By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Future of Innovation in Health Care
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Innovations > The Future of Innovation in Health Care
BusinessMedical InnovationsNewsPublic Health

The Future of Innovation in Health Care

jamierauscher
jamierauscher
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Is innovation a necessity or a luxury that our financially strained health care system can no longer afford? 

Is innovation a necessity or a luxury that our financially strained health care system can no longer afford? 

In February 2012, panelists representing a range of organizations debated the role of innovation at the 9th Annual Health Care Conference, hosted by the Healthcare Club of the Harvard Business School.  The consensus among panelists was that innovation will remain an essential element of our health care system but only in the context of the economic and clinical value it brings to patient care.  Key insights are summarized here.
 
Innovating in the context of rising costs
 
Keynote presentation by Karen Ignagni, CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans
  1. Why costs matter.  Ignagni quoted a December 2011 report by McKinsey which found, adjusting for inflation and population growth, that health spending has grown 5 times faster than the gross domestic product since 1960.  Health care costs, she continued, are the primary driver of our national debt.  She questioned how we sustain this growth yet meet the needs of patients.
  2. Shift the conversation to value.  Ignagni suggested we must evaluate whether technological innovation is being used appropriately.  She cited a 2006 study in Health Affairs which considered how to integrate value and technology in making treatment decisions.
  3. Re-engineer payment models.    If prospective payment models like accountable care organizations are to succeed, she noted that hospitals, health plans and physicians must collaborate in goal setting and share responsibility for managing costs.
  4. Re-orient benefit plans.  Ignagni acknowledged that benefit plans need to focus more on prevention and improving care coordination, especially for patients with co-morbidities.

Enabling the development of new treatment paradigms

Discussion moderated by Stan Lapidus, SynapDx with panelists Rick Schatzberg, Generation Health; Wei-Lio Shao, Eli Lilly; Katie Szyman, Medtronic
  1. Balance regulatory rigor with innovation.  While regulation is important to ensure patient safety it can also slow innovation. Szyman noted that the premarket approval process for Medtronic has increased from 3 to 7 years and costs have increased from $10-20 million to $200 million.
  2. Demonstrate economic value earlier.  In response to concerns about the cost of new treatments, Shao noted that there has been a movement to generate health outcomes and economic data in parallel with the clinical development process. 
  3. Social media can influence regulatory approval.  Szyman recounted the impact of patients and health care organizations on the approval of Medtronic’s Veo insulin pump.  The Veo pump, also known as an artificial pancreas, represents an improvement in management of Type1 diabetics because it automatically adjusts insulin levels, helping them avoid hypoglycemia.  Despite its use in 70,000 patients worldwide, the FDA had been slow to issue guidance on the clinical approval process for the artificial pancreas.   In response, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation gathered 100,000 signatures online, motivating the FDA to issue draft guidance in December 2011.
Bringing consumer centricity to healthcare
 
Discussion moderated by Bob Higgins, Highland Capital Partners with panelists Amba rBhattacharyya, Bessemer Venture Partners; Jordan Goldberg, stickK; Michael Laskoff, AbilTo
  1. Wellness is a behavior problem, not an information problem.  Panelists noted that we need to use technology in a way that gives individuals the feedback they need to accomplish behavioral change. Novel new products such as stickK or AbilTo help people remain engaged and compliant.
  2. Employers are target customers for wellness programs.  Both StickK and AbilTo have pivoted their strategies to focus on businesses versus individuals.  However Goldberg and Laskoff cautioned that those marketing wellness programs to businesses need to demonstrate why changing behavior is important and how their programs will save money. For example, since post cardiac-event patients may be vulnerable to experiencing mental health issues that can affect their recovery, AbilTo contracted with Aetna to proactively reach out to plan members who had suffered these events.
Redefining the role of venture capital
 
Discussion moderated by Terry McGuire, Polaris Ventures with panelists Alexis Borisy,Third Rock Ventures; Chip Clark, Genocea BioSciences; David Schenkein, Agios.
  1. Consider unconventional funding models.  The panel noted that less venture capital is being invested in early stage life science companies because returns have been challenging.  As a result, firms like Genocea are turning to nontraditional sources of funding such as the Gates Foundation.  Schenkein observed that another alternative source of funding is to consider a corporate partnership early in the development process; however he acknowledged that this strategy can mean a loss of management control.    
  2. Opportunities remain.  According to Borisy the contraction in venture capital has focused venture investment on transformative ideas versus lower risk, less novel ones. 
  3. Customers are not looking for marginal changes. As public payers assume greater financial responsibility, Borisy noted that it’s incumbent on firms to create products that produce significant improvements in efficacy or cost effectiveness. 

The future is affordable innovation

More Read

5 Excellent Qualities Of A Good Healthcare Leader
HINZ: Health IT in New Zealand
Physically and Socially Active Adults Less Chance of Being Disabled in Elder Years
Speaking from the Heart with Patient Empowerment Network
Doctors 2.0 – Second Post

Despite the pressures to keep costs in check, panelists were generally positive about the role of innovation in health care, concurring that advances in technology will help firms accelerate product development, demonstrate value and improve decision making by health care providers and patients.

TAGGED:innovation
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Epidemiological Health Benefits
Personal and Epidemiological Health Benefits of Blood Pressure Management
Health
October 13, 2025
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries: What Families Need to Know
Policy & Law
October 10, 2025
Remote Monitoring touchpoints
Remote Monitoring Touchpoints Patients Will Actually Follow
Technology
October 9, 2025
dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025

You Might also Like

In the Battle of Doctor’s Orders Versus Patient Power, the Patient is Winning

March 5, 2012

Seniors and Shingles: Myth vs Fact

January 22, 2013
News

Psychiatry Centre Discuss What is rTMS And How Does it Work

February 5, 2024
morning after pill effectiveness
Policy & LawPublic Health

Morning-After Pill Doesn’t Prevent Pregnancies for Women Over 176 Lbs.

December 1, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?