beyond the Clinic Walls: How Digital health Can Learn From Other Industries
For three years running, I’ve immersed myself in the vibrant energy of SXSW – first in Austin, and recently in Sydney. This convergence of business, technology, and creative minds isn’t just about spotting the next big thing; it’s about recognizing patterns, and crucially, identifying how solutions forged in one sector can revolutionize another. As someone deeply invested in the future of digital health, these experiences consistently highlight a critical truth: we don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
Healthcare frequently enough operates within a self-imposed silo, believing its complexities – the stringent regulations, the high stakes – render it uniquely challenging. But strip away the clinical jargon, and the core hurdles of safety, trust, engagement, and scalability are global. The answer isn’t necessarily more innovation, but smarter adaptation.
The Rigor of Aviation: Building a Culture of Safety
Consider aviation. The consequences of error are as dire in an operating room as they are in the cockpit. Yet,the aviation industry has long embraced “systems thinking” – a proactive approach to safety built on meticulous checklists,extensive “black box” data recording,and a culture of open reporting for near-miss incidents.These aren’t punitive measures; they’re learning opportunities. Digital health lags substantially in this area. We need a similar level of rigor applied to usability testing, robust error reporting mechanisms, and, crucially, simulation-based training for both clinicians and patients.
The Power of Play: Lessons in Engagement from Gaming
The world of gaming, often perceived as the antithesis of healthcare, offers surprisingly potent lessons in sustained engagement.Triumphant games don’t rely on accidental player retention; engagement is meticulously designed. Adaptive difficulty curves prevent frustration, while compelling storytelling fosters emotional connection. Social elements – leaderboards, guilds, collaborative quests - build community and accountability. These aren’t frivolous additions; they’re proven methods for motivating individuals through challenging, repetitive tasks. Digital health frequently struggles with adherence; gaming demonstrates how to transform complex behaviors into rewarding experiences.
Trust and Transparency: The Financial Sector as a Model
We routinely entrust banks with our most sensitive financial data, not out of affection, but because of a perceived level of security, transparency, and convenience. The rise of open banking exemplifies the power of interoperability standards, fostering thriving ecosystems of innovation. Healthcare, by contrast, remains plagued by fragmented records, cumbersome access protocols, and opaque audit trails. Patient trust in digital health hinges on providing the same level of visibility and control they expect when managing thier finances.
Proactive Safety: Insights from Automotive Engineering
Modern vehicles are essentially rolling sensor networks, constantly monitoring performance and predicting potential failures.When issues arise, recall processes are transparent and systematic. This proactive approach stands in stark contrast to the often-hidden flaws within digital health tools,where usability issues or data errors can remain undetected until they cause real harm.
The Human Touch: Experience-Driven Lessons from Retail & Hospitality
Beyond functionality,experience matters. We return to businesses that anticipate our needs, offering seamless and personalized service. The anticipatory service of a luxury hotel – knowing your preferences before you articulate them – provides a compelling vision for proactive healthcare. Loyalty programs and personalized recommendations demonstrate the power of sustained engagement. Digital health frequently enough overlooks the emotional dimension of design, yet it’s frequently the deciding factor between adoption and abandonment.
A Cross-Industry Viewpoint: A Wealth of Untapped Potential
The lessons extend beyond these examples. Logistics offers precision tracking; education, personalized learning pathways; construction, collaborative planning; and sports, coaching for long-term behavioral change. These principles aren’t foreign to healthcare – they’re simply applied with greater consistency and discipline elsewhere.
The path forward for digital health isn’t about isolated invention. It’s about recognizing that the solutions to our most pressing challenges already exist,refined and proven in other industries. The real innovation lies in our ability to adapt, adopt, and integrate these approaches, breaking down the silos and building a future where digital health truly delivers on its promise.
Josh farrington is CEO of Solara Health.
[Image of iStock.com/Jacob Wackerhausen]
