Technological Innovation In Healthcare Research Articles

Implementing disruptive technological change in UK healthcare: exploring development of a smart phone app for remote patient monitoring as a boundary object using qualitative methods.

Developing technological innovations in healthcare is made complex and difficult due to effects upon the practices of professional, managerial and other stakeholders. Drawing upon the concept of boundary object, this paper explores the challenges of achieving effective collaboration in the development and use of a novel healthcare innovation in the English healthcare system. A case study is presented of the development and implementation of a smart phone application (app) for use by rheumatoid arthritis patients. Over a two-year period (2015-2017), qualitative data from recorded clinical consultations (n=17), semi-structured interviews (n=63) and two focus groups (n=13) were obtained from participants involved in the app's development and use (clinicians, patients, researchers, practitioners, IT specialists and managers). The case focuses on the use of the app and its outputs as a system of inter-connected boundary objects. The analysis highlights the challenges overcome in the innovation's development and how knowledge sharing between patients and clinicians was enhanced, altering the nature of the clinical consultation. It also shows how conditions surrounding the innovation both enabled its development and inhibited its wider scale-up. By recognizing that technological artefacts can simultaneously enable and inhibit collaboration, this paper highlights the need to overcome tensions between the transformative capability of such healthcare innovations and the inhibiting effects simultaneously created on change at a wider system level.

Innovative Healthcare Technologies in Otorhinolarnygological Practice in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategies for Accelerated Uptake

Healthcare innovations are geared towards greater patient comfort, improved diagnosis and better treatment outcomes. Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) has witnessed many technological innovations become a core aspect of daily practice. Sub-Saharan Africa is currently lagging behind the rest of the world in both development and uptake of innovative health technologies. This paper aims to examine these innovations in otorhinolaryngology as well as the challenges and routes to their timely deployment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A literature review was conducted on papers retrieved from Google scholar and Pubmed. Several factors have hampered practitioners in SSA from fully leveraging new technologies. By applying political, legal, economic, educational and scientific strategies these practitioners may adopt safe, effective, home-grown adaptations of emerging technologies for accelerated uptake.

Technological Innovation in Healthcare: Disrupting Old Systems to Create More Value for African American Patients in Academic Medical Centers

Healthcare in the United States (U.S.) has made incredible advances, but inefficiency and high costs continue to permeate the system. Urban and underserved communities face the greatest array of healthcare problems including the need to improve the quality of care provided them, disproportionate levels of poverty among different groups in the U.S., and the number of unhealthy people disproportionately represented by mostly African American and Hispanic populations. Academic medical centers (AMCs) are major community stakeholders who work to fulfill the increasing healthcare demands of underserved communities. With the tripartite mission of delivering high quality care to patients, undertaking clinical and laboratory research, and training future health professionals, AMCs have a unique ability to address health concerns of the most vulnerable populations. Innovations in healthcare technology are critical to ensure that AMCs properly address health disparities and the specific health concerns of rapidly growing African American populations. Awareness of these disparities may lead to improved processes and protocol implementation, which can promote innovation and quality improvement to allow AMCs to remain a key player in addressing population-based clinical research, quality of care, and health disparities nationwide.

Media representation of telemedicine in the German medical journal “Deutsches Ärzteblatt”: an acceptance-theoretical analysis

Media reporting can influence the perception and development of attitudes through the frequency and the way certain topics are presented. The German Medical Journal “Deutsches Arzteblatt” is one of the most important media for agenda-setting in Germany. It thus has an influence on opinion-forming and acceptance within the medical profession in regard to innovative healthcare technologies. The aim of this work is to quantify the media representation of telemedicine and deduce the qualitatively depicted acceptance factors. All articles on telemedicine published in “Deutsches Arzteblatt” between 01/01/2008 and 01/01/2018 were reviewed. The type of article, the focus, the connotation, and the degree of explanation were recorded quantitatively as well as the discussed topics and content aspects. In a structured content analysis, acceptance factors were derived based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The representation of telemedicine in the German Medical Journal has increased significantly in the last 10 years, and shows a tendency towards neutral and balanced reporting. A change in content can be seen. While the focus was still on technical aspects until 2012, it is currently increasing in the scientific–medical field. Emphasis is put on the presentation of expectations of performance and effort as well as the description and modification of framework conditions. Further research is needed, focusing on the relevance of media representation of new forms of care such as telemedicine in order to increase acceptance and to develop attitudes on an individual, organizational, and systemic level.

