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Dr Matthew Harris

This course reflects on global health challenges and the role of innovative solutions in addressing them. By engaging in this course, you will be able to describe the principles and key types of innovation in order to characterise the fundamental features of new models of care and technologies.

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This course reflects on global health challenges and the role of innovative solutions in addressing them. By engaging in this course, you will be able to describe the principles and key types of innovation in order to characterise the fundamental features of new models of care and technologies.

This course will review the basic features and principles of healthcare innovation. You'll be examining innovations developed to address global health challenges, ranging from simple low-cost technologies readily deployed in resource constrained settings to more complex combinations of organizational, business model and technology innovations. Throughout this course, you'll also consider how adoption and diffusion is influenced by social, economic and political factors and explore what is required to get an innovation in to practice, effectively, at scale.

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Syllabus

INNOVATION VS. INVENTION
You will learn the difference between innovation and invention and the steps involved in the process of innovation. You'll also be provided with an overview of the challenges in healthcare innovation, the difference between technology for health and health technology, and the ways an innovation can be categorised.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops an understanding of innovation in the healthcare space, which is highly relevant to the field
Teaches principles of innovation, which are core skills for solving global health challenges
Contains a mix of readings, videos, and discussions, which can be more engaging than a purely text-based course
Instructor Dr Matthew Harris has experience in this field

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Reviews summary

Healthcare innovation principles and practice

According to students, this course offers a strong theoretical foundation in healthcare innovation, praised for its comprehensive coverage of principles, types like disruptive, frugal, and reverse innovation, and diffusion frameworks. Learners consistently highlight the highly knowledgeable instructors from Imperial College London and the overall high quality of lectures. While providing an excellent conceptual understanding, a recurring sentiment suggests it is more academic than practical, with several wishing for more hands-on exercises, detailed case studies, or actionable strategies for real-world application and commercialization. It's an ideal overview for professionals seeking foundational knowledge rather than deep implementation guidance.
Serves as an excellent starting point for understanding healthcare innovation.
"It's a good starting point, but don't expect to become an innovation expert just from this."
"It lays an excellent groundwork, but a bit more depth... would be beneficial for practical application."
"As a medical professional, this course truly opened my eyes... It provided a much-needed framework."
Delivered by highly knowledgeable academics from Imperial College London.
"The instructors are clearly experts in their fields."
"The instructors from Imperial College London were highly knowledgeable..."
"Comprehensive, well-structured, and delivered by top-notch academics."
Covers diverse innovation types and diffusion frameworks effectively.
"I particularly appreciated the modules on disruptive innovation and diffusion frameworks."
"The distinction between invention and innovation was very clear."
"The breadth of topics covered, from frugal innovation to Rogers' diffusion curve, was impressive."
"I found the segments on frugal and reverse innovation particularly interesting."
Provides excellent conceptual understanding and frameworks.
"This course provided a fantastic theoretical foundation for healthcare innovation."
"It gave me a strong conceptual understanding, perfect for someone like me looking to transition into health tech."
"The breadth of topics covered... was impressive. It's a great overview for anyone interested in the healthcare innovation space."
More theoretical than practical, needs more hands-on activities.
"I wish there were more hands-on exercises or case studies to apply the frameworks directly."
"I found it a bit too academic and less focused on practical implementation for real-world scenarios."
"While the theoretical concepts are there, I felt like the course lacked real-world applicability."
"More theoretical than practical. If you're looking for a deep dive into how to *do* healthcare innovation, this might not be enough."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in A Guide to Healthcare Innovation: Principles and Practice with these activities:
Volunteer at a healthcare organization that is focused on innovation
This activity will allow you to gain hands-on experience with healthcare innovations.
Show steps
  • Find a healthcare organization that is focused on innovation.
  • Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
  • Volunteer at the organization on a regular basis.
Compile a list of healthcare innovation resources
This activity will help you to stay up-to-date on the latest healthcare innovations.
Show steps
  • Create a list of healthcare innovation resources.
  • Share your list with others.
Read "The Innovator's Dilemma" by Clayton M. Christensen
This book will provide you with a framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities in healthcare innovation.
Show steps
  • Read the book in its entirety.
  • Take notes on key concepts and ideas.
  • Write a brief summary of the book.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Follow a tutorial on how to use a healthcare innovation software program
This activity will help you to develop the technical skills needed to implement healthcare innovations.
Browse courses on Innovation
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on how to use the software program.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
  • Practice using the software program on your own.
Discuss healthcare innovations with your classmates
This activity will allow you to share your knowledge and learn from others.
Show steps
  • Find a study partner or group.
  • Discuss healthcare innovations with your partner or group.
  • Share your insights and experiences.
Practice writing business plans for healthcare innovations
This activity will help you to develop the skills needed to commercialize healthcare innovations.
Show steps
  • Find a business plan template.
  • Write a business plan for a healthcare innovation.
  • Review your business plan with a mentor or advisor.
Design a marketing plan for a new healthcare innovation
This activity will allow you to apply the principles of healthcare innovation to a real-world scenario.
Show steps
  • Identify the target market for the innovation.
  • Develop a value proposition for the innovation.
  • Create a marketing strategy for the innovation.
  • Write a marketing plan for the innovation.
Contribute to an open-source healthcare innovation project
This activity will allow you to make a direct contribution to the healthcare innovation community.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source healthcare innovation project.
  • Make a contribution to the project.
  • Share your experience with others.

