Health Systems Innovation at Academic Health Centers

Abstract

Challenged by demands to reduce costs and improve service delivery, the U.S. health care system requires transformational change. Health systems innovation is defined broadly as novel ideas, products, services, and processes-including new ways to promote healthy behaviors and better integrate health services with public health and other social services-which achieve better health outcomes and/or patient experience at equal or lower cost. Academic health centers (AHCs) have an opportunity to focus their considerable influence and expertise on health systems innovation to create new approaches to service delivery and to nurture leaders of transformation. AHCs have traditionally used their promotions criteria to signal their values; creating a health systems innovator promotion track could be a critical step towards creating opportunities for innovators in academic medicine. In this Perspective, the authors review publicly available promotions materials at top-ranked medical schools and find that while criteria for advancement increasingly recognize systems innovation, there is a lack of specificity on metrics beyond the traditional yardstick of peer-reviewed publications. In addition to new promotions pathways and alternative evidence for the impact of scholarship, other approaches to fostering health systems innovation at AHCs include more robust funding for career development in health systems innovation, new curricula to enable trainees to develop skills in health systems innovation, and new ways for innovators to disseminate their work. AHCs that foster health systems innovation could meet a critical need to contribute both to the sustainability of our health care system and to AHCs' continued leadership role within it.

The Coming Primary Care Revolution

“…This change will require highly effective leadership, management, advocacy, and continuous process improvement from the front lines of care to the most senior levels of management and policymaking 56. As these skills and competencies have not been emphasized in the education of healthcare professionals, this transformation must be supported by considerable evolution in workforce training,57 , 58 and it is essential that trainees receive clinical training in organizations that model the future of high-value care delivery 58. Change is never easy, and dramatic change to something as personal as healthcare is likely to be accompanied by considerable distress for all involved, particularly for those whose livelihood is at stake.…”

The Community Oncology and Academic Medical Center Alliance in the Age of Precision Medicine: Cancer Genetics and Genomics Considerations

“…The alliance makes possible specific benefits for the CHC. This alliance permits the CHC more direct access to AHC-generated experimental therapeutics, clinical trials, translational research, medical devices and protocols [ 37 ]. Further, evidence suggests that affiliation with an AHC often enhances the prestige and attractiveness of the CHC, increases patient and clinical staff retention, fosters more opportunity for continuing professional development, frequently results in greater professional satisfaction and has the potential to enhance the quality and efficacy of the CHC [ 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Building digital innovation capacity at a large academic medical center

“…While AMCs are well positioned to have sustained impact on the development of new technologies and digital innovation, the complexities of an AMC, such as siloed research and operational teams and bureaucratic approval processes, pose significant challenges. 2 Organizational structure, cross-disciplinary collaboration and creative and agile problem solving are essential for digital innovation; siloed expertise and processes stunt and slow capacity for this type of work. 2,3…”

“…2 Organizational structure, cross-disciplinary collaboration and creative and agile problem solving are essential for digital innovation; siloed expertise and processes stunt and slow capacity for this type of work. 2,3…”