(TORONTO, ON): Zuubly, a cross-platform app developed at the e-Health 2015 Hacking Health Design Challenge Hackathon to help people with depression, was recently recognized with the COACH: Canada's Health Informatics Association Innovation Award at the hackathon.
After being diagnosed with depression, a person can use Zuubly on the web or through their phone or Smartwatch. "Zuubly lets users know that they're not alone, even if they feel like they are," said Sean McCurdy, team spokesperson. "The app will send users a few questions a day to keep tabs on their progress. If they start to feel low, Zuubly will send a message to the pre-defined care circle to let them know they need to reach out to the user. Zuubly will also send some cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) prompts to teach users how to manage negative thoughts. If things get really bad, Zuubly will connect users with a local crisis centre."
The eight-member Zuubly team combined their clinical, IT, policymaking, research and other experience to create the app over the eight-week hackathon. Their goal was to help engage the user's entire care circle in recovery while lessening the burden on the telemedicine care provider for immediate follow-up. They used World Health Organization (WHO)-approved assessments to accurately track the changing moods of people with depression.
"The Zuubly team exemplifies the type of innovation that occurs when professionals from multiple disciplines come together to design a solution through a user-centred lens," said Mark Casselman, CEO, COACH. "Digital health solutions can support Canadians in the day-to-day management of their personal health. We congratulate the Zuubly team on their commitment to advance health through information technology, and welcome these innovators as new members of COACH."
Zuubly also won the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) Innovative Solution Award at the hackathon, which culminated with judging at e-Health 2015 June 2. The team, with the support of the OTN and COACH awards, is now focused on developing a minimum viable product that incorporates the envisioned functionality in a package demonstrating value for priority users - people diagnosed with depression - and their clinicians. This functionality includes fully developing the mobile assessment tool and integrating CBT to help users improve mindfulness and practice self-therapy. Future applications could include monitoring post-surgical recovery and potential drug interactions.
The Zuubly team members are: Barb Brownlee, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation; Honey Dacanay, Cabinet Office, Government of Ontario; Nippun Goyal, University of Waterloo; Landon Harrison, Treasury Board Secretariat, Government of Ontario; Jovan Matic, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation; Sean McCurdy, Mount Sinai Hospital; Sherri Thiele, Toronto Western Hospital and Paul Vet, Cabinet Office, Government of Ontario.
The COACH Innovation Award includes COACH membership for all team members, attendance/presentation opportunities at the CHIEF: Canada's Health Informatics Executive Forum Fall Symposium and a National COACH Webinar and articles on the COACH website and in the COACH journal.
More than 25 teams participated in the hackathon. Read about the other hackathon winners.
For More Information
COACH
RoseMary MacVicar-Elliott
Phone (416) 494-9324, toll free 1-888-253-8554, ext 224
communications@coachorg.com