Idea Management in German Healthcare

Innovations are dependent on the context. Attention on national systems of innovation has focused with emphasis on the rules of procedure, the mechanisms of technology transfer and national experiences and practices. While currently advanced practices of health policy as standards of remuneration and health technology assessment effect, without doubt, the innovation management and partly are prerequisites for the introduction of innovations in different levels of operation (for example, new products, processes and practices at an operational level, rearrangements of business model and the innovations of the Administration in a level of organization)(, as well as radical changes at the level of system), is paid less attention to the interrelationship between the various levels which however influences a successful diffusion of innovation. Introducing an innovation at an operational level, it is usually necessary to complement this innovation with auxiliary innovations (relational innovation management). The management of ideas, for example, a new drug, in isolation is more likely to raise costs or even stop innovations which are designed and implemented in a more interconnected way. Therefore, starting with a level of innovation (e.g., new management organizations) driven innovation supplementary important changes in the institutional framework such as operational procedures, management or business model, but also the participation of stakeholders and culture of compliance with standards and requirements, should be considered in order to harness the potential of an innovation.From the relational innovation management incorporates these effects between types of innovation in different operational levels influence the diffusion of successful innovation and health management strategies.Thus, the objectives of this document are (1) the introduction of the concept of relational innovations and (2) illustration of innovations relational, considering the implementation of a management organization to coordinate comprehensive care for patients suffering from chronic diseases in Germany as an example.The analysis is based on scientific articles, publications of health organizations and a case study. Comparing application modes of management organizations, the interrelations between levels of innovation and the respective obstacles can be identified.Given the complex network of links between the participants as patients, health care providers, insurance of health organizations and Government agencies and dependence on path of systems, changes in the health system are usually continually improving while the current status of many health systems developed are in need of more radical changes. With the example of the introduction of a fourth player we can show how a type of disruptive innovation can affect important complementary changes in areas such as operational procedures, idea management software, incentive structures or business model.Seeing as an essentially relational practice innovation, nature and interaction of innovations in various levels provide a means to develop and implement innovations in a more effective way.