Contest seeks ideas for durable medical equipment systems

HHS is searching for the best idea for a system that captures essential data from durable medical equipment, such as loss of power, GPS location and privacy-protected user information during emergencies.

Thousands of people in the U.S. rely on electrically powered durable medical equipment to meet their medical needs at home and often have to find help in shelters or emergency rooms during extended power outages, according to HHS.

The department's office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, kicked off the Ideation Challenge, a contest to find ideas for determining the location and the status of durable medical equipment—such as oxygen concentrators and portable ventilators—to help users in emergencies. The system should also gather the power level and battery life of the equipment and the time and date. HHS envisions a network that's accessible to all those who use durable medical equipment in their homes and sends data securely to other secure information systems.

A panel of experts and Dr. Nicole Lurie, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, will judge the entries, which are due Oct. 20. HHS said the contest could also trigger ideas that could be developed into tools to help communities support durable medical equipment users in emergencies.

“For most Americans, losing power during a storm is an inconvenience, but for some, electricity is a matter of life or death,” Lurie, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service, said in a news release. “With access to real-time information about the locations and remaining battery life during emergencies, communities can meet the needs and possibly save lives of people who rely on durable medical equipment.”

The person or team with the best idea could receive up to $5,000 from ASPR, which noted in the contest rules that the total payout for the contest is $10,000. No awards will be smaller than $1,000. In addition, winners might be asked to attend the 2014 Public Health Preparedness Summit April 1-4 in Atlanta.

A public affairs specialist for the ASPR said in an e-mail that the date for the announcement of the winners is contingent upon how many proposals the office receives and the time it takes for an expert review of the entries.

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