Each time, the technology was perfect.
The implementation was disastrous.
Google Health (shut down twice). Microsoft HealthVault (lasted 12 years, then folded). IBM Watson for Oncology (massively overpromised).
Billions invested. Solid technology. Total failure.
Not because the vision was wrong, but because healthcare adoption follows different rules than consumer tech.
Here’s what I learned building healthcare tech for 15 years:
1/ Healthcare moves at the speed of trust, not innovation
↳ Lives are at stake, so skepticism is protective
↳ Regulatory approval takes years usually for good reason
↳ Doctors need extensive validation before adoption
↳ Patients want proven solutions, not beta testing
2/ Integration trumps innovation every time
↳ The best tool that no one uses is worthless
↳ Workflow integration matters more than features
↳ EMR compatibility determines adoption rates
↳ Training time is always underestimated
3/ The “cool factor” doesn’t predict success
↳ Flashy demos rarely translate to daily use
↳ Simple solutions often outperform complex ones
↳ User interface design beats artificial intelligence
↳ Reliability matters more than cutting-edge features
4/ Reimbursement determines everything
↳ No CPT code = no sustainable business model
↳ Insurance coverage drives provider adoption
↳ Value-based care is changing this slowly
↳ Free trials don’t create lasting change
5/ Clinical champions make or break technology
↳ One enthusiastic doctor can drive adoption
↳ Early adopters must see immediate benefits
↳ Word-of-mouth beats marketing every time
↳ Resistance from key stakeholders kills innovations
The pattern I’ve seen: companies build technology for the healthcare system they wish existed, not the one that actually exists.
They optimize for TechCrunch headlines instead of clinic workflows.
They design for Silicon Valley investors instead of 65-year-old physicians.
A successful healthcare technology I’ve implemented?
A simple visit summarization app that saved me time and let me focus on the patient.
No fancy interface, very lightweight, integrated into my clinical workflow, effortless to use.
Just solved an problem that users had.
Healthcare doesn’t need more revolutionary technology.
It needs evolutionary technology that works within existing systems.
⁉️ What’s the simplest technology that’s made the biggest difference in your healthcare experience? Sometimes basic beats brilliant.
♻️ Repost if you believe implementation beats innovation in healthcare
👉 Follow me (Reza Hosseini Ghomi, MD, MSE) for realistic perspectives on healthcare technology
Article link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rezahg_ive-watched-3-revolutionary-healthcare-activity-7342178230193295360-XWK_?
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