The health care sector in the United States is placing a high priority on fostering a culture of innovation and safety. This emphasis is geared towards enhancing communication and teamwork, with the ultimate goal of providing safe, high-quality care to patients and protecting the health care workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a new era of innovation and safety in health care, as teams quickly adapted to the challenges and developed new processes, tools, and technologies to better serve patients and communities.
The rapid pace of health care innovation is evident through advancements in research that have led to cutting-edge treatments such as cancer therapies and transplantation techniques. Digital technologies are also being utilized to connect patients and providers for medication monitoring, vital sign management, chronic condition management through data analytics, supporting clinical decision making and preventative care. Artificial intelligence is also gaining traction as a potential tool for application in health care.
The American Hospital Association’s “Telling the Hospital Story” initiative showcases examples of innovation from hospitals and health systems. One such example is the use of technology at Dartmouth Health to improve patient care in their new patient pavilion through the implementation of robots for medication delivery. The initiative encourages others to share their experiences in order to facilitate learning from each other’s innovations.
Despite the excitement surrounding health care innovation, it’s important for organizations to remember that their ultimate goal is delivering safe, high-quality patient-centered care while improving outcomes for individuals and communities, as well as supporting the health care workforce. By prioritizing innovation and safety, they can continue to advance their capabilities in delivering top-notch care to those who need it most.
