At Synapse Health, we believe that innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a core part of how we deliver on our mission: to modernize the durable medical equipment (DME) industry and ensure patients get the care they need, when and where they need it. In April 2025, our Product & Technology (P&T) team brought that mission to life through our inaugural Hackathon, a high-energy, cross-functional event focused on exploring the power of AI in healthcare.
What Was the Hackathon All About?
The Hackathon offered a unique opportunity for our team to take a step back from day-to-day tasks and dive into creative problem solving. The focus? Driving meaningful impact through AI in healthcare—from streamlining workflows to directly improving patient outcomes and the overall care experience.
AI isn’t just about automation or efficiency—it’s about enhancing the human side of healthcare. Whether it’s reducing friction in the ordering process for durable medical equipment or identifying ways to proactively support patients in their care journey, AI offers the potential to personalize and improve the experience at every step. The Hackathon gave our teams a sandbox to test those possibilities.
Here’s how it all came together:
The Hackathon was thoughtfully organized from start to finish, beginning with a planning committee that included members from across all P&T teams to ensure diverse perspectives. Ten project proposals were submitted, and employees were placed into teams of 4–6 based on their interests, each guided by a team lead. Throughout the event, participants had access to leading AI models and development frameworks, along with learning sessions and office hours from vendor partners. The event culminated in a live Demo Day, where teams showcased their projects in timed presentations judged by a panel and peers.
Why It Mattered
This Hackathon was more than a tech sprint—it was about energizing our teams and accelerating our journey to revolutionize care delivery through AI in healthcare. More importantly, it was about putting patients at the center of that innovation.
AI has the power to surface actionable insights, anticipate patient needs and ensure timely access to care—particularly in a field like DME, where delays or inefficiencies can significantly affect quality of life. Our Hackathon teams explored ideas like intelligent routing of orders, proactive alerting for potential care gaps, and AI-powered tools to improve communication between providers, suppliers and patients.
“The product of the work was great and inspirational—but what really won was the energy surrounding this. It extended beyond the hackathon team members and into most of the organization.”
— Hackathon Participant
Celebrating the Innovation
Winners and participants walked away with great prizes, but the real reward was the knowledge gained, the ideas sparked and the sense of shared purpose that aligns with Synapse’s core values.
Ultimately, this event underscored how advancing AI in healthcare isn’t just about building smarter systems—it’s about enabling better care and a better experience for the people who need it most.
What’s Next?
With our first Hackathon a success, we’re already planning the next one and evaluating ways to bring these exciting ideas—many centered on AI in healthcare, specifically DME—to life in real-world settings.
The future of healthcare is built on collaboration, curiosity, and bold thinking. At Synapse Health, we’re proud to be leading that charge—and building tools and systems that put patient needs at the forefront.
Are you interested in being part of an organization that is set on innovation and reaching new heights through advanced technology? If so, learn more about us, our team, and how you can be a part of the transformation.