Retract, retreat, refuel, rethink and then ‘step on it’, exponentially

Meanwhile healthcare like many other sectors acts as a human body, reacting profoundly quick when something from outside (think innovation) enters its immune-system by sending of killer-viruses. In this case program-boards, project initiation documents and privacy and security processes to kill even the slightest pilot; and let’s not forget the “there is no money” groups. So, don’t we need security or some kind of steering and a bit of money then? Of course we do! But while some think the system is there for them, they have forgotten it is the other way around because they are there to serve the system, in our case the most important part of it : the patient.

Sorry if all of this sounds a bit sarcastic, but i do hope to make that functional because this is where innovation gets nasty. While the gap widens between what is possible, what is valid and what can go mainstream we tend to project the latter to innovation. With that blocking, slowing, preventing even real innovation and solutions in what is badly needed for those who are in need of it and who actually pay our bills and salaries (the patient, for those who again have forgotten). Meanwhile the burning platform is already in the house but completely neglected, since we are too busy with the ‘sh#t of yesterday’. There is a big animal in the room and we don’t want to see it, because we’re too busy being busy with ourselves and the system.
The majority of what we wanted to achieve back in 2010 by setting stage for REshape Center is more or less in place through small(er) projects to test our ideas in our own eco system. As we speak there is the ongoing process to build an ‘innovation-lab” that takes the prototyped solutions made out of ducktape, paper and paperclips and transforms them into a product that also works on Saturday-nights, is secure, and has a model to pay for it. We also spreaded the word, not keeping things to ourselves (to create PhD’s) but by sharing through creating awareness with lectures, conferences and debates. One of our latest endeavours is spreading the innovation virus i.e. through the Health Innovation School we co-created with the Dutch Ministry of health.

So, are we ready then, am I ready then, is this ‘it’? Nope. But now time needs to do its mojo as ‘we can not make grass grow by pulling it’. Digital health is becoming a reality, more and more tangible and research slowly kicks in. It’s not about “an app” or a portal, that is digitalisation while digital transformation affects your whole model of your service, often by services started by others. Since meanwhile the world has changed and is changing at an ever growing speed in every corner of our society all things have become moving parts. So I really think we need to Re-think our REshape Center’s model again, we have to rethink the whole health are model actually since we will face our own copernican moment soon. The ongoing digital transformation in essence has less to do with technical solutions than with change of behaviour and leadership.

For 7 years i’ve been pushing the needle, creating awareness, scouting for opportunities, working formal and informal networks and having the pleasure of experiencing the joy and the impact that can be created, is very energising and very addictive as well. The dampening of energy by ‘structure’, ‘process’ and ‘doing things right’ instead of ‘doing the right things’ is on the other hand very real. It even can force your body and mind into a state of slowly but surely decomposition and become de-energized, without noticing it. Innovation is hard work, it is powerlifting, challenging both formal and informal networks in an organisation while sometimes discussing the christmas-menu with the turkey. All-though having an stellar team, it also (sometimes) can feel very lonely.
This happened to me! When a next episode of kidneystones combined with Shingles, after-pain cumulating -including additional stressfactors- quickly making me feel like 20 years older in a matter of weeks. Starting to become grumpy, sleepy and not able to focus. Being honest; now listening to my peers, family and friends many have seen this coming, not me. It took a while till the inevitable occurred and i had to choose without a choice.

So here i am: fixing my health first, RE-thinking the model thereafter will be my agenda for the coming months. Creating ‘space’ by a ‘functional medical sabbatical’, thus pulling back from every day operations, should do the trick , i hope. My aim is to re-energized again, then setting the stage for the next level digital transformation strategy as the current pace, focus and paradigm isn’t enough anymore. We have to rethink and adapt to the current state of the ‘outside world’ by making sure we can make yourselves obsolete, with that taking on a whole different mindset. If not; someone else will! Healthcare-demand will double and budgets probably will not rise if not the opposite. Being aware of the current tornado of developments all around us i’m convinced the current health(care) model is under ‘siege’ and that might even be the best thing that can happen to actually save healthcare. Once becoming aware of this one cannot make this unseen. So we have to retract, retreat, refuel and then ‘step on it’, exponentially!