21st Century innovators. Interview by Joe Flower

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Innovation
• Strategic Planning in Healthcare

Background:

• The Healthcare Forum (THF) and 3M established the 21st Century Innovator Awards to identify leading healthcare organizations.
• The awards sought models demonstrating future readiness through system rebuilding, encompassing vision, integrated planning, and measurable community benefit.
• Over 40 diverse organizations responded, highlighting a broad range of innovative practices in American healthcare.

Discussion:

• Two distinct award recipients were selected: Memorial Hospital and Health System (large, urban, regional, national) and Yavapai Regional Medical Center (small, rural, suburban).
• Memorial Hospital's CEO, Phil Newbold, champions a strategic concept of "Quality Through People" for organizational revisioning.
• Yavapai Regional Medical Center's CEO, Pat Linton, focuses on creating a "Total Healing Environment."

Key Insights:

• Successful healthcare innovation requires a clear organizational vision for the future.
• Integrated planning processes are crucial for aligning strategy with future goals.
• Demonstrable, measurable benefits to the served communities are a hallmark of leading organizations.

Outlook:

• These award-winning organizations serve as potential models for healthcare transformation in the 1990s and beyond.
• The "Quality Through People" and "Total Healing Environment" strategies offer insights into progressive healthcare delivery.
• Continued spotlighting of innovative healthcare practices is essential for industry advancement.