WINNING TEAM CHOSEN!

A team from Boston University has won the Rise to the Challenge:  Health Innovation 2010 competition.  Congratulations! . Find out about the Winning Team.

WINNING TEAM  CONCEPT SOLUTION ABSTRACT:

Current and past health care models have failed to motivate patients to take control of their health, leading to a 67% rate of obesity in the U.S. This issue particularly affects low-income families. HealthyHabits is a web-based solution that gives monetary incentives and social reinforcement to consumers that are victims to a plethora of chronic diseases related to obesity. It brings consumers together with two historically disparate organizations: insurance companies and grocery stores. The conceptual model is a platform that creates a social networking center and rewards system for consumers, which reinforces healthy purchasing habits. Furthermore, it gathers aggregate data for health insurance companies and provides a network of consumers to Rewards Partners. Working together, these entities are best equipped to enact true behavioral change in the eating habits of Americans and provide tangible benefits for consumers.

Why this Challenge?

Interdisciplinary innovation must become a way of life if we are to transform healthcare. The healthcare community recognizes that the US healthcare system is in need of fundamental change. Many individuals, organizations, and communities have begun to create change in how clients experience and healthcare professionals provide care. This approach to healthcare improvement represents a step in the right direction. Nevertheless, approaches thus far have often been piecemeal and limited in scope, confined to an organization, sector of industry or geographic region. Large-scale innovation and a paradigm shift in the healthcare delivery system are yet to be realized. Embracing an innovative mindset is critical in moving toward the preferred future of healthcare. As US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, David A. Sampson, stated (2007): “Innovation is critical to addressing these challenges and reaping opportunities. . . Innovative models, especially those that can integrate healthcare activities, can increase efficiency, lower costs, and save lives.”