Horses, Zebras, and Unicorns: The Paradox of Healthcare Innovation

The speed of innovation in medical technology over the last 50 years has produced extraordinary breakthroughs but has also created unintended consequences. We are reaching a point where the existence of millions of revolutionary technological solutions is in itself becoming a problem. As a Biomedical Informaticist and Healthcare Futurist, it’s time to rethink our infatuation towards chasing the ‘unicorn.’ New and supportive healthcare solutions require an environment in which the technological innovation can be successfully adopted. As innovation increases exponentially, it needs a different set of evolving relationships, partnerships, and communication between stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, thus enter the ‘zebra.