The American Heart Association launched its inaugural CarePlan Challenge this year to drive innovation and expand access to guideline-based cardiovascular care as digital health technologies gain momentum and research indicates growing patient acceptance of artificial intelligence supported health interventions when backed by clinical expertise and evidence-based guidelines. The Association's Center for Health Technology & Innovation invited developers, health technology innovators and AI specialists to create digital solutions that transform preventive care, improve disease management and enhance patient engagement through integration of the Association's science-based CarePlans alongside tools such as Life's Essential 8™ and the PREVENT™ Risk Calculator.
Participants from around the world received application programming interface access to the CarePlans and other digital tools, enabling them to build prototypes showcasing integration of American Heart Association science within digital health solutions. Submissions were evaluated based on innovation and creativity, technical implementation, user experience and design, and clinical impact and relevance. The selected solutions include ConneQT-Guided Wellness Programs, mobile solutions using CarePlans and Life's Essential 8 to link daily tasks, biometrics and personalized goals to build heart-healthy habits; Porter Health, a web-based cross-platform tool delivering one-click PREVENT and cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health risk assessments with expert-vetted CarePlans; and OneVillage, a women-focused virtual cardio-primary care platform turning CarePlans and PREVENT-guided risk into personalized pathways combining physician visits, cardiac rehab and supportive services.
According to Seth Martin, American Heart Association volunteer and professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital, these innovators are pushing boundaries to build a brighter future of cardiovascular care, with prototypes showing significant promise in making evidence-based care more personal, accessible and impactful. The challenge was hosted by the Center for Health Technology & Innovation with entries evaluated by a panel of expert judges including Azizi Seixas of University of Miami, Tatyana Kanzeveli of Open Health Network, Seth Martin of Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Erin Michos of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Challenge champions will showcase their prototypes at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans, with presentations scheduled for Sunday, November 8 at 3:15 p.m. CT in the Health Innovation Pavilion. More information about the CarePlan Challenge is available at https://ahahealthtech.org/aha-careplan-challenge-2025.
