Infoway invites Canadian innovators to join first-ever results-based ImagineNation Outcomes Challeng
STRATFORD, ON, May 4 /CNW/ - Canadian innovators are invited to participate in the ImagineNation Outcomes challenge announced Dr. Jennifer Zelmer, Senior Vice President, Clinical Adoption and Innovation, Canada Health Infoway at Canada 3.0.
The ImagineNation Outcomes challenge is unique, focusing on proving and spreading innovative health information and communications technology solutions in areas that matter to Canadians and their health care providers. Two challenges will address priorities identified in a recent survey of Canadians: e-scheduling and patient/consumer access to lab results and other health information. The other challenges will address clinical priorities.
"Through the new ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge, we are looking forward to awarding and showcasing on-line or mobile solutions that improve health care, encouraging innovation and results across the country," said Dr. Zelmer.
Infoway has earmarked more than $1 million for the ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge. The Challenge will run from September 2011 to March 2013 and offer financial awards to participants for achieving certain results. Early awards will be allocated to teams demonstrating the first working solutions in each priority area. There will also be significant cash awards and other benefits for participants whose solutions are used most frequently during the ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge.
Single individuals/organizations or teams of individuals/organizations are welcome to participate. At least one member of each team must be either a clinician or an organization delivering health services in Canada.
This initiative is the second ImagineNation challenge introduced by Infoway since the March 2011 launch of ImagineNation Ideas challenge, which is part of the organization's ongoing innovation program.
Those who are interested in learning more about this challenge are invited to sign-up at: www.imagineNationchallenge.ca. Registration for the ImagineNation Outcomes challenge will begin in September 2011.
Why a Challenge? Why now?
Challenges are a good way of eliciting and spreading innovation: In a fall 2010 Ipsos survey gathering information about Canadians' priorities for consumer health solutions, 85 per cent of respondents agreed that running challenges like this one was a good way to get and test new ideas about how to provide health information products and services. Infoway has committed to engage in open challenges to encourage broader innovation in a cost-effective and timely way, while fostering a community of innovators across the country. The ImagineNation Outcomes and ImagineNation Ideas Challenges are part of Infoway's ongoing innovation program.
About Canada Health Infoway:
Canada Health Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Infoway jointly invests with every province and territory to accelerate the development and adoption of information and communications technology projects in Canada. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these secure systems will provide clinicians and patients with the information they need to better support safe care decisions and manage their own health. Accessing this vital information quickly will help foster a more modern and sustainable health care system for all Canadians.
For further information:
Dan Strasbourg
Director, Media Relations
Canada Health Infoway
Tel.: (416) 595-3424
dstrasbourg@infoway-inforoute.ca