It's App-ening again! National student app contest and $10,000 grand prize is back for the third year

BRAMPTON, Ontario, Oct. 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It's App-ening again! William Osler Health System's (Osler) national student app contest is back for its third year - with a $10,000 prize for the winning gaming app for Android devices. This year, Osler has joined forces with its local health care partners, the Central West Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) and Headwaters Health Care Centre to help engage students in thinking about how to improve and enhance the patient experience across the three organizations, and throughout the Central West region.

For this year's contest, the organizations are challenging high school, undergraduate and graduate student video game creators, programmers and designers from across the country to think of all the popular mobile games they have seen – including trivia, simulation, puzzles, and strategy – to help inspire the creation of a new gaming app. The winning gaming app will engage and educate the public on how to access the type of health care services people need across the region.

"This year's app contest has a regional focus, reflecting the partnership of Central West CCAC, Headwaters and Osler in providing care for patients from the time they visit a hospital until they are back home recovering with support," said Susan deRyk, Joint Vice President, Patient Experience, Communications and Strategy with the Central West CCAC, Headwaters Health Care Centre, and William Osler Health System.

"We are very excited about this year's national app contest and we are eagerly anticipating the creative ways that students will find to help teach people how to find the right care in the right place at the right time."

Contestants can pick from one of the following themes. The organizations are looking for a gaming app that:

Helps users understand how to access care at home
Helps educate users about how the hospitals' Emergency Departments work
Helps educate users about where to go for health care
Helps caregivers understand health care resources available to them in the community

To be eligible to enter the contest you must be a student currently enrolled in a Canadian high school, college or university, in a full-time, part-time, or continuing education program. Teams may consist of no more than four eligible students.

To enter the contest, eligible students or teams are being asked to submit a video pitch – maximum 5 minutes – explaining the app concept and design. Students are encouraged to get creative with the pitch. Applicants should send the video pitch to kissmyapp@williamoslerhs.ca by 5:00 p.m. EST on October 30, 2015. For more information on the contest criteria, rules and eligibility, please visit kissmyapp.ca.

For more information on Central West CCAC, visit healthcareathome.ca/centralwest.
For more information on Headwaters Health Care Centre, visit headwatershealth.ca.
For more information about William Osler Health System, visit www.williamoslerhs.ca.

ABOUT THE CENTRAL WEST COMMUNITY CARE ACCESS CENTRE: The Central West Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) helps ensure people have the health care and support they need to remain safe and independent for as long as possible. We are privileged to help people come home from hospital, live independently, and, when appropriate, transition into long-term care. Our care coordinators are regulated health professionals – nurses, physiotherapists, and others – with additional, specialized training in coordinating care across the health system. Last year, we served more than 35,000 patients at home, in school, and through the three hospitals located in our community. The Central West CCAC is funded by the Central West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

ABOUT HEADWATERS HEALTH CARE CENTRE: Headwaters Health Care Centre is an 86-bed acute and complex continuing care facility, offering both inpatient and outpatient services, as well as an Emergency Department with 24/7 coverage. By offering care closer to home and putting patients first, Headwaters Health Care Centre aims to provide an exceptional experience every time.

ABOUT WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH SYSTEM: William Osler Health System is a hospital system 'Accredited with Exemplary Standing' that serves 1.3 million residents of Brampton, Etobicoke, and surrounding communities within the Central West Local Health Integration Network. Osler's emergency departments are among the busiest in Canada and its labour and delivery program is one of the largest in the province. William Osler Health System Foundation builds and fosters relationships in order to raise funds to support William Osler Health System's capital, education and research priorities at Brampton Civic Hospital, Etobicoke General Hospital and the new Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health & Wellness.