Top 20 Finalists Selected to Advance in Henry Ford Health, Google Cloud, Miracle Software System Digital Inclusion Challenge

DETROIT (July 22, 2021) – Henry Ford Innovations, in partnership with Google Cloud and Miracle Software Systems, have selected 20 semi-finalists to advance into the next round of an international competition aimed at identifying solutions to address the digital exclusion/healthcare divide for residents of Southeast Michigan. Henry Ford Innovations is the technology commercialization and innovation development arm of Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System.

In April entrepreneurs from around the globe were invited to propose ideas for reducing health inequities through the use of digital technology. An inspiring 137 entries were received from a dozen countries. Next step in the competition is for the top 20 semi-finalists to submit a white paper describing a commercially viable product vision, as well as outlining how the product can be scaled to fit its target audience. A critical component of the selection process will continue to focus on how the proposed product supports digital inclusion and how the product can ultimately benefit Henry Ford Health System’s patients.

“The abundance and quality of entries for the digital challenge well exceeded our expectations,” said Lisa Prasad, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Henry Ford Health System. “There is significant need for culturally sensitive and unbiased patient-centric solutions to be developed that bridge the gap between healthcare and technology, and we are very encouraged by the wide array of ideas as they have real potential in closing the gap on disparities in health outcomes due to race, ethnicity, or gender.”

The Digital Inclusion Challenge, which runs through the summer, kicked off May 19. In early August, five finalists will be selected based on their white paper submissions. Those five will present a case study and demonstrate how the proposed product would work during a September 9 live-pitch competition event judged by clinical and industry experts.

The winner will receive $75,000 in-kind support toward developing their digital solution at Henry Ford Health System. All 137 entrants continue to be eligible to participate in a summer series of entrepreneurial and product development workshops and hands-on labs.

Entries have been considered with the focus on identifying concepts that address the biggest pain points for digitally excluded patients. Among them:

• How to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for digitally excluded patients

• How to make it easier for these patients to learn about their health and healthcare services

• How to empower care teams to deliver better services to these patients

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About Henry Ford Health System
Founded in 1915 by Henry Ford himself, Henry Ford Health System is a non-profit, integrated health system committed to improving people’s lives through excellence in the science and art of healthcare and healing. Henry Ford Health System includes Henry Ford Medical Group, with more than 1,900 physicians and researchers practicing in more than 50 specialties at locations throughout Southeast and Central Michigan.

The largest of Henry Ford’s five acute care hospitals is Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, a quaternary care research and teaching hospital, Level 1 Trauma Center, and Magnet® hospital – recognized for clinical excellence in cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, and multi-organ transplants. The health system also provides comprehensive, best-in-class care for cancer at the Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion, and orthopedics and sports medicine at the William Clay Ford Center for Athletic Medicine – both in Detroit.

As one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, Henry Ford Health System annually trains more than 3,000 medical students, residents, and fellows in more than 50 accredited programs. The health system’s dedication to education and research is supported by nearly $100 million in annual grants from the National Institutes of Health and other public and private foundations.

Henry Ford’s not-for-profit health plan, Health Alliance Plan (HAP), provides health coverage for more than 540,000 people. Henry Ford Health System employs more than 33,000 people, including more than 1,600 physicians, more than 6,600 nurses and 5,000 allied health professionals.

About Miracle Software Systems, Inc.
Miracle Software Systems is a Global Systems Integrator and Minority Certified firm with over 27 years of expertise in delivering cutting edge business solutions driven by technologies such as Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, Automation, and Integration. With over 2,500 employees across the globe, Miracle strives to use the latest innovations and technologies to drive forward the digital journeys of their customers. Headquartered in Novi, Michigan USA, Miracle has multiple offices around the world. Additional information about Miracle Software Systems, Inc. can be found online at MiracleSoft.com.