Quantifying innovation in surgery

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the applicability of patents and publications as metrics of surgical technology and innovation; evaluate the historical relationship between patents and publications; develop a methodology that can be used to determine the rate of innovation growth in any given health care technology. Background: The study of health care innovation represents an emerging academic field, yet it is limited by a lack of valid scientific methods for quantitative analysis. This article explores and cross-validates 2 innovation metrics using surgical technology as an exemplar. Methods: Electronic patenting databases and the MEDLINE database were searched between 1980 and 2010 for “surgeon” OR “surgical” OR “surgery.” Resulting patent codes were grouped into technology clusters. Growth curves were plotted for these technology clusters to establish the rate and characteristics of growth. Results: The initial search retrieved 52,046 patents and 1,801,075 publications. The top performing technology cluster of the last 30 years was minimally invasive surgery. Robotic surgery, surgical staplers, and image guidance were the most emergent technology clusters. When examining the growth curves for these clusters they were found to follow an S-shaped pattern of growth, with the emergent technologies lying on the exponential phases of their respective growth curves. In addition, publication and patent counts were closely correlated in areas of technology expansion. Conclusions: This article demonstrates the utility of publically available patent and publication data to quantify innovations within surgical technology and proposes a novel methodology for assessing and forecasting areas of technological innovation

Public service, public management and the police

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:94/13098 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Making the connections Citizens mapping the big picture

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:6969.710(3) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Global Diffusion of Healthcare Innovation: Making the Connections. Report for the World Innovation Summit for Health

04 GDHI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This research is part of the ongoing study of GDHI. The diffusion or spread of innova- tions over time through a specific population or social system is important to unlock the potential benefits of an innovation. There has been much study of how to encour- age the uptake of innovations so that they become part of everyday practice and ben- efit many, rather than a few. In this research, we explore this from the demand side. We explore how FHWs and leaders find solutions to their everyday challenges, and which sources are the most influential. We consider how these groups are sourcing solutions to their problems in six countries and how healthcare organizations can source innovations more effectively to meet the needs of FHWs and leaders. The study also explores the role that ‘curator organizations’ – a specialized set of organ- izations that source innovations from around the world – are playing in helping to diffuse innovations into clinical practice. We consider what role these organizations could play in future to ensure that they are relevant to frontline needs. The study builds on previous findings from 2013 GDHI research that showed how cer- tain system characteristics, enablers and frontline behaviors are critical to diffusion. 1 It follows on from the 2015 GDHI study that assessed the importance and prevalence of these elements in eight case studies of rapid, successfully scaled innovations. 2 This year, our study focuses on how FHWs and organization leaders source innova- tion in the first place. Our research draws on quantitative surveys of more than 1,350 FHWs in major urban centers of six countries (England, the United States (US), Qatar, Brazil, India and Tanzania). We conducted more than 90 personal interviews with healthcare leaders in these locations and in-depth conversations with the managers of 10 curator organizations

How is the “Area” Constructed? : From the Analysis of Czech-Polish Border “Beskidenland”

Aim The current article provides a detailed account of a behavioral simulation called Lateral Play. Lateral Play aimed to enhance collaborations and optimize shared decision-making across organizations within a newly formed partnership. The current article aims to enhance appreciation of the behavioral simulation methodology and encourage its use. Subjects and Methods Health service leaders from different organizations within a newly formed partnership gathered in the simulated community and took up roles similar to their real-life positions. The simulation presented participants with problems and opportunities similar to those that they would experience in real life, such as the need to consolidate services and create new care pathways. To evaluate Lateral Play’s effectiveness, self-reported and observational data were collected. These data include information about participants’ reactions, learning and behavior, and the newly formed partnership’s organizational results. Results Lateral Play allowed health leaders to better understand how they could enhance collaborations and optimize shared decision-making across their newly formed partnership. The data suggest that simulations can promote effective collaborations. Conclusions Use of behavioral simulations should be encouraged to promote policy awareness and understanding, refine implementation strategies and improve outcomes in newly formed partnerships

The Science And Art Of Delivery: Accelerating The Diffusion Of Health Care Innovation

There is a widely acknowledged time lag in health care between an invention or innovation and its widespread use across a health system. Much is known about the factors that can aid the uptake of innovations within discrete organizations. Less is known about what needs to be done to enable innovations to transform large systems of health care. This article describes the results of in-depth case studies aimed at assessing the role of key agents and agencies that facilitate the rapid adoption of innovations. The case studies—from Argentina, England, Nepal, Singapore, Sweden, the United States, and Zambia—represent widely varying health systems and economies. The implications of the findings for policy makers are discussed in terms of key factors within a phased approach for creating a climate for change, engaging and enabling the whole organization, and implementing and sustaining change. Purposeful and directed change management is needed to drive system transformation