This weekend, hundreds will gather to hack into one of society's most complex systems … health care. Starting on Friday, the University of Alberta will host its first hackathon.
This weekend, hundreds will gather to hack into one of society's most complex systems … health care.
Starting on Friday, the University of Alberta will host its first hackathon. The event pairs front line health care workers with patients and technological innovators to tackle health care problems.
"The whole spirit of hackathon is very open, to try and encourage ideas that otherwise wouldn't come to the forefront," said founder of Hacking Health, Jeeshan Chowdhury, who is also a medical doctor and PhD of the University of Alberta and Oxford University.
Chowdhury explained the issues the hackathon sets out to tackle are not set in stone beforehand, instead clinicians – including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and even social workers – together with patients, propose the problems as well as potential solutions.
Problems discussed at previous hackathons in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver included using 3D scanning and 3D printing to build lower-limb prosthetics, an app to connect patients in hospital with spiritual care and a social media platform for children and adolescents who live with serious health conditions.
"They may be simple problems," said Chowdhury. "But it's a way to make the patient experience less stressful and easier."
He notes however that digital technology is not the answer to all health care problems, but is still worth a try.
"With the hackathon we can prototype something very quickly and then see if there’s traction," said Chowdhury. The three-day period from pitch to demo allows innovators to bring an experimental idea to life "without spending a lot of time and a lot of money on things that may not go anywhere."
He explained that at a prior hackathon a radiation oncologist worked on an app for several years that would help guide those patients and other radiation oncologists to better treat prostate cancer. His idea came together in a single hackathon weekend and he now has support from both private industry and government.
"If there is a way to use an app, a web service or tool to help patients and health care providers connect with each other, then it certainly warrants us trying," he added.
"We try to get meaningful collaboration between the people who understand the health care system and the people who understand technology. Our hope is that the interface between those two expertise will find innovative solutions."
Hacking Health will take place this weekend, Nov. 22 to 24 at the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy.
The hackathon is open to everyone, from clinicians to patients, developers, designers and entrepreneurs. Registration costs $30 and $20 for observers (entrance to Friday's pitch night and Sunday's demo night only).
For more information go to: http://www.hackinghealth.ca/events/edmonton/hhedmonton2013/
