Innovation in healthcare: a concept analysis

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Innovation Studies

Background:

• Innovation is a pervasive but often vaguely defined concept in healthcare.
• A clear, actionable definition of healthcare innovation is needed for research and practice.
• Existing literature often lacks a substantive exploration of innovation's processual nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically define healthcare innovation as a process.
• To explore the necessary factors for innovation, particularly leadership.
• To establish clearer definitions for future healthcare innovation literature and research.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of innovation.
• Literature review on leadership and change in healthcare.
• Exploration of innovation's antecedents and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Innovation in healthcare is presented as a leadership-driven process.
• Key factors preceding and following innovation are identified.
• A framework for understanding healthcare innovation is proposed.

Conclusions:

• Defining healthcare innovation as a process, emphasizing leadership, is crucial.
• This work provides a foundation for more substantive research on healthcare innovation.
• Critical thinking about innovation's meaning is encouraged for advancing the field.