ABOUT THE PITCH-A-THON

Nurse-led interdisciplinary health systems teams will pitch solutions addressing well-being/workplace challenges with the goal of receiving up to $250,000 in grant funding

Our mission? To unleash the power of nurses as innovative leaders and problem solvers, where they could come together with interdisciplinary teams to collaborate and develop their ideas into new solutions to address the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

What is needed now? Real change.  Market Research shows that a key aspect of the nursing crisis is the healthcare workplace environment.

Real change - a redesigned, innovative workplace and environment– implementing new staffing models and care delivery models, where exciting/diverse career paths are defined, skillsets develop and flourish, and the well-being of health workers is prioritized and destigmatized.  An environment intentionally designed to attract and support nurses and other health workers, where they can thrive.

For us, this means collaborating with nurses and health system leaders to identify foundational pain points and apply innovation to build and implement truly meaningful solutions to address these foundational challenges.

In this new format, nurse-led interdisciplinary teams will ideate and pitch solutions for “Redesigning a Healthy Work Environment Where the Workforce Can Thrive”.  In addition, top pitches will have the opportunity to receive grant funding up to $250,000 from #FirstRespondersFirst to help bring their pitch concept to life.

Four evidence-based focus areas to support workforce well-being*

*Pitch ideas should be aligned to one of these four evidence-based focus areas to support workforce well-being as identified by a collaboration of experts supporting clinician well-being in partnership with ALL IN: WellBeing First for Healthcare and the National Academy of Medicine.

Apply Now

PITCH CRITERIA

Download the Pitch-A-Thon Slide Deck Here

FAQs

  • The complete application is due August 18. This is a multi-step application.

    Click the Apply Now button to submit your Eligibility, which is Step 1.

    Once Step 1 has been completed, you will be notified of eligibility and be given access to the remainder of the application process.

  • A 501c3 is a registered non-profit organization - specifically, a federal tax status approved by the IRS that makes an organization exempt from federal taxes.

    Not sure if you are a non-profit organization? An Internet search with your Organization’s name and “EIN” will provide you the unique number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to be entered into the section Enter Organization’s EIN Number.

  • We understand your time is valuable, so we have a few Must-Haves as you consider your eligibility and application:

    • Grants must be used for project implementation

    • Teams must be nurse-led and encouraged to be interdisciplinary

    • Teams must have at least one member of executive leadership as an advisor or sponsor to implement innovations within health-care system

    • Grantees must start implementation by January 2023 and end fund spend by December 31, 2023

    • Teams must articulate sustainability plans beyond this grant cycle

    • Grantees cannot be vendors

    • Grantees must have a 501c3 designation or work with a fiscal sponsor

    • Non-HCP orgs are not eligible for direct funding but may partner with a 501c3

    NURSE-LED: Teams must be nurse-led and are encouraged to be interdisciplinary – e.g. include staff nurses, nurse leaders, other health care professionals, physicians, patient care techs, CNAs, HR, IT, Engineering.

    Organizational Buy-in: Teams should include at least one member of executive leadership to serve as an advisor or sponsor and ensure implementation of idea.

  • Don’t worry, we are here to help.

    • In June-July, we will be hosting several Information/Pitch Prep sessions about the Pitch-a-thon. Attending ONE of these sessions is mandatory after you have completed the application Step 1/Eligibility for the application process. (Hyperlink Schedule Here).

    • To help power-up your innovation skills you can also view Design Thinking and Crafting the Perfect Pitch pre-recorded and available in the "TRAININGS" tab on this website so you can listen whenever convenient for you.

    • Office Hours for Questions & Answers will be provided throughout the summer..

    • Mentoring by subject matter experts is available by request (e.g., Design Thinking/Designers, Operational, Clinical, Technical during the application time-frame (June – August) for all teams applying.

    • In September, we will hold Practice Pitch session for the Finalists selected to pitch at the October 6, 2022 event.

  • No, a patent is not required to apply. However, you should not submit any information that you wish to keep confidential or that may negatively impact upon the future patentability of your solution, or that is not proprietary, considered a trade secret or privileged.

  • No. Our sponsor organizations have donated both resources and labor to make this event possible. Our Participants, Coaches and Judges are likewise contributing their time, knowledge and skills to build solutions that will help improve patient care outcomes and care delivery.

  • To maintain fairness and impartiality, applications should be blinded. The videos should include only the presentation slides or stock imagery. No team members can be shown or the application will need to be disqualified.

  • DO NOT SUBMIT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Only non-confidential information should be submitted and anything you submit will be treated as non-confidential.

  • As this is a no strings attached arrangement, NurseHack4Health/J&J/Microsoft/SONSIEL/ALL IN Well-Being First for Healthcare/#FirstRespondersFirst does not acquire any IP. Any IP creation and/or protection remains the sole responsibility of the inventors.

  • Make sure your browser is up to date and accepting cookies. You can contact customer service at support@nursehack4health.org if you are having technical difficulties as well.

  • No – you can use whatever technology or tools you wish. We are utilizing Microsoft Teams to host the event kickoff, for Trainings and as a collaboration tool so you can participate in checkpoints, stay aware of announcements and stay in touch with mentors.

  • #FirstRespondersFirst, an initiative of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and CAA Foundation, takes a whole human approach to addressing the physical and psychological needs of first responders and healthcare workers to ensure our frontline workforce is protected, well-supported and resilient.

    ALL IN: WellBeing First For Healthcare is a call to action by #FirstRespondersFirst and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation as a coalition of leading healthcare organizations committed to advancing and prioritizing the mental well-being of the healthcare workforce.

    #FirstRespondersFirst is a fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.