Rigorous science takes time, but folks with Lengthy COVID need assistance right now. To handle that want, the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers 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 now. 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 essentially 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 now with this query to the general public. “How would possibly we design and implement modern options to enhance the lives of these with Lengthy COVID right now?”

OASH will settle for submissions for Part 1 of the Healthathon till April 19, 2024. The Lengthy COVID Healthathon is deliberately broad so that you can brainstorm, construct on, or develop your individual options. The Healthathon has three focus areas primarily based 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.
• Schooling and Consciousness Create and disseminate academic supplies to assist increase 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 Part 1 as Healthathon Finalists. The Healthathon Finalists will obtain $250 every and the chance to take part in Part 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 concerning the Healthathon, discover a crew, and join information and updates. Healthathon members may have entry to a sequence of reside occasions targeted on innovation and design. You’ll find official guidelines, judging standards and different particulars relating to the Lengthy COVID Healthathon on Problem.gov. Submissions should 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.