Canada HealthSync

Right now, healthcare systems across provinces and territories don’t always work well together. Information can get stuck in silos, making it harder for doctors and patients to get what they need, when they need it. That’s where FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) comes in. Think of FHIR as a universal language for healthcare data – it’s a standard that makes it easier for different systems to share information seamlessly and securely.

There’s also a human side to healthcare: laws and policies. Bill C-72 helps set rules for data sharing and privacy, making sure patient information is handled safely and responsibly. It’s about balancing innovation with trust, ensuring healthcare systems stay secure while improving care for everyone.

Visit the “Resources” tab for more information and materials about FHIR and Bill C-72.

What's the Challenge?

Using FHIR as your foundation, we’re asking you to design a solution that checks all the boxes: cost-effectiveness, sustainability, efficiency, and security.

You’ll take your idea from concept to creation by building a prototype or mock-up of a data-sharing system that could reshape healthcare in Canada. To bring it all together, you’ll pitch your idea with:

• A demo: Show us how your system would work in action. This could be through a working demo, a wireframe, or visual layout of the system.
• An environmental impact analysis: Highlight how your solution is sustainable and contributes to a greener future.

 

Evaluation Criteria

ORIGINALITY & INNOVATION - 30%

Does the project offer an original, innovative approach to addressing the selected problem? Is the project ambitious or creative within the constraints of the challenge timeline? Is this a new idea?

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE - 30%

Does the team make effective and appropriate use of the selected tools and technologies? Does the team effectively communicate a solution to the challenge?

TEAM DIVERSITY & COMPLEMENTARY SKILLS - 10%

Does the team reflect diversity? Does the team have a complementary skill set that enables them to tackle the different aspects of the project?

IMPACT & FEASIBILITY - 30%

Does the project address a clear need, problem, or opportunity? Does the project fit the problem it addresses? Does the team have a credible plan for implementing their proposed solution and does the solution have a good product/market fit?

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Eligibility/Rules

• Must be a Canadian post-secondary student (including abroad) or an international student attending a Canadian post-secondary school
• Teams must be 2-4 people
• All team members must be currently enrolled in a post-secondary school or have graduated in the past 6 months
  Note: we will require documentation of the above to process any prizing
• Must be an original idea not used in previous pitch events, school projects, grant proposals, etc.