A Pandemic Application of Creative Destruction in Healthcare

The story of COVID-19 at Montefiore Health System is not really a story about a virus or a pandemic. It is a story about innovation-accelerating innovation. Indeed, the COVID-19 crisis has spurred innovation at healthcare organizations across the country, helping them respond to unprecedented times. The pandemic radically disrupted the entire healthcare sector as demand and supply shocks simultaneously affected established processes and supply chains. Similarly, patients' demands for healthcare drastically changed. Nothing could be taken for granted-not even the health of employees or their ability to come to provide care. In this new reality, digital innovation is fundamental for healthcare organizations as they make their transition into recovery. The Montefiore experience exemplifies how the COVID-19 pandemic can serve as the catalyst for digital innovation.