From Health Technology Assessment to Health Technology Sustainability

This paper aims to propose a methodological lens to the assessment of technological innovations in healthcare based on the principles of social, economic, and political sustainability. Starting from the consideration of a lack of a unified interpretative framework of health technology assessment, using a content analysis of the relevant literature on the topic, we identified both the scientific perspectives adopted by the scholars and the most widely discussed topics. Consequently, the less explored scientific areas were framed, and, therefore, those more susceptible to further investigation came to light. The result is an overall picture which highlights the absence of unified and generally accepted approaches to evaluation, together with the lack of awareness on the fact that the multiplicity of methods adopted is essentially connected to the multiplicity of innovations, for each of which a method (or a set of methods) of preferable evaluation can be prefigured. Based on these observations, we propose a general reference framework for evaluation, based on the Viable Systems Approach (vSa), and a schematic outline of the connections between the complexity of innovations and the evaluation methodologies.

Mobile cloud computing based stroke healthcare system

Information technology has recently seen a huge progress in innovative healthcare technologies that rendered healthcare data bigger. Connectivity on 7/24 basis between human to device and device to device have a crucial role in individuals’ lives. Therefore, Mobile Cloud System (MCC) has become an indispensable tool. Parallel with the rapid developments in the Internet of Things, convergence has become an important issue. Our proposed method, accordingly, can be converged with mobile-cloud environments with cloud computing in handling healthcare information. This study uses Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS) as 4 VCPU and 8 GB RAM and proposes a model based on the Android based mobile phones for stroke patients with cardioembolic (689) and cryptogenic (528) subtypes. The system set up through this study has two basic application elements which are mobile application and server application. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) module is beneficial for classifying the two stroke subtypes while server application is used for saving the data from the patients. Accordingly, our model guarantees availability, security, and scalability as a system for stroke patients applying Stroke dataset for ANN algorithm, Multilayer Perceptron Algorithm (MLP), which has been done for the first time in literature with big data in this scope. The main contributions are: (1) The outcomes will display an individual unique social insurance framework. (2) The outcomes will be utilized for the distinguishing proof of stroke-related data to be gathered by cell phones that are Android based. (3) Stroke patients will find out about their condition of well-being through an ANN application programming interface, which will provide a sort of organization for the patients. Overall, an efficient and user-friendly stroke determination human services framework has been presented through this Healthcare System for patients.

Fostering healthcare innovation in public hospitals: the Queensland experience.

Faced with scarce resources and a demand for health care that exceeds supply, health policy makers at all levels of government need to adopt some form of rationing when deciding which health services should be funded in the public health system. With a relatively small investment, programs such as Queensland Health's New Technology Funding Evaluation Program (NTFEP) fosters innovation by providing funding and pilot studies for new and innovative healthcare technologies. The NTFEP assists policy makers to make informed decisions regarding investments in new safe and effective technologies based on available evidence gathered from real-world settings relevant to Queensland patients and clinicians. In addition, the NTFEP allows appropriate patient access, especially in rural and remote locations, to potentially beneficial technologies and acts a gatekeeper, protecting them from technologies that may be detrimental or harmful.

Are we not Losing that Human Touch in Healthcare?

Technological innovations in healthcare are bringing a huge change in care and delivery system. Technology has improved accessibility as well as affordability in healthcare. But, does this technology provide the humane emotions that improve the patient experience. This article examines the technology role and humane concerns in healthcare and concludes that technology along with humane touch would help the healthcare industry to provide quality of care, on time.

Teaching student nurses how to use electronic patient records through simulation: A case study.

Like any skill in nursing, preparing students for the changes in technology needs to be incorporated into the curriculum. Electronic Patient Records (EPR) are an example of technological innovation in health care. This article presents a case study of how one faculty of healthcare, working collaboratively with a web designer, created and implemented a simulation activity to enable student nurses to develop their skills in using EPRs. An evaluation study was undertaken into students' perceptions of undertaking the simulation activity and using EPRs in the simulation activity. Findings showed that students were positive about the simulation activity and using the EPR app in the simulation, and felt well-prepared for using EPR in practice.

Hacking Hackathons: Preparing the next generation for the multidisciplinary world of healthcare technology

ObjectiveMachine learning in healthcare, and innovative healthcare technology in general, require complex interactions within multidisciplinary teams. Healthcare hackathons are being increasingly used as a model for cross-disciplinary collaboration and learning. The aim of this study is to explore high school student learning experiences during a healthcare hackathon. By optimizing their learning experiences, we hope to prepare a future workforce that can bridge technical and health fields and work seamlessly across disciplines. MethodsA qualitative exploratory study utilizing focus group interviews was conducted. Eight high school students from the hackathon were invited to participate in this study through convenience sampling Participating students (n = 8) were allocated into three focus groups. Semi structured interviews were completed, and transcripts evaluated using inductive thematic analysis. FindingsThrough the structured analysis of focus group transcripts three major themes emerged from the data: (1) Collaboration, (2) Transferable knowledge and skills, and (3) Expectations about hackathons. These themes highlight strengths and potential barriers when bringing this multidisciplinary approach to high school students and the healthcare community. ConclusionThis study found that students were empowered by the interdisciplinary experience during a hackathon and felt that the knowledge and skills gained could be applied in real world settings. However, addressing student expectations of hackathons prior to the event is an area for improvement. These findings have implications for future hackathons and can spur further research into using the hackathon model as an educational experience for learners of all ages.

