1. What is the Health Technology Center (HealthTech)?
Founded in 2000 by Molly Coye, M.D., M.P.H., with support from 18 leading health care systems from around the country, HealthTech provides hospital and health care system leaders with the comprehensive, credible information necessary to clearly understand the impact of emerging technologies on utilization, clinical care and market share. HealthTech "Partners" have access to sophisticated Web-enabled tools to confidently make decisions that have far-reaching consequences.
HealthTech was created because a bulging pipeline of information and clinical technology innovation is overwhelming the capacity of leaders to make smart decisions and position themselves for technology leadership.
HealthTech's approach to forecast research goes far beyond traditional technology safety and efficacy assessment. By integrating the extensive knowledge of real-world experts in its forecasts, reports and tools, HealthTech is creating a living- library of unbiased, in-depth information on 30 categories of technology, all hospital service lines, and more than 50 high-cost, high-volume clinical conditions. HealthTech's approach assures its growing list of Partners that today's critical investment decisions on tomorrow's technologies can be made with the best available data and expert perspectives.
2. What makes HealthTech different from other forecasting or consulting companies?
As a non-profit, mission-driven organization, HealthTech develops completely independent, objective assessments on emerging health information and clinical technologies.
HealthTech's talented research team and nationally known senior fellows are motivated by a belief that advancing the adoption of new technologies is not an end in and of itself, but can improve the health of individuals and communities by significantly reducing an epidemic of medical errors, as recommended by the Institute of Medicine's landmark report, "To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System."
Unlike consulting firms that inhibit health care organizations from learning and developing their own internal capacity to strategically manage technology adoption, HealthTech creates a learning network of peers and provides Partners with relevant research and accessible, customizable decision-tools.
3. Can HealthTech help Partners make the right technology decisions in such a complex and rapidly changing environment?
Yes. HealthTech's forecast research, high impact technology reports, decision-making tools, and learning groups comprise the "NORAD" of early warning systems for health care leaders. Going beyond mere technical evaluations, HealthTech provides Partners with guidance on the timing of technology adoption within two to five and ten-year time frames, detailed insights on workforce and information system impact, coverage and reimbursement considerations, regulatory concerns, as well as facilities and care process impact.
HealthTech's decision tools and technology timelines enable Partners to carefully consider technology adoption based on realistic estimates of a given technology's impact in local markets.
4. Can HealthTech help my organization reliably plan for changes in the utilization of clinical services that might dramatically affect market share or revenues?
Yes. HealthTech co-developed a unique tool with Solucient that delivers the detailed and reliable data needed to evaluate the impact that new technologies will have on individual markets. The Market Impact Modeler™ helps predict future utilization based not only on expected changes in local demographics, but also on expected shifts in physician practice patterns, shifts from the inpatient to the outpatient care setting, and adoption of new and emerging technologies. This tool offers precise impact forecasts for a wide range of new and emerging medical technologies.
HealthTech Partners have access to local forecasts for key technologies identified as having the greatest potential impact on utilization of services over the next 15 years. The Market Impact Modeler™ includes a unique set of baseline use rates for every county (ZIP code level) in the U.S., which helps ensure that Partners access the most locally precise information available.
5. Does the "learning network" offer HealthTech Partners practical help?
HealthTech's Partners constitute one of healthcare's most unique learning networks. Technology Forecasts and High Impact Technology Reports are Partner-driven, and are focused and guided by real needs and priorities. As a learning network, Partners are able to share ideas, concerns and experiences in planning for new technologies. Through Working Groups and Expert Forums the future is brought into focus in environments where Partners can freely interact with experts and peers to discuss practical issues on facility and IT planning, workforce impact, utilization management, provider practice patterns, reimbursement considerations, and market timing.
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