In my last blog, I wrote about how looking at the ways other industries use technology can provide inspiration for applying mobile technology to healthcare. This month, I would like to discuss an area where inspiration for innovation can evolve.
First, what is innovation? Today, we hear a lot about innovation: automakers want you to think that they are going to solve their financial trouble with innovation, and other companies claim their new products are innovative, but what does innovation really mean?
www.merriam-webster.com describes innovation as “the introduction of something new or a new idea, method, or device.” I don't like this description because it is too easy to confuse innovation with invention. My definition of innovation is “taking something that already exists and improving on it to make it either better than it is, or to find a new use for it.” An example could be to take a toxic compound and use it for cosmetic purposes like Botox®. Another example could be to combine two items to make a new item, like adding an MP3 player to a cellular phone. In both cases, the results are a new product with greater use.
As mentioned last month, one way to be innovative in healthcare IT is to leverage technologies and applications being used in other industries. Often other industries, such as manufacturing and retail, pioneer technologies to gain competitive advancement. If we monitor these industries, we can understand and apply similar technology and concepts to healthcare IT.
Another option is to review the processes where you interact with healthcare in your personal life. In a recent interview, Omnicell CEO Randy Lipps told Sramana Mitra a story: while visiting one of his own children in the hospital, Lipps observed that the ward nurses were hoarding disposable products such as ventilator hoses. Recognizing a need for process improvement, Lipps invented a more effective way to manage the disposable products.
As consultants, we need to be aware that every interaction we have is a source of inspiration, and can lead to a new innovation in healthcare. When you are at the hospital or visiting your healthcare provider, ask them about some of the processes they follow. If you're lucky enough to not need a hospital visit or regular interaction with healthcare providers, volunteer: think of it as market research, with the side benefit of helping out your local community.
The more you interact with and observe healthcare processes, the more likely you are to see an area where you can be innovative.
Don Sheppard is a Delivery Manager at Prolifics, responsible for ensuring the health and success of key projects. Don is a Master Certified I/T Architect with the Open Group and has over 18 years of experience, including 13 years at IBM as CTO for the National Portal Services Practice. Don has designed large, complex web and portal architecture, including web 2.0 sites and rich Internet applications in numerous industries, including healthcare.
