The evaluation of a lean healthcare concept to improve the implementation of Digital Health innovations in secondary health care: a qualitative study within a Dutch hospital setting

Abstract Background Digital health innovations are considered a promising avenue in transforming the resourcing, organization and delivery of healthcare services and are often nurtured in organization based innovation labs. One of their biggest challenges is developing effective processes for sifting through ideas. To improve their existing work process, the Health Innovation Lab of the Maastricht University Medical Center + in The Netherlands took a lean approach. “Speed dating” was added to their innovation loop to optimize the contact between innovation owners and relevant experts. The aim of this research was to gain insight into the experiences and suggestions for improvement of this speed dating concept among the involved stakeholders. Methods A qualitative study was performed based on a focus group and semi-structured interviews. 36 stakeholders were selected by purposive sampling and approached to participate in this study. Data was collected from 11 respondents. The transcripts of the focus group and interviews were coded according to the open and axial coding phases of the methods of Grounded Theory. Results Five major themes emerged during the thematic analysis of the transcriptions: (1) Preparation before the Sign in, (2) Mapping out the process between Sign in and Sign out, (3) Defining the roles and deliverables of experts, (4) Guiding the idea owner, and (5) Supporting capacity of resources. Conclusions Since communication and collaboration to access external expertise and resources is so crucial to the success of the innovation lab’s process, it is perhaps not surprising that the most important improvements suggested by our results are associated with improving cooperation. We recommend large organizations, such as a secondary healthcare center, to examine the possibilities to introduce a similar process as the speed dating concept. Our results confirm the advantages of such an approach, but also highlight the necessity of continuous improvement. These improvements should focus on the coordination of joint efforts between stakeholders and the securing of resources. Therefore, we recommend focusing on clarifying the roles and deliverables of the experts, assisting the idea owner with project management and adding a sponsor who would be able to acquire specific resources.