After extensive evaluation by a panel of judges, the HealthForce NH team at the Foundation for Healthy Communities today announced the six semi-finalists of the Innovation Challenge, a contest designed to promote and support innovative ventures in the health care workforce space in New Hampshire (NH).

The semi-finalists come from a variety of backgrounds and organizations from around the state, with proposals focused on areas such as education and training, technology and sustainability with the end goal of the initiatives helping bolster the health care workforce.

“Innovation in health care workforce development doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes passionate people willing to think differently and work together. Our semi-finalists are doing just that, and we couldn’t be prouder to have them as part of this journey. We are excited to see what they will bring to the next stage of the competition,” said Maureen Znoj, Senior Director, HealthForce NH

The semi-finalists are:

AHEAD (Allied Health Education, Access & Development) – Laurel Gellar and Armon Farahani

The AHEAD program builds a structured pathway for high school students to explore allied health specialties, earn credentials and connect directly with health care employers across New Hampshire.

CAREWORKS – Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester

CAREWORKS is a five-pillar workforce innovation model developed by the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester to strengthen and retain New Hampshire’s behavioral health workforce by addressing caregiving strain, a leading driver of burnout and attrition.

Leb Med – Fund for the Common Good, LLC for Lebanon High School

Through a partnership between Lebanon High School and Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Leb Med addresses both student interest in health care careers and regional workforce shortages by providing career exploration, credential attainment and direct employment pathways.

PEER Program at APD – Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

APD’s PEER Program takes a whole-person approach to retaining New Hampshire’s frontline health care workforce, providing timely, individualized mental health resources to help caregivers sustain their own well-being while continuing to serve their communities.

Reducing Work Disability Among NH Health Care Workers Through Work-Health Coaching – Work Health CoLab

Work Health CoLab takes a whole-system approach to workforce health, offering coaching for workers, occupational medicine support for care teams and medical leave management for employers to keep New Hampshire’s workforce healthy and productive.

Regional Primary Care Workforce Simulation Model – Institute for Health Policy & Practice, UNH

Rather than waiting for new physicians, the Regional Primary Care Workforce Simulation Model leverages existing non-physician clinicians and predictive analytics to simulate smarter workforce deployment across New Hampshire’s regions.

The Innovation Challenge competition to win up to $100,000 for first place, up to $60,000 for second place, and up to $40,000 for third place now heads into the next round. The semi-finalists will participate in a live pitch event, open to the public, on April 1st at 5:30 p.m. at Jean School of Nursing & Health Sciences, Grappone Building at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown.  Final winners will be announced at 5:30 p.m. at the same location on April 15th at an event open to the public.

“As we move into the next round of the competition, we are inspired by the vision and dedication each of these semi-finalists brings to the critical work of strengthening NH’s health care workforce. We look forward to seeing their ideas come to life,” said Maureen Znoj, Senior Director, HealthForce NH.

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