Today, a first-of-its-kind national, nonprofit professional society for chief innovation and chief strategy executives launches in the U.S. at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, the world’s largest medical center. By fostering peer-to-peer networking and administering support services among these top hospital thought leaders, the new, nonpartisan Healthcare Innovators Professional Society (HIPS) seeks to drive positive change and provide a catalyst for innovation across the healthcare landscape. The organization’s mission is to serve, support and connect innovation leaders from hospitals across the country.
“The innovation or strategy officer within a healthcare system is a fairly new, but vital role,” said Dr. Toby Hamilton, executive director of HIPS. “These thought leaders are responsible for managing the process of innovation and change management within the hospital system. Often, they are tasked with the evaluation of new strategic relationships, technologies and medical devices, with the goal of improving care efficiencies and decreasing healthcare costs.” Hamilton added that there is currently no common framework, structure or tools for the work of these important decision makers.
“As hospital executives push the boundaries of a healthcare transformation, a professionally coordinated support effort is critical for these inevitable changes,” he said.
Dr. Hamilton is the co-founder and former CEO of Emerus Hospitals, the nation’s first and largest operator of micro-hospitals. As he developed joint venture relationships with major healthcare systems, such as Integris, Dignity, Baylor Scott & White, Trinity and others, he discovered the need for a support system for chief innovation and strategy officers within the healthcare industry.
David Bradshaw, EVP chief strategy officer and chief information officer of Houston’s nationally-ranked Memorial Hermann Health System, has joined HIPS as a member of the Council of 33.
“As the chief strategy officer of our integrated 19-hospital system, I saw the advantages of being part of this select group and am honored to join the council as a founding member,” said Bradshaw. “For me it will be valuable to develop personal relationships with executives across the country that serve in the same capacity as I do, especially without the chaos and scale of other major healthcare societies and conferences.”
In addition to providing these executives with a support system and a peer sounding board, HIPS will offer its councilors white papers, case studies and HIPS-specific blog content developed for and shared only with the HIPS community. Other benefits include access to leading healthcare incubators and accelerators as well as a diverse network of capital providers.
HIPS will hold its first annual conference for members on October 2-4, 2018 in Houston at the Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute located in the Texas Medical Center, which serves as the headquarters for HIPS.