Bring out some thing new from your Old Product and Services

If you are looking for new market segments for your old product and services. This is the simple exercise or you can say brainstorming kind of thing to look back to your business and find out new market.

Just ask yourself or your team or you can put it on the notice board to get input from your employee.

Who Else -  Who else could use this idea other than your current target customers or segments ?

Where Else - When else could you use this idea ?

When Else - When else could utilize this benefit ?

How Else - How else could use this idea work?



Source : http://www.futurethink.com

In Future, fleet of robots will replace the hospital Workers

The way technology are moving fast we can say that in future Robot will replace the most of the hospitals workers. We have examples from the other industry like Automobile, where most the work done by the Robot. What this Robots can do is very well depicted in movie called Surrogates (Bruce willis).

Forth Valley Royal Hospital, I think would be the first hospital who ever going to try the robotic staff for various works in hospital. There would be a robotic pharmacy where all the prescribe drug will be give by the robots. The robots, which have their own network of corridors under the Forth Valley Royal Hospital, will carry clinical waste, deliver food, clean the operating theatre and dispense drugs. Japan are already using these robots for there hospital so there staff can pay more attention on patients. For more information you can visit this like 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10344849

 

Here is the link from BBC so you can see the small video clip. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10348099  

 

Kano Model Analysis- Delivering Products/Services That Delight

The Kano Model of customer satisfaction classifies product/service attributes based on how they are perceived by the customers and their effect on customer satisfaction. This model is useful technique for deciding which feature you want to include in product/services. It is also useful to do Gap analysis about you product/service with the customers expectation and the Gap analysis between What customer expect or what do you perceive that customer are expecting? 

The Kano Model divides the product/services attributes is three categories. 1) Threshold 2) Performance 3) Excitements. 

A competitive product/services must meet the basic attribute, maximize the performance attributes, include as many as excitements attributes at cost of that market can bear. 

Threshold Attributes:

These are the basic or expected attributes that a product/services must have, and do not provide opportunity for product/services differentiation. Increasing the performance of these attributes provide diminishing return in the term of customer satisfaction, but absence of this attribute can lead to extreme dissatisfaction. Fox example : Brakes on a Car. 

Performance Attributes: 

Performance attributes are those which are not necessary but but which are known about and increase the customer's enjoyment of the product/Services. The price for which customer are willing to pay for a product closely tied to performance attributes. For example. Customers are willing to pay for car which provide better fuel economy.

Excitements Attributes: 

Which customers don't even know they want, but are delighted when they find them. This attributes are unspoken and unexpected by the customers and result high satisfaction however, absence of these attributes does not leads to dissatisfaction. These attributes satisfy the latent need of customer which they are unaware. When in marketplace there are similar product and services are available then these attributes can give competitive aadvantages. For example: Vacuum cleaner that indicates when the floor being cleaned is dust-free. 

Assessing the Balance of Power in a Business Situation

The Porter's Five Forces tool is a simple but powerful tool for understanding where power lies in a business situation. This is useful, because it helps you understand both the strength of your current competitive position, and the strength of a position you're considering moving into

A Porter`s Five Forces approach to your Hospital/Clinic or any business you are in. 

 

 

1. Competitive Rivalry: 

In business it is very important to see what`s your competitors are up-to. How many new hospitals and clinic has opened near by you and are any new hospitals/clinics are about to come. Whenever new competitor inter in your area, some how some market shares goes down but if you keep watch on that and keep your process innovative you can win. No matter how many competitors are their if you services are above mark and you have brand value then no problem but still you have to keep continuous improvement in your quality care or delivery of healthcare care. Do research what services your competitors are giving compare it with your own, What you are lacking behind full fill those points. Compare the cost of care others are proving, What are the cost of same services in your set up?. Are you giving low quality care with high cost?. Do check your customer loyalty? What are their view about your services? Are they fully satisfied with your services? Do SWOT analysis kind of things. List out those services are process which are your strength that no one provide that. 

2. Threat of New Entry

Your current power can also be affected by the new entry. May the new hospital which are about to open is having latest technology with new process approach which are high in demand among patient or need of the patient. New entry might have strategic location which is near to high way, shopping mall or near corporate buildings, this gives more advantage to new entry to have more patients than you. May be due to recent changes in Gov. policy to buy a land in prime location the their is no barrier to entry. 

