The buzz that filled the halls of Royal Jubilee Hospital for Code Hack 2025 was practically palpable as 82 people from all walks of life turned into innovators and problem-solvers tackling some of the biggest challenges facing healthcare.
From diverting food surplus from hospital kitchens, to promoting regular preventative health screenings, to navigating the myriad of health care options, teams at the Code Hack event developed solutions that could make a lasting impact on our communities.
The fifth annual hackathon, held March 7 to 9, invited anyone to collaborate, with each person taking on a role based on the their experiences and skills, whether a frontline health care provider, patient, ally, builder or designer. Over the course of 24 hours, teams conceptualize, prototype, and pitch their ideas, supported by a network of over 19 mentors, coaches, and industry leaders.
“As an event sponsor, we always look forward to the ideas coming out of Code Hack,” said Olena Marun, program, operations and communications coordinator with the University of Victoria’s Innovation Centre. “What works so well is having all the key players on a team, including a patient representative, to provide continuous real-time feedback as the ideas develop.”
Soleil Carrillo, a soon-to-be-paramedic who lives with a spine condition called spondylolisthesis, participated as a patient representative and believes Code Hack is an important way to help shape the future of healthcare. “One day everyone's going to need to go to the doctor because they found out something's wrong,” he said. “If you want to have the best care possible, you need to give your input, no matter who you are.”
Participants ranged from ages 17 to 76. The majority of people have attended at least one previous hack-a-thon, like Kai Broback-Lowe, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Victoria. “The first time I did Code Hack was such a positive experience, I wanted to do it again with a new group and a new problem. This time my team has a couple software engineers, an occupational therapist, a psychology student, and a service designer,” he said.
“It's easy to get into a little echo chamber these days, especially with social media. When you put yourself into a situation where you have to hear from everybody, it will open your mind.”
“I love the Code Hack tagline: ‘Everyone is an innovator’,” said Kathy MacNeil, Island Health President and Chief Executive Officer. “We need that now more than ever. Bringing diverse minds together is the way forward and experiencing the energy at Code Hack fills me with hope for the future.”
After 24 hours of brainstorming, collaborating, developing and pitching, a judging panel selected three winning teams. First prize went to team FN Rx, who developed a prototype of an app to help First Nations people access over-the-counter medication through B.C.’s Plan W.
First Place, Team "FN Rx"
Plan W is available to First Nations individuals living in B.C. enrolled with the First Nations Health Authority and have active Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage. The plan covers 100 per cent of the cost of eligible prescription medications, as well as select over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and non-drug items. Eligible OTC products recommended by a pharmacist or prescribed will be processed directly through Plan W, with no cost to the client.
Despite the availability of OTC coverage in Plan W, some First Nations individuals pay of out of pocket for eligible OTC items. Tanya Clarmont, who is Teme-Augama Anishnabai and works in cultural safety at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, brought this challenge to Code Hack. “This is a service that my family members and I need personally and have not been able to access,” she said. “It's been powerful to be here and just sort of open up the doors to what's possible in terms of the crowdsourcing support that we often need and have limited capacity around.”
The app prototype scans medication barcodes to determine whether they are covered and compiles the necessary information for patients to present to their pharmacist. The app, developed using generative AI with software from Amazon Web Services, one of the event sponsors, not only improves access to medication but also helps clients feel more confident approaching pharmacists, and streamlines the process for pharmacists.
“To go home to my community and the Friendship Centre, and tell them that other people validated their issues, and the reality of actually being able to respond, this feels amazing and I’m pretty emotional about it,” said Clarmont.
Second place went to Lifetime Concierge, an app designed to remind and assist people in accessing preventative health screenings for early disease detection, particularly benefiting those who are not connected to a primary care provider.
Second Place, Team "Lifetime Concierge"
Third place was awarded to Surplus for Purpose, which developed a method to divert surplus food from hospital kitchens to patients experiencing malnourishment after being discharged home. Surplus for Purpose also won the People’s Choice Award by a narrow margin, while Triage Me—an app designed to help individuals determine which health care services they need—was the runner-up.
Third Place and People's Choice Award, Team "Surplus for Purpose"
Cash prizes for the top teams ranged up to $1,500 and the winners are provided support for six months to continue refining their prototypes with Island Health’s Innovation Lab and other community partners.
Learn more about Code Hack and check out the 2025 photo album!