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Scaling Digital Health Innovation: Developing a New ‘Service Readiness Level’ Framework of Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Janette Hughes

    (Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Inovo Building, 121 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, UK)

  • Marilyn Lennon

    (Department of Computing & Information Science, Livingstone Tower, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK)

  • Robert J. Rogerson

    (Technology & Innovation Centre, Institute for Future Cities, University of Strathclyde, 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, UK)

  • George Crooks

    (Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Inovo Building, 121 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, UK)

Abstract

Digital innovation has scaled exponentially in many sectors including tourism, banking, and retail. It is well cited that the health sector is slower to embrace digital health innovations (DHI) beyond the pilot stage and consequently, many successful DHI pilot projects have failed to scale up. Such failure arises in part from a knowledge gap around what type and level of evidence are needed to convince implementers and decision makers to fund, endorse, or adopt new innovations into care delivery systems and sustainable practice. Much is known about the range of DHI evaluation methods used; however, less is published on the evidence that decision makers need to move innovations to scale. This paper draws on interviews (N = 18) with decision makers/project leads engaged in DHI in Scotland to identify what evidence matters when making DHI adoption/scale decisions. The results are used to present a heuristic service readiness level (SRL) framework that captures the changing nature of the evidence base required over a project lifecycle for progression to scale. We utilise this framework to discuss ‘what evidence’ is required and ‘how data accumulate’ over time to assist project teams to build a ‘DHI case for scale’.

Suggested Citation

  • Janette Hughes & Marilyn Lennon & Robert J. Rogerson & George Crooks, 2021. "Scaling Digital Health Innovation: Developing a New ‘Service Readiness Level’ Framework of Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12575-:d:690729
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jennifer Rowley, 2012. "Conducting research interviews," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 35(3/4), pages 260-271, March.
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    1. Sascha Noel Weimar & Rahel Sophie Martjan & Orestis Terzidis, 2025. "Conceptualizing the landscape of digital health entrepreneurship: a systematic review and research agenda," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 75(2), pages 1619-1667, June.

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