Title: Healthcare organisations innovation management systems: implications for hospitals, primary care providers and community health practitioners

Authors: Vanessa Ratten

Addresses: School of Management, La Trobe Business School, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora 3086, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract: Healthcare organisations are adopting innovation and entrepreneurial management strategies as a way to compete and succeed in the global marketplace. Increasing numbers of healthcare providers are utilising innovative technologies and services that have a direct impact upon patient's physical and mental health. In addition, individuals, businesses and governments in the healthcare industry are becoming more entrepreneurial in the way they access and give services to patients as a mechanism to improve success rates and be more financially savvy. This paper will discuss the role of innovation and entrepreneurship for healthcare organisations as a way of adapting to change. The importance of creativity in healthcare organisations by placing importance on user-innovation and entrepreneurial ideas is examined in the literature review. Healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship are then discussed as a mode to increase the performance of management strategies. Managerial implications for healthcare organisations are stated that highlight the evolution of hospitals, primary care providers and community practitioners in utilising innovative and entrepreneurial techniques. Suggestions for future research are included, which stress the importance of continual innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare organisations.

Keywords: healthcare innovation; healthcare organisations; health management; hospitals; social entrepreneurship; social innovation; primary care providers; innovation management; community health; medical practitioners; creativity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSEI.2015.069354

International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2015 Vol.3 No.4, pp.313 - 322

Received: 15 Dec 2014
Accepted: 02 Jan 2015
Published online: 13 May 2015 *

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