Digital Health Integration Readiness Platform (Pre-HaTCH) Calls for Expressions of Interest are now closed. Please stay tuned for more updates! Health City and Brightsquid are pleased to announce the Digital Health Integration Readiness Platform (Pre-HaTCH), a new initiative aimed to better prepare small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to reach commercialization of their products and service. The program increases entry and integration in the health system, allowing multiple companies to scale at once. The long-term goal of the Pre-HaTCH program is to better prepare SMEs for progression through the health commercialization life cycle and provide a feeder into the full HaTCH program, ultimately providing high quality digital health products and services to the Alberta and Canadian market. For more information on the full HaTCH program, visit Brightsquid’s page. What do I need to know? The Digital Health Integration Readiness Platform (Pre-HaTCH) is a joint initiative between Health City and Brightsquid with funding support provided by Western Economic Diversification. The program has been developed to provide SMEs with the training and education required to address challenges related to privacy, security, regulatory, and integration activities. This program aims to address existing gaps and provides SMEs with the fundamental understanding of technical readiness, preparing them with the ability to tackle the complex integration requirements that are critical to success. SMEs that complete the program can expect to learn the following: Help early-stage companies understand the health information regulatory requirements for their product to commercialize Provide basic knowledge for software development practices to incorporate privacy and security principles to be successful in the health sector Provide a clear overview of Canada’s healthcare delivery and health tech ecosystems Provide resource options at the conclusion of the course to clarify the road to market and commercialization SMEs that participate in this program will also be provided with a 1:1 review session to assess business readiness and be provided with resources and direction to address identified gaps. How to Apply Interested Alberta-based SMEs are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to Health City (admin@edmontonhealthcity.ca) by no later than February 15, 2021 for consideration for the cohort that will begin on March 4, 2021. The EoI should be a maximum of 5 pages (excluding appendices) outlining the following: Company overview and history, including identification of key members of the management team, and team members (part- and full-time). Proposed value proposition for the technology compared to current standard of care or unmet clinical need. The target population expected to benefit from the technology, as well as the clinical care pathway, and key stakeholders should be identified. Technology technical overview, trials/usage of the technology to-date (if any), and current state of evidence for the technology’s safety, efficacy and effectiveness (if any). A summary of financial strategy/strength to commercialize a product (e.g., available internal resources, funding, investment or loan upon receipt of purchase order, etc.). Completion of the Health Innovation Client Journey Map ((“Health Innovation Cycle.” Alberta Innovates. Accessed January 26, 2021. [Word file]. Retrieved from: https://albertainnovates.smartsimple.ca/files/646815/f125423/AI_Health_Innovation_-_Intake_Checklist.docx)) (included as Appendix in EoI) Confirmation of availability to attend all sessions and names of up to 3 participants Important Dates January 26, 2021: Application opens February 15, 2021: Deadline for EoI submission February 22, 2021: Selection process through industry panels Week of March 1, 2021: Course program starts for successful companies (schedule below) Session 1: Thursday March 4, 9AM – 12PM Session 2: Thursday March 11, 9AM – 12PM Session 3: Thursday March 18, 9AM – 12PM Session 4: Thursday March 25, 9AM – 12PM *Business Readiness Session (1:1 review of business readiness assessment and guidance on resources and next steps) will be scheduled during the first week of the program About the Partners: Health City is a Canadian not-for-profit Corporation that works with clinicians, innovators, philanthropic organizations, and companies to develop new pathways of care that can drive better health outcomes and economic development in the health sector. Brightsquid Secure Communications Corp. is a Calgary-based health tech company which has helped establish ongoing privacy compliance at hundreds of healthcare organizations (including technology vendors) and has delivered accredited privacy training to thousands of healthcare professionals. Brightsquid’s applications are built on a privacy-compliant engine that maintains patient information safety to the letter of the law in the US, Canada, and EU.