Clayton Christensen teamed up with Jerome Grossman, and Jason Hwang, both medical doctors, to bring a thoroughly researched insight into a disruptive solution for efficient value-added health care in "The Innovator's Prescription." He previously wrote the vanguard book on innovation called "The Innovator's Dilemma." Christensen and his team display the enablers of disruption with the use of current technology. They also explain how different facets of the American healthcare system should be disrupted, to result in cheaper, more effective healthcare for every citizen. They include the business model for idyllic hospitals, the individual physician model, how to care for those who have chronic disease, the reimbursement system, education for medical professionals, and the development of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. These authors cast a wide net and cover all bases when it comes to the floundering healthcare system in the United States. They also discuss their plan to make it better. The publicity that our health care reform has received within the international media, came into play after the book was published. It seems as if our legislators have not successfully changed any of the important factors such as health care waste and ever increasing debt. It seems as though they are simply promoting more government involvement into personal medical care for U.S. citizens. All three authors clearly provide business-based models, in conjunction with disruptive solutions to restructure U.S. healthcare and its ongoing complexities. It is a well-known fact that the American healthcare system is broken, but often times, the discussion deteriorates into a debate about who is to blame. This book approaches this problem in another way, targeting exactly what is failing within our healthcare system, and what is necessary to change to make it better.

Summary

The authors of "The Innovator's Prescription" are just as interested in discovering an efficient solution that is affordable and available to everyone in the United States. They specifically point out every industry that has suffered growing pains, and were at one time, unaffordable, have become more cost effective and accessible to more consumers.

It is re-iterated over and over that disruptive changes are a necessity to get from A to B. This means hospitals have to focus on diagnostic services and allocate standard care and wellness organization to special clinics and health care other agencies. Primary care physicians must focus on diagnostic services at a lower level instead of being the gatekeepers for specialist referrals. Changes must be enabled for reimbursement policies, insurance arrangements and patient record keeping. This book clearly describes how this change must come to pass, with extreme detail.

The theme centers around three disruptive enablers to be integrated into changing the status quo of our U.S. healthcare; simplifying technology, a business model, and a disruptive value network with the underlying idea that healthcare industry is in critical need of disruption to make it more efficient, affordable, and available to the population as a whole, not just a few.

The root idea of the author's methods, are to take the enabler of technology and utilize it to change a technological problem into a rules based approach. The sole purpose of this business model would alter the present regulations and reimbursement system that force high costs, and re-invent older business models that are devoid of new value networks.

This is the calm before the storm as it pertains to healthcare reform. Once the dust settles, there will be fewer hospitals and fewer medical specialists, who generally work in specific niches and do not fully understand a patient's background. In layman's terms, the left hand will know what the right hand is doing! There will be more primary care physicians and registered nurses that will take on extra responsibilities. Lastly, a new model for pharmaceutical companies will require that targeted medicines for precise conditions are used, instead of the development of blockbuster drugs that only help a few patients and require costly...

Also, more medical work will be done by less highly trained employees, but with the use of more effective diagnostic tools. This book discusses that many political leaders see this type of disruption as threatening, but that it poses many growth opportunities for the future.
Analysis

It is hard to know for certain if the outcome of this disruption will provide more efficient and cheaper health care for all Americans, and not a precious few. However, while Christensen is precise in his diagnosis of the issues, we are still unclear about the exact prescription and whether or not it can work. This business model has never been tested, so there is no definitive way to say it will be as effective as he purports it to be.

According to Christensen, disruption has a negative connotation and is viewed as something "upsetting and radically different." Health care reform has always been a popular subject that the public likes to talk about and aspiring politicians must address. However, it is seldom approached by two people in a similar manner, which can place people ill at ease when discussing the topic. Also, the authors do not have research or significant findings to bolster their ideas for effective change. There are no methods in place that include the patient in the decision-making processes, which has always been an advantage care providers pride themselves in when dealing with patients.

The book approaches every aspect of health care and asks how will the health care system be disrupted when other medical personnel provide easier, better quality care at a more affordable cost? How will private practices sustain themselves as new diagnostic tools and research makes the identification and treatment of problems more definitive? Once protocols have been established, nurses can provide the same type of care only handled by general physicians. Probably the most important question is, " What mechanisms exist to integrate health care professionals and insurers to focus on patient wellness, instead of lining their own pockets?

Physicians, healthcare personnel, hospitals, and other providers are not in control of every aspect of the healthcare system. They do not operate the levers, therefore, they are unable to make these changes happen on their own. Many see extra government involvement as potentially problematic, thus giving fewer choices to patients and their healthcare providers. These authors make the claim that the entities for leading a successful may be specific employers that profit from their employees good health. This creates a potential for increasing the role of integrated healthcare providers.

My thoughts about these ideas relating to health care reform are a mixed bag. In a way, I see the possibility of success in his model for health care disruption. I am happy that the status quo may fizzle and a new, affordable and efficient health care system for all Americans can be put in place. On the flip side, there is an ethical dimension to disruptive struggles. It forces those of us in the healthcare industry to fight for the side of human rights, instead of going with the flow during a long-standing disruption phase.

The main bone of contention, is that The Innovators Prescription does not have any research data that sheds light on how too many doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers, are more concerned with making more money, and do not always have the patient's best interest at heart. These authors have come forth with advocating for disruptive solutions, so that the healthcare system can be restructured, and how monetary gain is viewed as the fly in the ointment, regarding this change.

Evaluation

This book is complex and covers every aspect of health care reform necessities. It has been developed sufficiently with critical points that are supported by persuasive references and reasoning.

Conclusion

As the assignment was the introduction of 50 pages only, I can't say whether I think it's the answer, however, in studying their work and clearly supports merits in changing the health care industry, I do believe…