the management of medically complex populations at the lowest cost per encounter.

Third Place:

Heal doctor house calls, paired with Heal Hub remote patient monitoring and telemedicine, offer a complete connected care solution for patients with chronic conditions.

Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge Finalists

First Place:

Social Impact AI Lab is a consortium of nonprofit social services agencies and technology providers with artificial intelligence solutions to address social disconnection in child welfare.

Second Place:

Community Resource Network’s Social Determinants of Health Client Profile creates a whole-person picture across physical, behavioral, and social domains to expedite help for those most at risk, fill in the gaps in care, and optimize well-being.

Third Place:

Open City Labs matches patients with community services and government benefits that address SDoH seamlessly. The platform will integrate with HIEs to automate referral, eligibility screening & benefits enrollment.

Congratulations to the six winners and thank you to all of the participants involved in both Innovation Challenges. To learn more about these efforts, you can visit the Home and Community Based Care and Social Determinants of Health Challenge websites.

Announcing the Winners of the RWJF Innovation Challenges & More News

Announcing the Winners for the RWJF Innovation Challenges

The three finalists for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Home and Community Based Care and Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenges competed live at Health 2.0 on Monday, September 16th! They demoed their technology in front of a captivated audience of health care professionals, investors, provider organizations, and members of the media. Catalyst is proud to announce the first, second and third place winners.

Home and Community Based Care Innovation Challenge Winners
First Place: Ooney
Second Place: WizeView
Third Place: Heal

Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge Winners
First Place: Social Impact AI Lab New York
Second Place: Community Resource Network
Third Place: Open City Labs

To learn more about the Home and Community Based Care Innovation Challenge, click here.
To learn more about the Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge, click here.

CalMHSA's Help@Hand Project

Applications are open for an exciting pilot program hosted by The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA). The Help@Hand Project is pursuing technological solutions that address a county-shared need to increase access to mental health services for a variety of target populations. CalMHSA is seeking prospective vendors to be part of a multi-year innovation project that will assess and pilot virtual mental health care services. A RFSQ (Request for Statement of Qualifications) will need to be completed by interested companies that have the capacity to meet one of more of the following criteria:

• Implement technology-based mental health solutions accessed through multiple platforms (for example, computer, smartphone, etc.) to identify and engage individuals

• Provide automated screening and assessments

• Improve access to mental health and supportive services focused on prevention, early intervention, family support, social connectedness peer support

• Decreased use of psychiatric hospitals and emergency services

This exciting multi-year innovation project will consist of an open application period (September 12th – October 7th, 2019) and a subsequent pilot period that allows the opportunity for vendors to be added to the Help@Hand Product Portfolio. After a vendor is included in the portfolio, all counties participating in the project can view company and product profiles and may choose to implement technologies at a larger scale.

If you have a digital technology that has the potential to save lives and empower the mental well-being of Californians, apply today!

Applications will close on October 7th, 2019.

Announcing the GuideWell Caring for Caregivers Challenge

Applications are now open for GuideWell’s Caring for Caregivers Challenge! The competition will award up to $100,000 to companies or non-profits with innovative digital solutions that have the potential to provide a comprehensive resource network for family caregivers. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their ability to develop and sustainably deploy innovative, scalable approaches that support the mental, social and economic health of family caregivers and improve their ability to care for loved ones.

If you are an organization or non-profit that focuses on improving the quality of life for family caregivers, apply today! For more details on eligibility criteria and the application process, please click here.

RECAP: The 13th Annual Health 2.0 Conference in Santa Clara, CA

This year's Health 2.0 Conference saw industry experts, thought leaders, and change drivers discuss complex and fascinating topics including challenges and areas of growth in health tech. The first day kicked-off with opening remarks by Catalyst's co-founders Matthew Holt and Indu Subaiya. It was followed by a keynote from Poppy Crum, Chief Scientist at Dolby Laboratories, who took the audience on a journey through people's natural processing and the surprising convergences it has with artificial intelligence. For example, Dr. Crum likened "technology-targeted neuroplasticity" to the regenerative capabilities of nuerons. Cris Ross, Chief Information Officer of Mayo Clinic, explored the need for data liberation in technological advancements. He shared his personal battle with cancer and the role of Mayo Clinic's advanced EHR system in combating the disease. The Conference concluded with Launch!, where attendees saw innovative companies debut their market-ready innovations and voted for their favorite company. The winner, OMNY, was awarded $5,000 and HIMSS mentorship to support their efforts to activate supply chain and billing data.

