Innovation the Cleveland Clinic Way: Powering Transformation by Putting Ideas to Work

Chapter5

Products

Completing the Virtuous Cycle

The ultimate goal of mission-driven innovation is the improvement and extension of human life. There is a genuine idealism at the core of our work. Yet some people blame the rising cost of medical technology for the nation’s current crisis in healthcare costs, which is not a fair accusation. In fact, the contrary is true. The virtuous cycle of medical innovation actually helps to control the cost of healthcare delivery. To help make this case, I’m going to describe the products of the virtuous cycle. I’ll break them down into four principle domains and review some of the obstacles that must be overcome before products find their way to patients’ bedsides. I’ll make the case that medical innovation ...