Factors enabling innovation readiness of long-term care organizations: stakeholder opinions (pre-print)

Abstract

BackgroundIncreasing innovation readiness of long-term care organizations for older adults is vital to ensure future provision and affordability of care delivery. Research into innovation readiness of health care organizations is a rather new field. This study addresses following research question: What factors contribute to innovation readiness of long-term care organizations for older adults?MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 stakeholders connected to long-term care for older adults in the Netherlands: academics, (top) management, innovation managers and consultants. A thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data.ResultsFour main factors were identified that contribute to innovation readiness of long-term care organizations for older adults: 1) a clear strategic course for innovation, 2) a tailored innovation journey, 3) inspirational leading for innovation, and 4) hands-on-learning for innovation. Stakeholders highlighted that innovation readiness should not be developed as an ad-hoc initiative but should be embedded into corporate strategies and decision-making processes. All stakeholders mentioned the importance of ‘preparing’ the organization for innovation readiness via a strategic course and its deployment in an innovation journey. They also stressed the importance of professional ‘learning for innovation’ in becoming innovation ready. ConclusionsThis study provides a step toward evidence-based factors that contribute to innovation readiness of long-term care organizations for older adults. This study’s 4 main factors contributing to innovation readiness are substantiated by existing literature. Therefore, the findings of this study can support long-term care managers to structurally embed innovation. A better understanding of the contribution and interplay of factors enabling innovation readiness at all stages of the innovation process is needed. Future research could verify the findings of this study and develop a scan, based on this study’s innovation readiness factors, indicating the maturity of long-term organizations for older adults.