MINNEAPOLIS — With consumers increasingly focused on wellness, Target Corp. is sounding the call for ideas to make health care easier.

The discount store giant on Monday unveiled the Simplicity Challenge, a nationwide search for innovative ideas to simplify health care.

The retailer said the Target Simplicity Challenge is seeking ideas in two key health areas: helping people make positive lifestyle and preventive health care choices, and helping people live well with a chronic health condition.

Target noted that it’s inviting submissions from people with expertise across the industry, as well as from students, innovators, designers and entrepreneurs invested in improving health care. Through Oct. 24, entrants can submit their ideas at the initiative’s official website TargetSimplicityChallenge.com. The public can view ideas submitted on the site and vote for their favorite.

"As a retailer serving millions of guests and an employer of more than 361,000 team members, Target recognizes the growing concern over health care in the U.S. and strives to be a positive part of the solution," José Barra, senior vice president of health and beauty at Target, said in a statement. "The Target Simplicity Challenge is designed to give visibility to those seemingly small, simple ideas that can have a big impact."

Once the submission period closes, a panel of Target executives will choose eight finalists — four from each category — based on a combined score of originality, creativity and "compelling nature for Target and health care," the company said.

From the finalist group, two grand prize winners will be selected, one from each category, by a panel of 11 industry expert judges, among whom are Target executives Michael Alexin, vice president and general merchandise manager, and Jeff Jones, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, as well as Richard Migloiori, executive vice president and chief medical officer for health insurer UnitedHealth Group.

The grand prize winners will receive $25,000 and a chance to partner with Target to implement their ideas.

Overall, Target has 1,788 stores in the United States, including more than 1,650 pharmacies.