The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has launched a three-part challenge that aims to encourage the development of software applications for healthcare, with prizes worth $625,000 in total.The three-part strategy seeks to build on Health Level 7 of the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources and promote standardized application programming interfaces, ONC said March 1.
Parts one and two of the strategy involve software development contests — including one app built for consumers and one for providers – with prizes valued at $175,000 each.
ONC’s third challenge is a competitive funding opportunity worth $275,000 which calls for the development of an open resource platform where developers can publish apps for healthcare providers to see and compare.
“This strategy will help us reach the consumer and provider-friendly future of health IT we all seek,†said Karen DeSalvo, national coordinator for health information technology.
“It reflects our guiding principles that consumers and providers should have easy, secure access to health information and the ability to direct that information when and where it is needed most.â€
The three-part initiative is also a part of the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan and the Interoperability Pledge campaign.
Apps developed through the challenges could also be used to support delivery system reforms, the Precision Medicine Initiative and the National Cancer Moonshot.
