{"id":721,"date":"2011-03-08T18:13:51","date_gmt":"2011-03-09T01:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthit.hhs.gov\/blog\/onc\/?p=721"},"modified":"2026-01-06T05:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T05:11:08","slug":"a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/insights-updates\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Today one of the recipients of the ONC\u2019s Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects (SHARP) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartplatforms.org\/news\/\">announced a major milestone<\/a>.\u00a0 Researchers at Children\u2019s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, leaders of the Healthcare Applications and Networking Platforms SHARP award, announced a major breakthrough having developed a first of\u00a0 kind platform architecture to support a flexible health information technology (IT) environment and promote innovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First described in a <em>New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMp0900411\">Perspectives article<\/a>, the SMArt architecture is an \u201ciPhone-like\u201d health IT platform model that aims to transform the way health IT supports health care by facilitating the development of medical applications that are scalable and substitutable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Substitutability is the capability of a system to replace one application with another of similar functionality \u2013 it allows the administrator of a system to replace one application with another without being a technical&nbsp;expert, without requiring re-engineering of other applications they are using, and without having to seek assistance from any of the vendors of previously or currently installed applications. Substitutability allows developers to rapidly create a large marketplace of apps for consumers to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In essence, the SMArt team is researching how medicine might&nbsp;learn from the successful implementation of IT in other sectors. The iPhone, for instance, uses a software platform with a published interface. This interface needs the ability to have both core components and applications. On the iPhone, core components include cameras, geolocation, networking capabilities, etc. The platform functionally separates the core components from the apps, and the apps are substitutable. For instance, The result is that a consumer can download a calendar reminder system, reject it, and easily replace it with a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SMArt team\u2019s architecture enables a health IT environment that may to be augmented by substitutable apps constructed around shared core components.&nbsp; Such architecture could should theoretically drive down health care technology development costs, support standards evolution, accommodate difference in care workflow, foster competition in the market, and accelerate innovation. While not meant to replace existing application architectures, the SMArt project researches the technical viability of an alternative model that may be appropriately integrated within the existing commercial marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To kick off the start of this new platform and to promote open innovation, the SMArt team is holding a $5,000 competition, challenging developers to create web applications that provide specific functionality for patients, physicians, or for public health.\u00a0 Developers interested in learning more about the SMArt project and app challenge may visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartplatforms.org\/challenge\">www.smartplatforms.org\/challenge<\/a> for complete details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Future developments in health IT should always be driven by empowering physicians and improving patient care. &nbsp;To this end, the SHARP program is tasked with achieving breakthrough innovation to address the major barriers to health IT adoption. &nbsp;I personally challenge the development community to help test the potential success of projects such as SMArt, in search of new, exciting pathways to a rich and diverse health ecosystem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today one of the recipients of the ONC\u2019s Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects (SHARP) [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":619,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_selected_menu":"","_show_breadcrumbs":"true","_blog_show_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"archived-category":[712],"featured":[],"topics":[418,420,424],"class_list":["post-721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","archived-category-sharp","topics-interoperability","topics-interoperability-standards","topics-scientific-initiatives"],"acf":{"blog_authors":[{"blog_author_profiles":"198452"}],"hp_news_hide":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.8.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge - ONC Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how an exciting new health IT innovation aims to transform health IT support with SMArt architecture.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how an exciting new health IT innovation aims to transform health IT support with SMArt architecture.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ONC Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-03-09T01:13:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-06T05:11:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/ONC.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"sleigh\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"sleigh\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"sleigh\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0719592fcc77f0e269f191216da0aae7\"},\"headline\":\"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-03-09T01:13:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-06T05:11:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/\"},\"wordCount\":496,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#organization\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/\",\"name\":\"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge - ONC Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2011-03-09T01:13:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-06T05:11:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how an exciting new health IT innovation aims to transform health IT support with SMArt architecture.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"ONC - Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT\",\"description\":\"Better health enabled by data\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"ONC\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"ONC - Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT\",\"alternateName\":\"ONC\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Logo-ONC-Transparent.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Logo-ONC-Transparent.png\",\"width\":800,\"height\":176,\"caption\":\"ONC - Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0719592fcc77f0e269f191216da0aae7\",\"name\":\"sleigh\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/afb1f0138c0c71ff7a91448bb10269ef95df9b5a5cceb7a5aabd43dd26e1a978?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/afb1f0138c0c71ff7a91448bb10269ef95df9b5a5cceb7a5aabd43dd26e1a978?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"sleigh\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/author\/sleigh\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge - ONC Blog","description":"Learn how an exciting new health IT innovation aims to transform health IT support with SMArt architecture.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge","og_description":"Learn how an exciting new health IT innovation aims to transform health IT support with SMArt architecture.","og_url":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/","og_site_name":"ONC Blog","article_published_time":"2011-03-09T01:13:51+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-06T05:11:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":628,"url":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/ONC.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"sleigh","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"sleigh","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/"},"author":{"name":"sleigh","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0719592fcc77f0e269f191216da0aae7"},"headline":"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge","datePublished":"2011-03-09T01:13:51+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-06T05:11:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/"},"wordCount":496,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/","url":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/","name":"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge - ONC Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2011-03-09T01:13:51+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-06T05:11:08+00:00","description":"Learn how an exciting new health IT innovation aims to transform health IT support with SMArt architecture.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/health-innovation\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/","name":"ONC - Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT","description":"Better health enabled by data","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#organization"},"alternateName":"ONC","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#organization","name":"ONC - Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT","alternateName":"ONC","url":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Logo-ONC-Transparent.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Logo-ONC-Transparent.png","width":800,"height":176,"caption":"ONC - Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0719592fcc77f0e269f191216da0aae7","name":"sleigh","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/afb1f0138c0c71ff7a91448bb10269ef95df9b5a5cceb7a5aabd43dd26e1a978?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/afb1f0138c0c71ff7a91448bb10269ef95df9b5a5cceb7a5aabd43dd26e1a978?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"sleigh"},"url":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/author\/sleigh\/"}]}},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/insights-updates\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"A SHARP Milestone \u2013 A New Innovation Challenge","url":"http:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/insights-updates\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/insights-updates\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":""},"articleSection":"Insights &amp; Updates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"sleigh"}],"creator":["sleigh"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ONC Blog","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2011-03-09T01:13:51Z","datePublished":"2011-03-09T01:13:51Z","dateModified":"2026-01-06T05:11:08Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"A SHARP Milestone \\u2013 A New Innovation Challenge\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/healthit.gov\\\/blog\\\/insights-updates\\\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/healthit.gov\\\/blog\\\/insights-updates\\\/a-sharp-milestone-a-new-innovation-challenge\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"\"},\"articleSection\":\"Insights &amp; Updates\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"sleigh\"}],\"creator\":[\"sleigh\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"ONC Blog\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[],\"dateCreated\":\"2011-03-09T01:13:51Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-03-09T01:13:51Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-06T05:11:08Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/healthit.gov\/p.js"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/619"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=721"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":175917,"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721\/revisions\/175917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=721"},{"taxonomy":"archived-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/archived-category?post=721"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=721"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}