Consistently achieving excellence in healthcare delivery is a difficult challenge in the context of an ever-evolving landscape of clinical, technological and human complexity. Our understanding of the need to provide excellent experiences for patients as well as excellent clinical outcomes and value for money challenges us to consider what is the true nature of ‘value’ in healthcare for the people we serve. The HSE Spark Innovation Programme is dedicated to the application of ‘Human Centred Design’ methodology to ensure the delivery of innovation projects that are steeped human centred values and an understanding of what it really means to be human in healthcare.
Approach
In an effort to drive Human Centred Design as a core capability for frontline healthcare workers, The HSE Spark Innovation Programme has established a number of support mechanisms. These include Design Thinking training for Clinical Innovators
prior to project proposal submissions, cross discipline ‘Design Bootcamps’ to address national healthcare priority areas and creating targeted calls with dedicated funding streams to support Design inspired and Design led innovation activity.
We proudly co-fund 8 ‘Designers in Residence’ in healthcare settings who operate as part of the core Multidisciplinary team at their host location while also providing Design support to multiple healthcare projects across the country. We fund bursaries for Frontline Healthcare workers to engage in formal post graduate Design training and we match Designers in Training with Frontline Healthcare workers to deliver high impact solutions to complex challenges.
We have developed policies to embed Human Centred Design at an organisational level within the programme and have committed to validating the potential and impact of good Design as a critical driver of effective healthcare transformation. This is being enabled through the establishment of a Design Research Consortium and a dynamic academic partnership with the National College of Art and Design.
Impact
Over 500 Frontline Healthcare Workers trained at a foundation level in ‘Design Thinking’ and ‘Human Centered Design’ theory and practice.
Co-funded 8 ‘Designers in Residence’ across 4 clinical sites in Ireland with a demand for access to their skills far exceeding current supply.
95% of applicants to the ‘Spark Seed’ funding initiative now highlight ‘Human-Centred Design’ considerations as part of their application.
Over 50 Design Led or Design Informed projects in progress or completed across the health system.
“The success of Design led and Design informed projects to date suggests an exciting future where Design and Healthcare can intersect to deliver high impact solutions for patients, clinicians and the wider health service.”
Jared Gormly, Head of HSE Spark Innovation Programme
The HSE Spark Innovation Programme
Source: Action Plan for Designing Better Public Services
Consistently achieving excellence in healthcare delivery is a difficult challenge in the context of an ever-evolving landscape of clinical, technological and human complexity. Our understanding of the need to provide excellent experiences for patients as well as excellent clinical outcomes and value for money challenges us to consider what is the true nature of ‘value’ in healthcare for the people we serve. The HSE Spark Innovation Programme is dedicated to the application of ‘Human Centred Design’ methodology to ensure the delivery of innovation projects that are steeped human centred values and an understanding of what it really means to be human in healthcare.
Approach
In an effort to drive Human Centred Design as a core capability for frontline healthcare workers, The HSE Spark Innovation Programme has established a number of support mechanisms. These include Design Thinking training for Clinical Innovators
prior to project proposal submissions, cross discipline ‘Design Bootcamps’ to address national healthcare priority areas and creating targeted calls with dedicated funding streams to support Design inspired and Design led innovation activity.
We proudly co-fund 8 ‘Designers in Residence’ in healthcare settings who operate as part of the core Multidisciplinary team at their host location while also providing Design support to multiple healthcare projects across the country. We fund bursaries for Frontline Healthcare workers to engage in formal post graduate Design training and we match Designers in Training with Frontline Healthcare workers to deliver high impact solutions to complex challenges.
We have developed policies to embed Human Centred Design at an organisational level within the programme and have committed to validating the potential and impact of good Design as a critical driver of effective healthcare transformation. This is being enabled through the establishment of a Design Research Consortium and a dynamic academic partnership with the National College of Art and Design.
Impact
Over 500 Frontline Healthcare Workers trained at a foundation level in ‘Design Thinking’ and ‘Human Centered Design’ theory and practice.
Co-funded 8 ‘Designers in Residence’ across 4 clinical sites in Ireland with a demand for access to their skills far exceeding current supply.
95% of applicants to the ‘Spark Seed’ funding initiative now highlight ‘Human-Centred Design’ considerations as part of their application.
Over 50 Design Led or Design Informed projects in progress or completed across the health system.