Role of Innovation in Addressing Social Determinants of Health

Nearly a decade has passed since Healthy People 2020 positioned social determinants of health (SDoH) at the forefront of healthcare reform. As defined by the report, SDoH are the “conditions in the environment in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age, that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality of life outcomes.” Examples of social determinants include:

• Resources to meet daily needs (e.g., safe housing and local food markets)

• Educational, economic, and job opportunities

• Community-based resources in support of community living and opportunities for recreational and leisure-time activities

• Transportation

The ability to influence social determinants largely falls outside of the health care system’s reach. Therefore, a key to address opportunities for health involves collaboration between health care and different industries such as education, housing, and transportation. Both the public and private sectors have made significant efforts to bridge the gap between physical, mental, and social care by experimenting with non-traditional partnerships.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has spearheaded multiple programs with government agencies and community partners to achieve the goals outlined in Healthy People 2020. One of the most notable successes is the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, an initiative by the CDC with the Department of Housing & Urban Development and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Through housing rehabilitation, enforcement of housing and health codes, and partnerships with healthcare experts, the program helped Healthy People 2020 exceed their target of reducing blood lead level in children.

Other programs such as the “National Program to Eliminate Diabetes Related Disparities in Vulnerable Populations,” leveraged community partners and resources to increase food security, health literacy, and physical spaces for active living. In one of their projects, the program partnered with community health workers (promotoras) who spoke Spanish to engage with Hispanic/Latino communities where participation to Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) was low. The community health workers provided linguistically and culturally-sensitive materials that effectively increased participation in DSME among the targeted population. The outcomes from such initiatives have inspired more health and community organizations to work together to reduce health disparities.

Private health insurers have also joined the movement to influence SDoH as the shift towards value-based care incentivizes them to keep their beneficiaries healthy beyond clinical settings. Kaiser Permanente, which prides itself on helping their beneficiaries achieve total health, will launch their social care network Thrive Local to connect healthcare and social services providers. Thrive Local will be powered by Unite Us, a startup that helps providers refer social services, track outcomes, and collaborate care with community partners. Meanwhile, Blue Cross Blue Shield has invested nearly $40M into Solera Health to integrate social determinants data and resources into healthcare. Solera Health will use the funding to build out a network of digital health and social services providers and reimagine how health plans will pay social service providers. Both insurers are hopeful that the partnerships will promote better health outcomes and create a new care delivery model that effectively address social needs.  

Developers and innovators are encouraged to create technology that can support the integration of SDoH collaborations into healthcare. Those who are interested in this space and have a digital solution should apply to the “Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge,” which seeks novel technology that helps providers and/or patients connect to health services related to SDoH.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Digital tools that pull data from non-profit services to assist health systems in serving diverse patient populations on an ongoing basis

• Apps for consumers that provide health information based on their community/location

• Technology that harnesses governmental or open source data to create insights for healthcare providers to evaluate SDoH data and improve population health

In this multi-phase challenge, innovators are asked to submit tech-enabled solutions that account for SDoH. Subject matter experts will evaluate the entries and select the top five teams who will move onto Phase II. The five semi-finalists will be awarded $5,000 each to further develop their application or tool. Then, three finalists will be chosen at the end of Phase II to compete at a live pitch event! They will demo their technology in front of a captivated audience of investors, provider organizations, and members of the media at a prominent health conference. Judges will select the first, second, and third place winners live. Winners will be awarded $40,000 for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $10,000 for third place.

The challenge is open to innovators and companies at any stage of development. If you are interested in applying, the competition is now accepting Phase I applications and the deadline to submit is June 7th, 2019 11:59 PM EDT.

To learn more about the challenge, please visit the website. To sign up for updates on the challenge, please click here.

Lyft Expanding Discount Grocery Rides to Multiple Cities Across US and Canada

Millions of Americans across the country do not have adequate access to healthy foods. For example, those living in low income neighbourhoods, communities of color, and rural areas often do not have a nearby supermarket stocked with nutritious, affordable, and high quality foods. In an effort to remove such transportation barriers, Lyft will be expanding its Grocery Access Program to more than a dozen cities in the US and Canada over the next year. The ride-share platform will be partnering with local organizations and nonprofits to provide low-income families in food deserts with discounted rides to the grocery store.

The expansion of the program helps Lyft maintain a competitive edge over its rival Uber in healthcare. Lyft’s Concierge service, which gives hospital administrators the ability to book NEMT for patients, came out two years ahead of Uber’s similar service, UberHealth. Now Lyft has once again gained a first mover advantage by being the first to roll out a grocery service. With payers seeking to mitigate costs associated with poor nutrition, we can see Lyft forging crucial partnerships and leveraging its platform to treat the growing health inequity in the US.