3. Buyer Power

Here you ask yourself how easy it is for buyers to drive prices down. Again, this is driven by the number of buyers, the importance of each individual buyer to your business, the cost to them of switching from your products and services to those of someone else, and so on. what is the size of your loyal customers? Are patient able to find new alternative to you like new doctors, clinics, hospital due to low cost. There are must be reason that your patient are shifting to other cheaper hospitals,clinic and providers. How your organization is working with insurance companies or TPA`s to maintain the customer flow.

4. Threat of Substitution

Not-for profit hospitals poses medium to high threat depending on the location of the hospitals. These hospitals on mission to provide care for free or lower cost might be affect your services. 

Gov. Hospitals is can be also a threat if gov is competing hard to provide world class care in lower rate then. Generally large population who are working in Gov sector prefer gov hospital for low cost. They lots of subsidies schemes for patients.

Technology as a Substitute  for example E-health, mhealth, call a doctors etc can uses technology to reduce unnecessary visit to hospitals. Patient can be treated at home by just browsing or just sending an sms to doctors. Even patient need not to go to the hospitals for refill, technology enables them to automatically gives information about the when do you need refill. 

Wellness center of preventive care. change in people view they are shifting from curative to preventive care, they are realizing that health is wealth so they so go wellness center to learn how to be healthy by changing life style. 

5. Supplier Power 

 

They are high threat to any hospitals/Clinic. If supplier have the control over price than they can take advantage of it. Due to rise in demand hospital consumable also increase and if there are few suppliers of providing good quality of product then have control on price. Also, due to advancement in technology the medical equipment needs high capitals cost to buy latest technology 

   

Undercover Patient`s: Look Through the Patient`s Eyes

I always watch the episodes of “Undercover Boss” on BBC. I like it so much because, by playing as undercover, top level management get an idea How the things going in their companies. So, I have been thinking why not hospital management do something like that , by becoming a “Undercover Patient” in own Hospitals. It will directly let you know how a patient feel and think about hospitals.  One can start it through calling or sending emails at front desk or hospital for an appointment. 

If you are looking for patient satisfaction, then look through the patient`s eyes. Then only you come to know what the loop holes in the process are and what changes would bring big impact. How the existing process running? What patients see when they enter the hospital or practice or clinic is often perceived as an indicator of level of care and service the practice provides. Is the waiting room clean and neat or does it need a new coat of paint and the carpets need cleaned? Are the magazines up to date? Is there information about the practice available such as brochures, biographic information or information sheets on a single health topic? For example, how to protect against the flu virus. Verify that, all staff members are dressed appropriately and that clothing is clean and in good repair. Make it sure every encounter with patient must be treated like a first date.

Micro-franchise model in healthcare- “A new ray of hope”

Just imagine, you are have diagnostic kit at home and you, yourself do simple test to find out what are you  suffering from ?, before going to consult a doctor. This is not the solution for critically ill but primary screening can be done.   Here, are some examples – How these healthcare companies using Micro-franchise model to provide healthcare in remote areas. 

Vision Entrepreneurs (India ) : (http://www.visionspring.org/what-we-do/ve.php)  

 Vision Entrepreneurs in the initiative Vision spring organization  http://www.visionspring.org . Its an NGO working towards providing eye care to needy population. What they do is they give training to local individuals to do simple eye test at community to find out who having eye sight problem and give them glasses. Vision spring empower the low income local individuals to earn money by selling glasses. These individuals get three days training to basic eye care and business management.  They are provided with the  kit bag which contains the all basic eye testing kit and glasses so they can test and give glasses themselves. If anything they find critical they refer them to hospitals.

 The Healthstorefoundation : (http://www.cfwshops.org/model.html) 

Franchisees operate small drug shops or clinics strategically located to improve access to essential drugs. HealthStore clinics and shops enable trained health workers to operate their own businesses treating the diseases that cause 70-90% of illness and death in their communities while following HealthStore drug handling and distribution regulations calculated to ensure good practice.   

The major goals of the CFWshops project are: 

To create a reliable supply of high quality, low cost, essential drugs and to make them available to the people who need them when and where they are needed.

To treat childhood infectious diseases in the communities where children live, thus reducing congestion in the healthcare system so that scarce resources can be applied to others not so easily treated;

To reduce under age 5 mortality rates thus encouraging family planning and lower population growth rates;

To discourage the development of drug resistant microbes by the provision and appropriate use of adequate supplies of effective drugs; and

To improve community health through educational and prevention activities.

