Parkview Health and MATTER launch second annual innovation competition to reduce maternal mortality
Innovators with solutions with the potential to reduce the incidence of maternal mortality encouraged to apply
May 19, Fort Wayne, IN and Chicago, IL — Parkview Health, a not-for-profit, community-based health system serving more than 895,000 people in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, and MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, today announced the second annual competition to solve for maternal and infant mortality. The 2021 Healthy Mom and Baby Competition 2.0, also sponsored by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Indiana Chapter, invites innovators to submit ideas and solutions that address the needs and wellbeing of women during pregnancy and postpartum.
According to the 2020 Maternal Deaths in Indiana report, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee determined that 87 percent of reviewed pregnancy-associated deaths were preventable.* Because of this need, Parkview Health and the state of Indiana are issuing a global call to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and infants.
“Innovation is often seen as a long-term goal, but at Parkview Health we know that there are gains we can make towards improving maternal and infant health more immediately when we work alongside innovators,” said Jolynn Suko, chief innovation officer, Parkview Health. “We are proud to host this competition with MATTER and HIMSS and look forward to seeing new ideas to address this challenge.”
“Innovation is often seen as a long-term goal, but at Parkview Health we know that there are gains we can make towards improving maternal and infant health more immediately when we work alongside innovators.” – Jolynn Suko, chief innovation officer, Parkview Health
The competition asks: How might we better support at-risk pregnant and new mothers throughout their healthcare journey as well as in their daily lives? The competition is seeking solutions including, but not limited to: mental health, community support, birth spacing, substance abuse assistance and chronic diseases such as hypertension.
“We are proud to again be working with Parkview Health on identifying and advancing promising innovations for maternal and infant health. This year’s focus on solutions to address challenges faced by underrepresented mothers is an urgent need in our healthcare system,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “As the 2020 competition proved, innovators can and will help meet this need. Collaboration between startups and healthcare systems is the best way to advance goals towards improving care.”
“This year’s focus on solutions to address challenges faced by underrepresented mothers is an urgent need in our healthcare system.” – Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER
This competition is open to existing startups, as well as anyone with an innovative idea for a product, solution or service that fits within the competition scope. Prizes include the opportunity to pilot the winning solution with Parkview Health, a $10,000 cash award and a one-year membership at MATTER.
Interested companies can learn more and apply by visiting the competition website. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.
About Parkview Health
Parkview Health is a not-for-profit, community-based health system serving a northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio population of more than 895,000. With more than 13,000 employees, Parkview is the region’s largest employer.
Parkview Health includes 10 hospitals and an extensive network of primary care and specialty care physicians. Parkview has been named one of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes magazine and has been designated a Magnet® health system for nursing excellence.
About MATTER
At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 200 cutting-edge startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.
*Source: Indiana Maternal Mortality Review Committee: 2020 Annual Report