ONC debuts Blue Button video challenge

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology wants to reward health records-savvy individuals for demonstrating their affinity for Blue Button, the federally developed technology that lets individuals download their medical information with the click of a button.

As part of a new contest, the ONC seeks submissions of two-minute videos that will "motivate and inspire others to leverage technology to better manage their health and be more engaged partners in their health and healthcare," the HHS agency said in an announcement for the Blue Button Video Challenge (PDF).

The ONC is offering $8,350 in prizes in this, the fifth in a series of contests this year calling on the public to produce IT-related videos.

Self-promotion, evidently, also counts in this contest, according to the announcement.

"If you already have access to a Blue Button, tell us about it," the ONC said in the announcement. "If you've never heard of the term until now, tell us how you'd describe the 'Blue Button' to your family and friends or what it would mean for you to have your health information at your fingertips. You can do anything you want as long as you mention the 'Blue Button,' show an image of the official Blue Button graphic and mention www.healthit.gov/bluebutton as a source for people to find out more.

The number of YouTube views that each video receives will be one factor in judging submissions, the challenge promoters said.

Submissions also will be judged on their creativity, their potential impact and their "implementation of the idea"—including the quality of the video content, the narrative and the visual appearance.

First prize is $3,000; second prize is $2,000; two third-prize winners will receive $1,250 each; and one popular-choice winner will receive $600.

The entry deadline is Nov. 13.