Tech Hub Partners with the Ion to Widen the ‘Front Door for Innovation’
For nearly four years, Houston Methodist’s Center for Innovation has leveraged the Technology Hub at HMH to test and refine trailblazing technologies to improve patient care and spark efficiencies systemwide. In August, we expanded that reach beyond Houston Methodist with the opening of the Tech Hub at the Ion. This 1,200 square-foot space in the heart of Midtown’s Ion District serves as a center for community engagement and a front door for the public to interact with our innovations.
Origins of innovation
Innovation at HM has been on the fast track. In February 2020, the Tech Hub at HMH opened with three focus areas: providing patient services in ways patients want them, improving clinical efficiencies and improving operational efficiencies.
“We don’t invest in innovation just for innovation’s sake,” said Michelle Stansbury, vice president of innovation and IT applications. “There’s so much cool technology out there today, it’s easy to be distracted by the latest shiny device or application. Our focus always remains on our patients. We invest in innovation, so they will receive better, more efficient care, and it has a great return on investment.”
Producing real results
Since its debut, the Tech Hub has partnered with a host of vendors to develop an impressive collection of innovative solutions including: the MIC Sickbay™ virtual health care platform; Apella ambient monitoring products for operating rooms; BioIntelliSense rechargeable, wearable monitoring devices; Syllable voice recognition technology for transforming patient access; HDAI patient care predictive analytics; and Pieces Predict AI clinician assistance.
Along the way, Stansbury has learned that cross-industry collaboration can result in mutually beneficial solutions. “One example is Intelligent Locations, a real-time location systems vendor that had little health care experience, however, they were in airports, hotels and stadiums. We’re now partnering with them to track our assets to create efficiencies and improvements in patient care,” she said. “Another is Pumps & Pipes, an annual event that brings together thought leaders from Houston’s aerospace, energy and health care industries. We’ve realized there’s so much more to learn about how we can disrupt the status quo of health care by looking at other industries.”
Expanding the doorway to innovation
HM leaders recognized that one of the city’s best catalysts for innovation and cross-industry collaboration is the Ion District. Rice University led this 16-acre corridor in Midtown Houston to bring together the entrepreneurial, corporate and academic communities into one collaborative space. HM is the first — and so far, only — health care organization with a presence in the Ion building.
Our space features a welcome lounge, collaboration area and both clinical and hospital sections. The space is used for informational and educational programming, networking with fellow tenants and entrepreneurs, participating in on-site mentoring, conducting pitch competitions and hosting open houses for the community.
“It’s an extension of our Tech Hub in the TMC,” said Murat Uralkan, director of innovation at the Center for Innovation. “It’s our door to the Ion community and Houston’s innovation ecosystem, and it’s also the community’s front door to us. The ideal scenario for us is to help someone design a solution that’s been discussed at the Ion. The prototype then graduates to the Tech Hub at HMH, where we integrate it with Epic and other systems. We would then get feedback from clinicians, prepare a pilot program within the hospital and — once proven successful — from there we quickly scale it systemwide.”
Possibilities and personal tours
Stansbury said she’s hopeful and excited about sharing some of HM’s challenges and collaborating with Houston’s innovators to come up with more solutions. “We’ve realized there’s so much more to learn about how we can disrupt the status quo of health care by looking at other industries,” she said. “The next great idea could come from anywhere. The possibilities are endless if we just open our minds to thinking in new ways.”
To take a virtual tour of the HM Tech Hub, click here. To schedule personal tours of either the HM Tech Hub or the HM Tech Hub at Ion — or if you have an idea for improving any aspect of the health care experience — contact Murat Uralkan.