What is the goal of the Innovation Summit Series? 
“The end goal,” according to BluePrint President and CEO Vikas Khosla, “is standing up as many as thirty new innovation pilots across the country by the end of 2011.” Innovation is more critical than ever as the healthcare industry transforms itself to advance patient-care, address the needs of our population and achieve financial sustainability. The aim of the BluePrint Health IT Innovation Summit series is to accelerate implementations of innovative healthcare solutions through a "Health IT Innovation Matching System” for Healthcare Providers and early-stage health IT Innovators.

Who should attend the Summit? 
Hospitals, Healthcare Systems, Healthcare Provider organizations and Consumers of Health IT as well as Innovative healthcare products and services companies are encouraged to apply. Executives, Directors, Managers and Practice Leaders responsible for Information Technology, Patient-Care, Care-Coordination and Strategic Initiatives should attend the Summits.

Innovators include early stage companies in a wide array of healthcare categories (see Innovator and Hospital participation forms) that have healthcare solutions with 1 to 15 installations or “ready-to-install” alpha or beta products. The Summit Advisory Board will choose the Innovator finalists from each category to participate.

Why should Healthcare Providers participate?
Innovative healthcare products and services can accelerate strategic clinical and patient-care initiatives when there are none or very few solutions to meet the needs of the organization. Research has also shown that leading organizations in most industries foster innovation programs to produce greater financial benefits that otherwise could not or would not have been realized.

Participating Healthcare Providers will have a unique opportunity to evaluate 10 Innovative companies in a “one-on-one” setting. Pre-event “matching” algorithm and evaluation from the Advisory Board is designed to position successful connections between Providers and Innovators at the Summit. We encourage Providers to recommend Innovators that they think should apply for participation at the Summit. It is also our expectation that participating Providers will discover unexpected Innovator matches which may not have seemed evident before the Summit. A selection or committed implementation “match” at the Summit is not a requirement for participation; however, we are confident that Providers will meet Innovators that have compelling products and services which can provide value for their organizations either now or in the near future.

What should Healthcare Providers expect by participating? 
Each Innovator will be evaluated by each participating Healthcare Provider organization. The morning “Speed-Dating” sessions will consist of 10 X 15 minute sessions with each Provider and Innovator. The afternoon workshops and more in-depth evaluation sessions will have Providers matched with up to two (2) Innovators that scored the highest in their “Speed-Dating” evaluations. Summit “Facilitators” consisting of Advisory Board members, volunteer healthcare industry professionals and faculty, as well as, the BluePrint Event Coordination Team will assist each Provider as they move through the Innovator evaluations. Summit workshops scheduled around the “Speed-Dating” and afternoon evaluation sessions, will provide information and guidance on steps for potentially successful matches. At the end of the Summit, Providers and Facilitators will report on their Innovator evaluation sessions to indicate if there was a match, or they will continue to evaluate the Innovator or have no plans for further evaluation.

When are Applications due and how do I apply? 
Providers and Innovators may apply online.  Applications for the Mid-West Summit are due by COB on Friday, September 9, 2011.  

Healthcare Providers Application Form

Innovators Application Form

Sponsors Application Form

Is there a cost to attend? 
Yes, Innovator companies who are selected as finalists for the Mid-West Summit will pay a fee of $1500 to attend.  There will be a comparable fee for the West Coast Summit.  Participation fees will cover the facility and event costs on a sliding scale for both Providers and Innovators.  Participation fees are waived for participating Healthcare Providers (2 attendees included).

When and Where is the Summit being held? 
Health IT innovators will join “Speed-Dating” sessions with Healthcare Providers at the BluePrint Health IT Innovation Summit for the Mid-West Region on November 29, 2011 in Indianapolis, IN.  There will be a Pre-Summit Reception Dinner for participating Healthcare Providers, Sponsors, the Summit Advisory Board and Special Guests on the evening prior.  The West Coast Summit will be held in January 2012 in California.

What is the Program Agenda? 
The Mid-West Summit Agenda will be very similar to the final agenda from the Mid-Atlantic Summit which was on May 26, 2011 and it will again feature opening remarks by Wil Yu, Special Assistant for Innovation at ONC.

Who is organizing the Summit? 
The BluePrint Health IT Innovation Summit Series is aligned with current innovation programs and initiatives of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT.  BluePrint Healthcare IT is based in Cranbury, NJ and was founded in 2003 to serve hospitals, healthcare systems and providers. BluePrint Healthcare IT provides products and services which accelerate their client’s strategic initiatives, with a focus on adoption of Meaningful Use and secure Health Information Exchange. For more information, please visit http://www.blueprinthit.com/.

How can I learn more? 
For more information on how Providers, Innovators and Sponsors can participate, please browse this website as it will continue to be updated.