How Should Organizations Promote Equitable Distribution of Benefits from Technological Innovation in Health Care?

Technological innovations typically benefit those who have good access to and an understanding of the underlying technologies. As such, technology-centered health care innovations are likely to preferentially benefit users of privileged socioeconomic backgrounds. Which policies and strategies should health care organizations adopt to promote equitable distribution of the benefits from technological innovations? In this essay, we draw on two important concepts-co-creation (the joint creation of value by multiple parties such as a company and its customers) and digitalization (the application of new digital technologies and the ensuing changes in sociotechnical structures and relationships)-and propose a set of policies and strategies that health care organizations could adopt to ensure that benefits from technological innovations are more equitably distributed among all target populations, including resource-poor communities and individuals.

Agile Co-Development for Clinical Adoption and Adaptation of Innovative Technologies.

Even the most innovative healthcare technologies provide patient benefits only when adopted by clinicians and/or patients in actual practice. Yet realizing optimal positive impact from a new technology for the widest range of individuals who would benefit remains elusive. In software and new product development, iterative rapid-cycle "agile" methods more rapidly provide value, mitigate failure risks, and adapt to customer feedback. Co-development between builders and customers is a key agile principle. But how does one accomplish co-development with busy clinicians? In this paper, we discuss four practical agile co-development practices found helpful clinically: (1) User stories for lightweight requirements; (2) Time-boxed development for collaborative design and prompt course correction; (3) Automated acceptance test driven development, with clinician-vetted specifications; and (4) Monitoring of clinician interactions after release, for rapid-cycle product adaptation and evolution. In the coming wave of innovation in healthcare apps ushered in by open APIs to EHRs, learning rapidly what new product features work well for clinicians and patients will become even more crucial.

A trustworthy system for secure access to patient centric sensitive information

Smart technological innovations in healthcare are continuously generating digitized medical information about each patient, leading to the creation of Patient Centric Big Medical Data (PCBMD). Rapid adoption of PCBMD in healthcare ushers at the cost of its security and privacy concerns. Current methods focus on identifying authorized users who can access PCBMD but they barely identify the insider attackers. Alternatively, these methods do not prevent information leak by authorized users. Working towards this direction, this paper proposes a Trust based Access Control (TAC) system which not only identifies authorized users for PCBMD but also defends Sensitive Personal Information (SPI) of a patient from insider attacks. The proposed method calculates the trust value of each user by considering various quantitative parameters. Based on the calculated trust values, access rights are granted to each user such that SPI can be accessed by only highly trustworthy users. To implement access rights securely, a privacy scheme is also proposed. The experimental results show that the proposed security system can be efficiently used to protect the SPI of patients.

End-users’ satisfaction with the quality of innovative healthcare technologies in Bahrain: A case study of hospital information systems

End-users’ satisfaction with the quality of innovative healthcare technologies in Bahrain: A case study of hospital information systems

Value of innovation in oncology: The position of European cancer patients on access to innovative treatments.

e18021 Background: The paper presents the position of the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), in partnership with Interel, on the value of innovation in oncology today, focusing on issues that would benefit most from the direct involvement of patients.The objective of the paper is to present key factors affecting access to innovation in oncology in Europe and to propose key recommendations on how to improve equity in access and to actively involve patients in decision-making. Methods: The document was produced under the supervision of the ECPC Board of Directors, and the contribution of the ECPC General Assembly, which was consulted in June 2016 during the Annual General Meeting.The paper is based also on a systemic literature review. Results: The paper analyses the main systems barriers to access to innovation, which affect all European cancer patients: low level fo health expenditure on cancer; high cost of innovative treatments; complex regulatory and reimbursement pathways; lack of enabling environments; limited patient involvement in decision making. The paper goes on identifying 40 key policy recommendations in 10 pivotal areas (see Table). Conclusions: Innovative healthcare technologies, strategies, and services offer the potential to improve the lives of many people living with cancer. Ensuring that effective innovations are accessible and affordable to all patients is a challenge facing all cancer stakeholders. The successful development and implementation of new cancer care modalities stems from putting the needs of patients at the centre of the innovation process. Patients are the ultimate beneficiaries and users of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care. They have unique knowledge, perspectives, and experiences that improves and encourages innovation in oncology. Optimal innovation can only be obtained by understand the diverse needs and preferences of cancer patients, and integrating patient-centred approaches into the regulatory and healthcare system. [Table: see text]

Creating a climate that catalyses healthcare innovation in the United Kingdom – learning lessons from international innovators

BackgroundThe United Kingdom (UK) lags behind other high-income countries in relation to technological innovation in healthcare. We sought to understand what national strategies can help to promote a climate for...

