ReHabbit wins Ochsner, GE innovation challenge

ReHabbit is the winner of the “Wear Your Health” Innovation Challenge held by Ochsner Health System and GE Healthcare.

The Wear Your Health Challenge was a national challenge focused on wearable technologies which allow for more a personalized patient experience and care and have the potential to deliver new value across the healthcare industry.

The Wear Your Health Challenge was announced in March 2015 and launched in July. Of the 21 applications submitted, eight finalists were selected last fall and invited to participate in Phase 2. Aaron Wolfson, PhD, a psychologist with Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group in Metairie, LA, was selected as the winner for his concept, ReHabbit.

ReHabbit is a proprietary system using activity trackers to capture data specific to activity levels, sleep, pain and medication usage for patients who suffer from chronic pain or chronic health problems. Through ReHabbit, physicians will be able to track and monitor a patient’s pain medication usage through a Bluetooth-enabled smart pill dispenser which will allow for appropriate intervention and other behavior recommendations if needed.

“I am thrilled with the opportunity to collaborate with Ochsner and GE to create new ways to improve patient safety and outcomes through ReHabbit,” said Wolfson, in a release. “Leveraging available technologies to provide actionable data to promote wellness behaviors is extremely rewarding. The healthcare industry is an incredibly rich area for innovation research and entrepreneurship. I’m excited to be a part of it, and I’m grateful to Ochsner and GE for this opportunity.”

Wolfson won $1,000 as one of eight initial cash prize winners during Phase 1. As the winner, he is now eligible for additional funding of up to $15,000 to collaborate with GE Healthcare and Ochsner toward further development and commercialization of his ReHabbit technology.

The challenge is part of a three-year commitment by Ochsner and GE Healthcare as co-sponsors of an annual Healthcare Innovation Summit at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.

In its second year, the new challenge–“Healthy @Home”–will identify technologies and mobile solutions targeted to the aging population with a goal of improving healthcare outcomes by monitoring activities in the home. This challenge seeks solutions that will optimize some of the healthcare industry’s greatest opportunities by utilizing patient-centered technologies and concepts to address highly personalized patient experiences and treatment plans to help improve healthcare outcomes.

The challenge will be officially launched in July 2016.