Innovative Lead-users within stroke treatment

Purpose and goal

The purpose of the project was too understand user innovation and learn to develop healthcare by involving lead-users. The project has involved users in development of concrete improvement actions concerning rehabilitation and communication. The project has helped to develop practice around ´lead user´ research by a sharp development project within stroke care. The project have lifted the County Councils approach to getting patients active in the development of care and demonstrated that leaduser´s exists and can implement solutions to become healthier.

Results and expected effects

We have been able to identify leadusers that have achieved unique solutions and results for stroke rehabilitation. Lead user analysis of our ´Innovationsluss´ has developed assessment strategies for innovation projects, providing improved support. Stroke Project, showed that users can contribute to process development, where we before has been more focused product ideas. Overall, the project has the effect that the process for a new approach to innovation based on user resource has been strengthened and is an important contribution in the test bed project, Experio Lab.

Approach and implementation

Early in the project, it was clear that we needed to implement a two-stage process. For many it was new to methodically engage users in innovation. We therefore carried out a first study using the service design methodology in order to increase the level of maturity in the work of users in general. With this as a basis we then identified a number of lead-users. A strategic choice was to choose the employment of design skills at LiV and SP respectively, instead of using consulting services, to better build our inhouse skills. Two designers remains imployed after the project, one at LiV, one at SP.