How Health IT Tools Can Help Prevent a Million Heart Attacks and Strokes

In late September 2011, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Dr. Farzad Mostashari announced the launch of the ‘One in a Million Hearts’ Investing in Innovation challenge in a post on this blog. The challenge supports the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Million Hearts initiative, which aims to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes–two of the top causes of death in the United States–over the next five years.

The challenge asks developers to create an application engaging consumers in improving their own cardiovascular health. With the One in a Million Hearts Innovation challenge, we’re focusing on saving just one heart at a time by challenging developers and innovators to design applications that empower and help users improve their heart health. So what could your app do? Provide education and resources to help reduce fat and salt intake, increase exercise, lose weight, stop smoking, or increase medication adherence? Use GPS technology to recommend nearby walks or places to eat healthier? Link users to online communities dedicated to improving heart health?