Cleveland’s first medical hackathon points way to better community health

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Will such innovations improve Clevelanders’ health?

Residents of some local neighborhoods die 24 years earlier than residents living just eight miles away. Infant mortality in some areas of Cleveland is higher than in some poor African nations. Due in part to the tragic legacy of redlining and other discriminatory real estate practices over the last century, socioeconomic factors are an important contributor to local health disparities. National estimates suggest that health care accounts for only about 20 percent of such differences.

The poor health of some in our region is a significant barrier to economic growth for all, contributing to high unemployment, worker absenteeism, and disability costs.
Those focused solely on medical innovation may want to seek out public health and community perspectives so that great ideas stand a chance to make real change. Public-health professionals and community members can make their needs known to innovators…

View Resource: http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/10/clevelands_first_medical_hacka.html