HMRI- (http://www.hmri.in/)

eSwasthya uses a microfranchise model to deliver the services of a doctor to the doorsteps of rural populations. Female health workers rigorously trained in healthcare, technology and business invest in setting up a clinic from their homes. When patients visit with a complaint, the health worker uses mobile phone technology to connect to centrally-located paramedics and doctors who triage the call, identify illnesses and recommend treatment. Patients pay a nominal fee. eSwasthya has 51 centers and has treated 45,000 patients across three districts in Rajasthan.

Livinggoods organization : (http://livinggoods.org/what-we-do/micro-franchise-business-model/)

Living Goods harnesses the power of micro-entrepreneurs to reinvent rural trade and dramatically scale access to a wide range of life-saving and life-changing products. We operate Avon-like networks of independent entrepreneurs who make modest incomes going to door-to-door selling affordable and effective solutions designed to improve the health, wealth, and productivity of the world’s poor. We utilize all the key characteristics of successful franchises: methodically screened agents, expert training, strict quality monitoring, uniform branding and product mix, effective promotions, and low cost of goods achieved through scale. Living Goods franchises its brand and business model to women entrepreneurs who work as independent agents. To launch their Living Goods franchise, agents receive a below-market inventory loan and a free “Business-in-a-Bag” that includes uniforms, signs, a locker, and basic health and business tools. Our field staff provide agents with ongoing support through refresher trainings, field mentoring, and performance monitoring. 

Business-in-a-bag

The cosmetics company Avon built a global power brand through its business-in-a-bag model. We’re applying this same method of direct selling to products designed to save and change lives in the developing world. Our business-in-a-bag provides micro-entrepreneurs with all the tools they need to launch a thriving Living Goods franchise. Their startup kit includes a branded duffle bag, uniforms, signs for their home store, a display locker, and basic health and business tools. Couple that with a robust two-week training course and ongoing marketing and mentoring support and you have an army of motivated agents bringing life-changing products to the doorsteps of the poor.

Clown Doctors - A new way of delivering care.

Imagine being a child in hospital, away from the comfort of your home and all that is familiar, and feeling sad, anxious, frightened, lonely or in pain. This is where Clown Doctor`s can help. They treat children in hospital with medicine of a different kind doses of fun and laughter.  Do you remember the movie “Patch Adams” based on the life story of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams who built the medical clinic based on philosophy of treating patients through humor and compassion. Patch is considered to be the father of clown doctors. Thirty-two years ago he put on a clown nose as he worked in hospitals.

 Clown doctors are not doctors they are perfessional who are specialized in humor, magical tricks, jokes and play to make people laugh. Clown doctors are professional performer not medical doctor. Many hospitals in USA, Canada, Europe and Israel operate clown doctor. India also its since past one –two year some hospital are started operating clown doctors in children’s ward specially address the psychosocial needs of the child in hospital in unique way. By parodying the hospital routine, the clown doctors help children feel less traumatized by the medical procedures. Children can forget their illness for a moment and return to a world of fantasy and play. It is hard to keep a sad face when the clown doctors come in. It is not only laughter that is important a smile, or a glimmer in eye, is also a special moment. As we also knows that laughing heal wound fast also help to cure fast because it releases hormones in the body which help to increase the immunity system.

Recently, Two clown  from Israel visited some hospital in Mumbai (India) like KEM, TMH. Two clowns named Hamutal Ende and Renana Ophir both went to KEM pediatrics ward children were lying on the bed due to operation, some children were crying as these clowns entered in the ward and started talking to children’s in aliens languages then suddenly the hospital ward filled with laugh of children`s . the Duo specializes in paediatric cases. Clown. Hamutal once dealt with a 12 years old girl suffering from cancer. Each day Hamutal told her stories and ask her to rate them on a scale of 10. When she liked them she gave them about seven. Otherwise, it was four or five. In her last days, when she was in coma, Hamutal narrated the story if a beautiful princes who was going away to another world. But in her coma she suddenly spoke and gave it a 9.5. Her mother couldn’t stop crying, Hamutal says.

I think all hospitals must think about how to change the environment of the hospital, how to make hospital a home out home. It is very important to give care, love and a smile on the face of patients.