Exchange for Innovation in Health Care

Purpose and goal

The partnering organisations RISE and VGR wish to offer innovation services to health care practitioners and external parties that wish to collaborate with the health care providers in the region. The main objectives were reached: 1)Improved collaboration between the partners by creating new working relationships and networks. 2)Improved knowledge sharing exemplified by improved understanding of health care among RISE staff and design methods among Health Care staff 3) Testing and implementation of working methods for identifying and defining needs in health care.

Expected results and effects

The project leader has improved his general understanding of how health care is organized in Sweden and gained insights into the roles of the health care professions and the main challenges facing health care. The project leader can apply innovation and design methods to describe problems and challenges in health care. A proposal was prepared and funding was granted for a development project involving a clinic in “Närsjukvårdsteamet” in Lidköping. The project has created opportunities for further collaboration between the partners.

Planned approach and implementation

The project comprised observation studies, interviews and workshops to gather input from health care providers. The initial goal was to develop hypotheses for improved services. The research hypothesis was then translated activities with clinics. 5 clinics were visited, which resulted in a proposal for innovation activities with a clinic (Närsjukvårdsteamet) in Lidköping. Recommendations for future projects is to more proactively work with scheduling to align with the activities of the health care staff and to effectively communicate the scope of innovation activities.