Health 2.0, Walgreens announce health guide challenge

SAN FRANCISCO — Health 2.0 and Walgreens on Thursday announced the launch of the Walgreens 2011 Challenge: A New Approach to Patient Information Navigation, which invites teams of developers to create an application that presents aggregated U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data on specific health topics.

The challenge is being sponsored by Walgreens, as part of the Health 2.0 Developer Challenge, as a way to supply both Walgreens healthcare staff and patients with a tool for searching and learning about health-related topics, the companies stated.

Submissions are due Aug. 15 and must utilize the iPad or another tablet platform. Submissions also must include a supported Web service and use at least three or more HHS data stores, including — but not limited to — Health Information Updates, Hospital Compare, Elder Care Locator and Blue Button.

The first-place winner will receive $25,000, an opportunity to spend an hour with Walgreens chief information officer Tim Theriault and two free passes to the Health 2.0 conference in San Francisco from Sept. 25 to 27, where the winner will present during a session focused on the Health 2.0 Developer Challenge. Second prize will receive $5,000 and third prize will receive $3,000.

Learn more details about this specific challenge here.