The “Shark Tank” model, based on the popular television show that has aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to potential investors, has also inspired innovation within the healthcare sector.
Several healthcare providers have already adopted the model used by the reality television competition series by having panels review invention ideas from startups, Hospitals & Health Networks reported. Boston Children’s Hospital recently hosted an “Innovation Summit” in which a handful of finalists pitched their healthcare ideas to an expert panel.
“This is all happening because healthcare organizations are really feeling the pressure to get on outcomes and cost improvements quickly,” he told H&HN.
Last week the American Hospital Association released a report featuring case examples of innovation by individual healthcare leaders. The examples are divided into four categories: Social and Basic Needs, Health Promotion, Access and Coverage and Quality of Life. For example, in the District of Columbia, MedStar Health took advantage of the status of barbershops as community venues within the African-American community to launch the “Hair, Heart and Health” program.
And Henry Ford Health System in Detroit’s Sew Up the Safety Net for Women and Children program, through a network of local social and medical services, links at-risk women to healthcare resources.
Another way to foster innovation: Turn to chief innovation officers to promote innovation, such as rethinking delivery information technology and making systems more flexible, FierceHealthITpreviously reported. They can further create an organization-wide “culture of innovation” by taking steps such as promoting diversity, taking calculated risks and empowering employees.
Source: ‘Shark Tank’-style contests, community initiatives spark healthcare innovation
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