Global Maternal Health Tech Challenge

The HIMSS Global Maternal Health Tech Challenge seeks solutions that save mothers’ lives across the globe. The HIMSS Global Health Equity Network and Accelerate Health have partnered to crowdsource solutions that address barriers in care coordination and behavioral health that can be implemented to improve maternal health outcomes.
The challenge will consist of a virtual semifinal pitch competition at the HIMSS21 & Health 2.0 European Health Conference in June and culminate in a final in-person competition at the 2021 HIMSS Global Health Conference, August 10, 2021, in Las Vegas.
Studies show that mothers are dying at a disproportionately higher rate in underserved communities and among people of color. There are significant differences in the rates of pregnancy-related mortality by race and ethnicity, education, geography and age. Understanding and addressing the factors that contribute to these differences can improve maternal health across the world. Read more about maternal mortality.
Thank you for your interest in the HIMSS Global Maternal Health Tech Challenge. The Call for Submissions is now closed.
We believe the most effective approach to designing impactful solutions is to have technology developers work directly with trusted community leaders—those with boots on the ground experience in areas hardest hit by maternal mortality. We encourage you to ask questions, gain clarity and refine your thinking to assure that submissions for this challenge truly reflect the needs of underrepresented communities and women of color.
We seek innovations that:
Teams which advance to the finals will receive an expense paid trip to HIMSS21 in Las Vegas, Nevada this August to participate in the Global Maternal Health Tech Challenge Finals, where the Grand Prize Winner will be determined.
Opens: Monday, February 15, 2021, 12:00 am ET
Closes: Sunday, May 9, 2021, 11:59 pm ET
Semifinals Pitch Competition: Monday, June 10, 2021
Global Maternal Health Tech Challenge Finals: August 10, 2021
Thank you for your interest in the HIMSS Global Maternal Health Tech Challenge. The Call for Submissions is now closed.
Choose the track your team wants to tackle.
Challenge 1: Behavioral Health
Behavioral health includes the promotion of emotional health; the prevention of mental illnesses (e.g., depression and anxiety), substance use disorders, psychological distress and suicide; treatments and services for mental and/or substance use disorders; and recovery supports. Your solution should look through the lens of maternal behavioral health to help address such issues as preterm stress, prenatal/antenatal depression, postpartum depression, perinatal anxiety, domestic abuse, and drug alternatives for nursing moms.
Challenge 2: Care Coordination
Care coordination consists of services and activities that help link pregnant women to an array of health-promoting resources, avoid duplication of effort, and improve communication between families and providers. Care coordination has long been endorsed as a key strategy for reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes. Your solution should look through the lens of care coordination for maternal health to help address such issues as quality of care; doctor-patient ratio; access to education/information; coordination of doulas, midwives and e-birthing centers; lack of continuity of care; overburdened and underfunded public sector; need for transparency and accountability; and disconnect between primary providers and referral network.
Check out 10 Tips for a Successful Challenge Submission
As you develop or propose tech solutions, please contemplate:
Thank you for your interest in the HIMSS Global Maternal Health Tech Challenge. The Call for Submissions is now closed.
The Call for Submissions is now open.
Thank you to the following sponsors who have helped make the HIMSS Global Maternal Health Tech Challenge possible.
Signature Sponsors
Collaborators
Supporters
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Contact us today at salesinfo@himss.org.
Grand Prize Winner:
General rules regarding prizes:
How funds are to be transferred: