Navicent Health is pleased to announce the creation of the Center for Disruption & Innovation, along with their partner Mercer University. The center will foster collaboration among healthcare thought leaders as they apply innovation to evidence-based research and value-driven processes.
 
“At Navicent Health, our desire is to lead the industry through innovation and research. Through the Center for Disruption & Innovation, we will connect the brightest minds in healthcare and engineering to collaborate on projects that will enhance service delivery, efficiency and technology. We will address the optimization of processes, the creation of an innovation space connecting strategy to roll out, and the review of future commercialization with our partners. We cannot wait to see all that unfolds as a result of this new center,” said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Navicent Health.
 
Specifically, those collaborating with the center will be charged with pursuing three primary focuses:
 
·         The optimization of healthcare delivery and the diminishment of variation  in practices and processes through the utilization of Navicent Health employees and local high school students who have completed Navicent Health’s Lean Six Sigma certification.
·         The application of research that leads to disruptive innovation through both the discovery of and new approaches to processes and solutions.
·         The development and commercialization of new products that may be introduced to the market, researched an pursued in collaboration with Mercer University’s School of Engineering and School of Business, particularly the university’s biomedical engineering program.
 
“Mercer University welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with our long-time partners at Navicent Health on this exciting new endeavor. We look forward to joining with Navicent Health in an endeavor that promises to impact positively the delivery of healthcare to communities throughout our region,” said William D. Underwood, President of Mercer University.
 
Projects developed through the Center for Disruption & Innovation will focus on the following key areas:
 
·         Applied Clinical Research
·         Appropriate Utilization & Cost
·         Comparative Effectiveness Research
·         Consumer-Driven Healthcare
·         Dissemination and Implementation Science
·         Service Delivery
·         Improved Efficiency
·         Technological Benefits
 
Developers hope that the research conducted in these areas will lead to the development of new products and services, as well as improved value through cost savings and productivity.
 
“As healthcare continues to evolve, health systems need a deliberate focus on understanding the disruption that’s coming at them and creating innovation to respond to that disruption. Successful organizations will be able to effectively do this while adjusting their strategies to prepare for the future. The Center for Disruption & Innovation is the right framework to help provide this direction, especially in partnership with Mercer and others throughout the community,” said Christopher Cornue, Chief Strategy Officer, Navicent Health.

Mercer University School of Engineering students are involved in the Center for Disruption & Innovation in the following ways:

·         Mercer University School of Engineering interns have participated in a patient-facing mobility project for pediatric asthma patients as well as an emergency center redesign simulation to improve patient flow.

·         Senior students enrolled in Dr Joan Burtner’s Industrial Engineering course will work on preparation for ISO-9001 requirements for hospitals, as well as other project areas.

“The primary goal of the Center for Disruption & Innovation is to foster creative thinking and problem solving while developing strategies that will ultimately benefit the customer. These benefits will not only affect Macon, but will be shared throughout other industries as the Center brings together the brightest minds with expertise in service delivery, information technology, analytics and  research and development,” said  Dr. Tejas Gandhi, Chief Administrative Officer for Navicent Health.   
Those wishing to partner with the Center for Disruption & Innovation may contact Navicent Health.
 
“We welcome conversation with companies that share Navicent Health and Mercer University’s goal of improving the value and delivery of innovative products and processes to collaborate with the Center for Disruption & Innovation. We are optimistic and excited about all that the future holds,” said Dr. Saunders.