Challenge 2016: Cardiovascular Ultrasound Workflow Efficiency
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), an organization of professionals committed to excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound, is interested in providing the accelerant for innovative ideas, with the goal of improving cardiovascular ultrasound. This ASE Challenge provides a platform and forum for ASE members and others to offer ground-breaking solutions to the challenges that face cardiovascular ultrasound.
The Problem
Cardiovascular ultrasound is an exceptional clinical tool used to help provide insight into all aspects of cardiovascular disease. Iterative technology development within the field of ultrasound promotes clinical excellence; however, the evolution of healthcare economics are such that for any new imaging technology to be widely adopted in clinical practice in general it must be equaled or paralleled by an improvement in workflow efficiency.
The Challenge Objective
To showcase process and workflow innovations that have either been adopted or are in development in echocardiography laboratories throughout the United States and across the world. ASE is hosting a competition designed to encourage, and ultimately promulgate, advances in the cardiovascular field. In addition, ASE hopes to instigate connections in the field, linking researchers, industry, labs, engineers and thought-leaders to share information and educate one another.
The Challenge Breakthrough
ASE hopes to discover and promote the best practices and processes that have enhanced the workflow efficiency of cardiovascular laboratories while maintaining excellence in patient care. To discover how to best utilize human and capital resources along with the incorporation of novel technologies, including but not limited to 3D echocardiography, myocardial deformation (strain) imaging, or contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).
Submission Guidelines
Submissions must present an original idea or offer an innovative adaptation or approach to a previously implemented idea that relates directly to the cardiovascular ultrasound field. All submissions should have evidence of at least partial execution of concept. Such evidence may include research findings, documentation of time or cost savings, a prototype of a program or device, or any other relevant information.
Submissions can include, but are not limited to, the following: a technical or novel proposal, a concept paper or implemented echo practice re-design, pilot projects that are pragmatic and implementable that offer an innovative approach to improving workflow efficiency in echocardiography laboratories. Submissions are encouraged to be team-based projects—e.g., projects delivered by a partnership between a device manufacturer and an academic lab or a private practice office and a software developer or a team of researchers working with a lab(s) to demonstrate a novel idea.
Competitors must document and deliver their solution by:
Presenting a written document, no longer than 4 pages with content to include:
- Introduction (outline the problem)
- Solution or proposed solution
- Outcome measures, such as research findings
- What was the most interesting or surprising thing you learned in the process?
- What were / are the major roadblocks or difficulties you faced during the process?
- How will this process or product change the field of CV ultrasound?
What You Can Do To Get Engaged
- Click “Watch the Challenge" above to be notified of any status updates to the challenge.
- Click "Yes Sign Me Up!" above to register for the 2016 challenge. You will be notified of any status updates and be able to create an entry to the challenge when it opens.
- Click on the "Share" button or social media icons above to share this challenge with your friends, your family, or anyone you know who has a passion for discovery.
- Leave a comment in our Comments Thread to join the conversation, ask questions, provide feedback, or connect with other innovators.
Additional Rules
The Challenge is open to all members of the American Society of Echocardiography and to the public at large. Submissions can be from a single individual or a group of individuals, although ASE strongly encourages innovators to work in teams. Teams could be comprised of a variety of stakeholders, including but not limited to physicians, sonographers, nurses, industry affiliates, and hospital administrators; we encourage you to be creative! At least one ASE member must be a part of each challenge submission group.
If you are not a current ASE member, please click here to learn about the benefits of ASE membership. ASE’s membership is open to anyone interested in cardiovascular ultrasound including engineers, industry, hospital administrators, scientists, etc.
To be eligible to compete, you must comply with all the terms of the Challenge as defined in the Challenge-Specific Agreement (available during Registration).
Registration and Submissions:
ASE plans to open the registration/submission period no later than November 30, 2015 (subject to change).
All submission materials must be submitted online on or before March 31, 2016 at 5:00 PM ET. No submissions will be accepted after this time. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted. All submissions must be received online, via the Challenge website.
Please note: All submissions will be private and only seen by relevant ASE staff and judges as needed. If your submission is chosen as a semi-finalist, you may be asked at a later date to provide a brief summary and/or video describing your solution, which will be posted publicly on the Challenge Portal for public voting.
Challenge Guidelines are subject to change. Registered competitors will receive notification when changes are made, however, we highly encourage you to visit the Challenge Site often to review updates.
How to Win the Challenge
Depending on the number and quality of submissions received, the judges will select up to 10 semi-finalists, who may be asked to submit additional materials for consideration. Three finalists will then be selected and invited to present in front of an audience and live judging panel on Sunday, June 12, 2016 at the Seattle Convention Center, during ASE’s 27th Annual Scientific Sessions in Seattle, WA. This live session will be interactive and feature a large viewing audience.
Other Details
No cost is associated with registering for this event. All submissions agree to pay their own expenses to the ASE Scientific Sessions and underwrite any related presentation materials, should they be selected for presentation. ASE will promote the finalists in their final program materials and to the media.
Evaluation & Awards
The prize
ASE will award three (3) prizes based on the most innovative, creative ideas and implementable plans, totaling $5,500. Winners and prizes will be determined by a combination of the Evaluation Panel and audience input; details of which will be provided at a later date.
The three cash prizes to be awarded are:
- 1st Prize - $3000
- 2nd Prize - $1500
- 3rd Prize - $1000
In addition all three winners will be announced in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (JASE), in media releases, via ASE’s social media channels, and in ASE member communications. One or more of the winning proposals may also be featured in a future issue of ASE’s ECHO magazine, distributed to all members and at multiple medical conferences.
The evaluation panel reserves the right to provide mentorship to promising submissions even if not selected for a monetary prize.
Evaluation Panel
The Phase 1 Evaluation Panel will be formally announced at a later date, and will include a variety of qualified individuals from the ASE membership. This panel will be responsible for evaluating all components of each submission. It will have the authority and discretion to select up to 10 semi-finalists and three finalists.
The Live Evaluation Panel may include some or all members of the Phase 1 Evaluation Panel, as well as additional qualified individuals from various medical and non-medical backgrounds. Evaluation Panel decisions and winners are final, binding and shall not be subject to appeal or change.
Evaluation Criteria
Winning submissions will describe an innovative idea to improve cardiovascular ultrasound workflow efficiency. Concepts to improve laboratory workflows and clinical efficiency may involve various new innovations including but not limited to the following:
- New or underutilized imaging modalities such as 3D echocardiography, strain imaging, contrast enhanced ultrasound
- New approaches in Big Data
- New display designs
- Cloud computing platforms
- New laboratory designs
- New mobile health technologies
- New imaging and sensor based technologies
*All concepts must incorporate cardiovascular ultrasound in the proposal.
The following scorecard will be used to assess competitor submissions.
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Submission Evaluation Criteria
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Maximum Points Awarded
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Pragmatic and Sustainable; Ease of implementation / time to implementation
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25
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Cost Neutral
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20
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Reduces Patient Time in the Laboratory and or Provider Interpretation Time
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15
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Utilizes Capital Equipment more Efficiently
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10
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Incorporates New Technology (3D, Strain, Contrast, etc.)
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10
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“Wow” factor, creativity, innovative
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20
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Total
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100
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