Parkview Health and MATTER launch third annual innovation competition, focused on maternal and childhood access and outcomes
Seeking innovators with solutions to improve access to care for underrepresented mothers and children
May 2, 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 their third annual innovation contest, the 2022 Healthy Mom and Baby Competition 3.0. The latest round seeks innovations to improve access to care for underrepresented mothers and children, extending the competition’s scope into improving the lives of mothers and children through pre-teen. Startups are encouraged to submit ideas and solutions to improve access.
Healthy children start with healthy mothers. Good health pre-pregnancy, early prenatal care and a positive postpartum environment contribute to a strong start for children.1 However, 31.1% of Indiana mothers who gave birth in 2019 didn’t receive prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy.2
Children, regardless of their age, are always babies to their mothers. This year the program also looks at pediatrics, with a lens of increasing equity by addressing issues pertaining to access to care for chronic conditions such as childhood obesity and preventative services like regular checkups and vaccinations.
Jolynn Suko, chief digital and innovation officer of Parkview Health, said, “We’ve seen the impact that innovation can have on advancing solutions for mothers and children. At Parkview Health, we know that there is more to be done to create opportunities for access, and innovative startups can help drive that change.”
The competition asks: How might we improve access to care for underrepresented mothers and children? Parkview is seeking solutions including, but not limited to: mental health, management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma, substance abuse and preventative care.
“The best innovation happens when forward-looking health systems work with entrepreneurs to solve real problems, and we’re honored to partner with Parkview Health for the third year in a row,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “Expanding the focus this year to improving access across numerous areas for mothers and children through age 12 creates opportunity for more innovators to advance care by partnering with Parkview Health.”
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 11:59pm ET on Friday, June 24, 2022.
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. Parkview Health’s mission is to improve health and inspire well-being in the communities it serves. With more than 14,000 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 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 700 current and alumni 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.
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