An innovation platform for diffusing public health practices across a global network

Abstract

Hospitals and health systems in high-income countries (HIC) develop the capacities of peer healthcare organizations around the world by diffusing clinical, quality, and public health improvement practices in lower and middle-income countries (LMIC). In turn, these HIC healthcare institutions are exposed to innovative approaches developed and used by global communities to advance care despite resource constraints in the LMIC contexts. Attention has been growing in recent years to the potential these innovations can have to improve care delivery, lower costs, and drive quality within resource-constrained communities in HIC. Often referred to as “reverse innovations,” the identification, adaptation, and diffusion of these practices face challenges in uptake related to limited evidence, perceptions of poor quality or irrelevance, and a complicated regulatory and policy environment. This paper suggests the development of an approach to improve the capacity of the healthcare organizations in the HIC as well, based on lessons learned from diffusing practices in LMIC. It concludes with the need for a knowledge platform to support innovation diffusion in both directions.