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A California-based crowdfunding and development resource for mHealth entrepreneurs has been selected to provide the testing platform for the healthfinder.gov Mobile App Challenge.
Health Tech Hatch, based in Larkspur, Calif., and launched in October, was chosen by federal officials to test mobile apps that are being designed to help the public access customized decision support for preventive services and wellness information from healthfinder.gov. The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, with assistance from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Health 2.0.
“Supporting innovations that will actually be used by people to improve health is a shared mission among Hatch, HHS and Health 2.0, and is the inspiration behind Hatch's testing platform,” said Patricia Salber, CEO of Health Tech Hatch, in a press release. “We are proud to be a part of the first phase of the challenge, in which developers will submit working mobile app prototypes, along with documentation and evidence of public feedback via Health Tech Hatch. Developers are permitted to crowdfund their projects, although it is not required.”
The Hatch platform offers entrepreneurs an environment to test clinical and usability functions of new apps, as well as offering rating of concepts and prototypes, mentoring and marketing support and crowdfunding ideas.
“What differentiates Health Tech Hatch from other crowdfunding sites is our sole focus on healthcare projects, which we combine with expert feedback and mentorship,” Salber said in an Oct. 8 press release announcing the company's launch. “We’ve made it our mission to help young health and health tech companies build a viable nest for the brilliant ideas they are ready to hatch.”
The contest requires teams of developers, health professionals and consumers to develop an app that will enable easy access to healthfinder.gov's "Quick Guide to Healthy Living" resource, which offers information about preventive services covered under the Affordable Care Act. Officials say the app might also include tools to help users integrate myhealthfinder, communicate with peers, locate community health services, and access social media and online networking communities and other news sources and blogs.
Interested participants can access entry requirements and register online at the Health 2.0 Developer Challenge site. Submissions for the first phase of the contest are due by Jan. 25, 2013.
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