Rigorous science takes time, but folks with Lengthy COVID need assistance right this moment. To deal with that want, the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies Workplace of the Assistant Secretary for Well being (OASH) launched the Lengthy COVID Healthathon, an innovation dash with $25,000 in money prizes for the general public to develop digital options to help these dwelling with Lengthy COVID right this moment. Members of the general public are invited to affix the healthathon to assist present real-world options.

The Lengthy COVID Healthathon builds off the momentum of the Well being+ Lengthy COVID Human-Centered Design Report, which co-creates patient-centered options with folks—not for folks—impacted by probably the most urgent healthcare challenges. The report synthesizes over 1,000 hours of desk analysis, one-on-one interviews, and workshops with folks affected by Lengthy COVID into alternative areas, or suggestions for enhancing the standard of care and lives for folks affected by Lengthy COVID.

The Lengthy COVID Healthathon launches right this moment with this query to the general public. “How may we design and implement modern options to enhance the lives of these with Lengthy COVID right this moment?”

OASH will settle for submissions for Section 1 of the Healthathon till April 19, 2024. The Lengthy COVID Healthathon is deliberately broad so that you can brainstorm, construct on, or increase your personal options. The Healthathon has three focus areas based mostly on human-centered design analysis from the Well being+ Lengthy COVID report.

• Individuals First Draw on lived expertise to offer options to assist folks with Lengthy COVID.
• Training and Consciousness Create and disseminate academic supplies to assist elevate Lengthy COVID consciousness.
• Group Innovation Design assets for sufferers, caregivers, and others impacted by Lengthy COVID to allow communities to help folks dwelling with Lengthy COVID.

A multidisciplinary panel of judges will select as much as 15 winners of Section 1 as Healthathon Finalists. The Healthathon Finalists will obtain $250 every and the chance to take part in Section 2 of the Healthathon, the place they’ll refine and iterate upon their submissions. Judges will choose as much as three winners to obtain equal shares of the remaining prize pot, not less than $7,000 every.

To get began, create a profile LongCOVID.crowdicity.com. There you’ll be able to study extra in regards to the Healthathon, discover a staff, and join information and updates. Healthathon individuals may have entry to a sequence of stay occasions targeted on innovation and design. You’ll find official guidelines, judging standards and different particulars concerning the Lengthy COVID Healthathon on Problem.gov. Submissions have to be entered at LongCOVID.crowdicity.com by April nineteenth, 2024.

Able to tackle the problem? Be part of constructing the options for the Lengthy COVID Group at LongCOVID.crowdicity.com.