Abstract
Small enterprises face multiple and complex challenges when developing digital technologies. The aim of this article is to explore the role of sustainable innovation in small enterprises in relation to the ongoing transformation of the primary healthcare sector. The purpose is to gain understanding of innovation processes within the framework of sustainable development, applied to a local primary healthcare center. Data were collected through seven semi-structured interviews. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted. Five themes appeared in relation to the ongoing transformation of the primary healthcare sector: (1) The process of sustainable innovation in a long-term perspective; (2) the companies’ views on innovations in healthcare; (3) effects of innovations in healthcare; (4) sustainable product or service development, and (5) the role of collaboration in the innovation process. The companies expressed a positive attitude to new innovations, as a natural part of developing the companies. The article concludes that incremental development of tools in small businesses supports the transformation of processes and services in the primary healthcare sector. Cross-disciplinary teams in collaboration facilitates the necessary learning and the required creation and sharing of knowledge.
Highlights
Digitalization and new technology are growing areas within the healthcare sector in recent years
Incremental development of tools for use in the primary healthcare sector needs to take into account changes and the transformation of processes and services in primary healthcare
This study focuses on the development of innovative products in small enterprises that will be used for sustainable services and processes in the primary healthcare sector
Summary
Digitalization and new technology are growing areas within the healthcare sector in recent years. Understanding the motivation and need of the professional healthcare practice and of the patients may be helpful for small enterprises that develop innovative digital technology. In this way the healthcare sector can develop enhanced healthcare systems, such as electronic health (eHealth), based on digitalization [2]. EHealth could be used to increase the quality of healthcare services provided by the healthcare sector for health-related issues (e.g., glycemic control and weight loss) and psychological issues (e.g., depressive complaints and anxiety) [3]. Pandemics like COVID-19 call for an increased need and faster development of digital technologies in the healthcare sector, to follow up health-related information at a distance. Healthcare organizations are complex and do not usually have a tradition of developing innovations together with small enterprises [4]
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