Career center

Learners who complete A Guide to Healthcare Innovation: Principles and Practice will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Public Health Analyst
Public Health Analysts create programs to improve the health of a community. Some programs might focus on promoting health and preventing disease. Other programs might focus on helping people manage chronic diseases or recover from injuries. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, public health analysts can learn new approaches to improving the health of people in their communities.
Health Educator
Health Educators teach people about how to stay healthy and prevent disease. They may work in schools, community centers, or hospitals. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, health educators can learn new ways to teach people about health. They can also learn about new technologies that can help people stay healthy.
Healthcare Consultant
Healthcare Consultants help organizations improve their healthcare delivery systems. They may work with hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare organizations. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, healthcare consultants can learn about new approaches to improving the quality of healthcare. They can also learn about new technologies that can help organizations deliver care more efficiently.
Health Policy Analyst
Health Policy Analysts develop and analyze policies that affect the health of the population. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or research institutions. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, health policy analysts can learn about new approaches to improving the health of the population. They can also learn about new technologies that can help improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare.
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare Administrators manage the day-to-day operations of healthcare organizations. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare organizations. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, healthcare administrators can learn about new approaches to improving the efficiency of healthcare organizations. They can also learn about new technologies that can help organizations deliver care more efficiently.
Medical Writer
Medical Writers create written materials about health and medicine. They may write for medical journals, websites, or other publications. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, medical writers can learn about new approaches to communicating about health and medicine. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them create more effective written materials.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists dispense medications and provide information about how to use them. They may work in pharmacies, hospitals, or other healthcare settings. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, pharmacists can learn about new approaches to delivering medications and providing information about their use. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them provide better care to their patients.
Nurse
Nurses provide care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, nurses can learn about new approaches to providing care. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them provide better care to their patients.
Physician
Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, physicians can learn about new approaches to diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them provide better care to their patients.
Health Information Manager
Health Information Managers oversee the collection, storage, and use of health information. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare organizations. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, health information managers can learn about new approaches to managing health information. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them improve the quality and efficiency of their work.
Medical Technologist
Medical Technologists perform laboratory tests and analyze the results. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, medical technologists can learn about new approaches to performing laboratory tests and analyzing the results. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them provide better care to their patients.
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapists help people regain or improve their ability to perform everyday activities. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, occupational therapists can learn about new approaches to helping people regain or improve their ability to perform everyday activities. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them provide better care to their patients.
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapists help people regain or improve their ability to move. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, physical therapists can learn about new approaches to helping people regain or improve their ability to move. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them provide better care to their patients.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Pathologists help people improve their communication skills. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, speech-language pathologists can learn about new approaches to helping people improve their communication skills. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them provide better care to their patients.
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical Engineers design and develop medical devices and equipment. They may work for medical device companies, hospitals, or other healthcare organizations. By taking a course in healthcare innovation, biomedical engineers can learn about new approaches to designing and developing medical devices and equipment. They can also learn about new technologies that can help them create more effective medical devices and equipment.

Featured in The Course Notes

This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features A Guide to Healthcare Innovation: Principles and Practice :

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in A Guide to Healthcare Innovation: Principles and Practice .
Would provide additional depth to the course by taking a systems approach to healthcare innovation.
Would provide additional depth to the course by providing guidance for entrepreneurs on how to use continuous innovation to create successful healthcare businesses.
Would provide additional breadth to the course by exploring the skills that are necessary for successful healthcare innovators.

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