This morning, Fraser Health is inviting more than 80 local developers to turn its data into practical solutions for pressing health care issues during the Fraser Health Hackathon.
SURREY – This morning, Fraser Health is inviting more than 80 local developers to turn its data into practical solutions for pressing health care issues during the Fraser Health Hackathon. Taking place throughout the weekend at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus, the sold-out event will see teams vie to find technology-driven solutions to challenges facing the region.
The Fraser Health Hackathon marks the first time a B.C. health authority has hosted an event of this kind, wherein developers will be provided access to publicly-available data as well as additional aggregate data that has been carefully de-identified to safeguard against privacy concerns.
While Fraser Health already collects and analyzes data to better inform the care provided to patients, hackathon participants with non-health care and technology backgrounds can use this data to source innovative new ways to deliver health care services. Throughout the weekend, Fraser Health mentors will be on-hand to provide health care-focused guidance to participants as needed.
After forming teams, participants will tackle one of nine challenges based on themes including:
- Patient-centred services
- Engagement of frontline staff
- The overdose crisis
- Mental health and substance use
- A ‘wild card’ category to recognize an out-of-the-box solution.
The Fraser Health Hackathon is hosted in partnership with Simon Fraser University, the City of Surrey and Innovation Boulevard, with support from the Health Tech Innovation Foundation, OpenDataBC, and TELUS. Upon the conclusion of the two days, all entries will be evaluated by a judging panel including representatives from each of the Fraser Health Hackathon partner organizations. For their efforts, three successful teams will be awarded prizes based on their product’s ability to successful address one of the challenges using a new, inventive approach.
For more information about this weekend’s Fraser Health Hackathon, please visit healthhackathon.ca. Follow the hackathon on Twitter using the hashtag #FHhackathon.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
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