Announcing: New RWJF Innovation Challenges

Health starts with where we live, learn, work, and play. In our shared commitment to building a culture of health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Catalyst @ Health 2.0 are proud to launch the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and the Home & Community Based Care Innovation Challenges. We are seeking novel technologies that address conditions in communities and bring quality care to where people live. 

We invite you to join our fight to improve access to health resources and the chance to win your share of $100,000 in prizes! Finalists also have the opportunity to pitch their solutions live on stage at a prominent health tech conference.

For the SDoH Challenge, we are looking for digital solutions that help patients and/or providers connect to services related to Social Determinants of Health. Examples include but are not limited to: digital tools that help health systems serve diverse populations, apps for consumers that provide health information based on their community/location, or tools to improve health quality indoors. To learn more about the Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge, click here. To pre-register and receive the latest updates, click here. 

For the Home & Community Based Care Challenge, we would like to see creative technologies that support the advancement of at-home or community-based health care. Examples include but are not limited to: coaching app to engage consumers with their healthcare, non-intrusive sensors for at home monitory of acute disease patients, or apps to support caretakers with burnout. To learn more about the Home & Community-Based Care Challenge, click here. To pre-register receive the latest updates, click here. 

Applications open April 29th. All submissions are due June 7th, 2019 11:59PM EDT.

The SDoH Innovation and Home & Community Based Care Challenges are brought to you by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and powered by Catalyst @ Health 2.0.

Announcing the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Social Determinants of Health and Home & Community Based Care Innovation Challenges

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has partnered with Catalyst @ Health 2.0 to launch two innovation challenges on Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and Home & Community Based Care. As a national leader in building a culture of health, RWJF is inspiring and identifying novel digital solutions to tackle health through an unconventional lens.

Health starts with where we live. As noted in Healthy People 2020 social determinants of health are, “conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age... [that] affect a wide range of health functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.” For example, children who live in an unsafe area cannot play outside making it more difficult for them to have adequate exercise. Differences in SDoH heavily influences communities’ well-being and results in very different opportunities for people to be healthy.

Despite our knowledge on SDoH, the current healthcare system utilizes care models that often fail to take into account the social and economic landscape of communities-- neglecting factors such as housing, education, food security, income, community resources, transportation and discrimination. Little progress has been made on incorporating SDoH into established health care frameworks. Healthcare providers and patients alike either have limited understanding of SDoH or have limited opportunities to utilize SDoH knowledge. RWJF established the “Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge” to find novel digital solutions that can help providers and/or patients connect to health services related to SDoH.

Home and community-based care is also important to enable Americans to live the healthiest lives possible. In-patient and long-term institutional care can be uncomfortable, costly, and inefficient. Digital health solutions in the home and community offer opportunities for care that better suit the patient and their loved ones. For example, innovations such as remote patient monitoring (RPM) have created new care models that allow the providers, caregivers, and patients to manage care where a person is most comfortable. RPM serves as a reminder that technologies in the home and community offer alternatives methods to engage the patient, increase access to care, and receive ongoing care. Therefore, RWJF is launching the “Home & Community-Based Care Challenge,” to encourage developers to create solutions that support the advancement of at-home or community-based health care.

The ultimate goal of both challenges is to foster innovations that help people live healthier lives and promote healthier, more equitable communities.

The challenges have two phases. In Phase I, innovators submit tech-enabled solutions addressing the challenge topic. Judges will evaluate the entries and the top five teams who will move onto Phase II. The five semi-finalists will be awarded $5,000 each to further develop their application or tool. Three finalists will be chosen at the end of Phase II to compete at a pitch event! They will demo their technology in front of a captivated audience of investors, provider organizations, and members of the media at a prominent health conference. Judges will select the first, second, and third place winners live. The grand prize winner will be awarded $40,000 for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $10,000 for third place.

With $100,000 in total prizes for each challenge and a number of promotional activities, we strongly encourage innovators to pre-register for the challenges and be notified when the applications open.

Check out the challenge websites below to learn more and make sure to pre-register for the RWJF Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge and/or the RWJF Home & Community Based Care Challenge to be notified when applications open on April 29th and submit your digital solution by June 7th.

To learn more about the Social Determinants of Health Innovation Challenge, click here. To pre-register for the challenge and receive the latest updates, click here.

To learn more about the Home & Community-Based Care Challenge, click here. To pre-register for the challenge and receive the latest updates, click here.