The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has announced a contest calling on software developers to create online tools to help consumers find health care quality information, the Newport News Daily Press reports (Salasky, Newport News Daily Press, 10/28).
The contest is part of the foundation's Aligning Forces for Quality initiative (Goedert, Health Data Management, 10/28). The initiative is designed to improve the quality of health care in 16 communities around the U.S.
The initiative already has produced information on health care quality. For example, participants of the initiative have developed online reports on diabetes care -- such as whether patients received appropriate tests and procedures -- and the safety of local medical centers (Newport News Daily Press, 10/28).
Challenge Details
Data from the Aligning Forces initiative will be used in the apps (Merrill, Healthcare IT News, 10/31).
During Phase 1 of the challenge, competing developers will create applications for various devices, including smartphones and iPads, to allow consumers to access comparative information on the quality of health care in various regions of the country. During Phase 2, the developers will work with communities that are part of the Aligning Forces initiative to refine their products.
The deadline for entry submissions for Phase 1 of the challenge is Dec. 31, 2011, and winners will be announced in June 2012 (Newport News Daily Press, 10/28).
Winners of the first, second and third place apps will receive $100,000, $25,000 and $5,000, respectively (Health Data Management, 10/28).