The impact of HTA and procurement practices on the selection and prices of medical devices

Technological innovation in healthcare yields better health outcomes but also drives healthcare expenditure, and governments are struggling to maintain an appropriate balance between patient access to modern care and the economic sustainability of healthcare systems. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and centralized procurement are increasingly used to govern the introduction and diffusion of new technologies in an effort to make access to innovation financially sustainable. However, little empirical evidence is available to determine how they affect the selection of new technologies and unit prices. This paper focuses on medical devices (MDs) and investigates the combined effect of various HTA governance models and procurement practices on the two steps of the MD purchasing process (i.e., selecting the product and setting the unit price). Our analyses are based on primary data collected through a national survey of Italian public hospitals. The Italian National Health Service is an ideal case study because it is highly decentralized and because regions have adopted different HTA governance models (i.e., regional, hospital-based, double-level or no HTA), often in combination with centralized regional procurement programs. Hence, the Italian case allows us to test the impact of different combinations of HTA models and procurement programs in the various regions. The results show that regional HTA increases the probability of purchasing the costliest devices, whereas hospital-based HTA functions more like a cost-containment unit. Centralized regional procurement does not significantly affect MD selection and is associated with a reduction in the MD unit price: on average, hospitals located in regions with centralized procurement pay 10.1% less for the same product. Hospitals located in regions with active regional HTA programs pay higher prices for the same device (+23.2% for inexpensive products), whereas hospitals that have developed internal HTA programs pay 8.3% on average more for the same product.

Technology Acceptance in Health Care: An Integrative Review of Predictive Factors and Intervention Programs

The acceptance and increasing utilization of technological innovations in health care are crucially beneficial for both health care professionals and patients during the diagnosis and treatment processes. The literature includes various intervention programs aiming to increase technology acceptance in this field. In this review, studies investigating the factors influencing the technology acceptance and recent interventions intending to enhance the technology usage in the field are covered. Generally, theory of planned behavior, technology acceptance model, diffusion of innovation theory and unified theory of technology acceptance cover the most distinguished concepts and constructs to understand attitudes towards technological innovations. Influencing factors may differ for health care professionals and patients. While perceived benefits of technological innovations may be the most distinctive factor for health care professionals, ease of use is of big importance for patients. Perceived ease of use is affected by personal norms and perceived control beliefs. Suspicions of confidentiality and privacy are strong influencing factors for refusing technology usage for patients. Considering all these factors are necessary while designing intervention programs to enhance technology acceptance in health care. In the conclusion, the paper discusses whether the intervention programs originate from previously covered theoretical concepts and constructs.

Family health strategy: a technological innovation in health

The importance of the Family Health Strategy in the health sector in Brazil, and the debate on technology and technological innovation have led to the development of a theoretical reflection aiming to characterize the Family Health Strategy as a non-material technological innovation of the health field. In order to construct the text, the philosophical and sociological approach was used, as was the conceptualization of technological innovation, found in international documents and in Brazilian legislation and publications regarding technological innovation in health care. These references were used in order to analyze what is prescribed for the Family Health Strategy in the National Primary Healthcare Policy, emphasizing the innovative aspects in relation to biomedicine, which made it possible to support that the Family Health Strategy consists of a non-material technological innovation in health care, of the incremental type. It is concluded that the Family Health Strategy is a non-material technological innovation in health care, due to the principles which it anchors, and is incremental, as it does not completely break with the traditional model in health care.

A Nurse Consultant's Prescription for Increasing Patient Satisfaction

Problem of Interest Healthcare systems are purchasing technology-based tools that improve the patient experience but are struggling to fit the new solutions into existing workflows and achieve staff adoption. The deployment of such tools requires a talented and skilled consultant who can lead them to success. Purpose The purpose of this article is to describe the personal approach of a nurse consultant’s process, and the challenges and successes of deploying innovative healthcare technology aimed at improving the patient experience. Practice Implication Hospital administrative leadership can gain insight into the process and development of incorporating technology allowing the patient experience to be improved through the story of an industry expert. Healthcare systems are purchasing technology-based tools that improve the patient experience but are struggling to fit the new solutions into existing workflows and achieve staff adoption. The deployment of such tools requires a talented and skilled consultant who can lead them to success. The purpose of this article is to describe the personal approach of a nurse consultant’s process, and the challenges and successes of deploying innovative healthcare technology aimed at improving the patient experience. Hospital administrative leadership can gain insight into the process and development of incorporating technology allowing the patient experience to be improved through the story of an industry expert.