Overview
CVS Health launched a six-week enterprise hackathon to explore how Generative AI can improve healthcare operations, support employee workflows, and enhance the member experience. The initiative brought together 21 teams across the organization to develop real-world use cases using GenAI. With support from the HYPE innovation platform, the hackathon produced 36 ideas, 18 prototypes, and 6 pilot-ready solutions. From reducing call center volume to accelerating service delivery, the effort demonstrated how structured, inclusive innovation can quickly turn emerging technologies into scalable healthcare solutions.
The Hackathon
To unlock the power of Generative AI (GenAI) across the enterprise, CVS Health launched a fast-paced, all-inclusive hackathon. Designed to foster practical learning, collaboration, and innovation, the event invited colleagues from diverse roles to explore GenAI’s potential to improve healthcare operations and reimagine service delivery.
The hackathon, supported by the HYPE platform, provided an agile structure that enabled rapid idea capture, prototyping, and pilot selection—bringing innovation from concept to action in just six weeks.
“HYPE gave our teams the structure and speed they needed to collaborate, iterate, and move their ideas forward without bottlenecks.”
– Melani Roberson, Architect I, Innovation PM Innovation Labs, CVS Health
The Goal
As a leader in healthcare, CVS Health saw GenAI as a way to not only boost internal efficiency, but also enhance how it delivers care, support, and access to millions of patients.
The hackathon challenged employees with a bold, future-focused question:
"Using Generative AI, how can we at CVS Health strike out in new directions for our business and supercharge our colleagues in their core processes within the next 18 months?"
The objective was twofold:
Widen Participation
Align with Strategy
The Process
The six-week hackathon unfolded through a focused progression:
- Ideation Prompt: A single question inspired strategic, forward-thinking concepts
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Employees from 21 teams collaborated across roles and disciplines
- Idea Submission: Concepts were submitted through the HYPE platform, ensuring visibility and scalability
- Evaluation Criteria: Submissions were assessed on Strategic Alignment, Idea Potential, and Wow Factor
- Prototyping: The most promising ideas advanced to rapid prototyping
- Final Judging: Expert judges evaluated each pitch and selected winners and honorable mentions
- Path to Pilot: Several standout ideas were chosen for further development and pilot implementation
“In just six weeks, we went from ideas on a screen to pilot-ready concepts with real business potential, including one that could significantly reduce call center volume.”
– Melani Roberson
The Results
The hackathon generated measurable results:
- 36 ideas submitted from across 21 departments
- 18 ideas prototyped in rapid sprints
- 6 ideas selected for pilot implementation
- 1 winner and 3 honorable mentions recognized for their impact
- 96.6% of participants found the topic captivating and relevant
- 4.25/5 average satisfaction score for the overall experience
Among the six ideas selected for pilots was an AI-powered member benefit chatbot, designed to reduce call volume and enhance healthcare service delivery. It’s a clear example of how GenAI can be rapidly integrated into operations to improve efficiency and elevate the member experience.
The Final Word
“This hackathon showed us that with the right structure and support, we can accelerate innovation that’s both fast-moving and deeply strategic. The HYPE platform helped us channel creativity into real business outcomes—quickly, strategically, and at scale.”
– Melani Roberson
How to Apply GenAI in Healthcare
See how healthcare and life sciences organizations can apply Generative AI across the value chain—from patient care to R&D—to streamline innovation and improve outcomes.
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