Defining Innovation for 2020
At bi3, we invest in new ideas to spark innovation in health and healthcare. We create new partnerships and collaborations that challenge the status quo and propose new solutions to old problems.
How does bi3 define “innovation”? There are many definitions for the term, but we recognize this is an important question if we want to inspire our community to work together to solve our greatest community health issues.
A recent article in Becker’s Hospital Review (which I encourage you to read!) illustrates what we believe is the perfect definition of innovation for bi3: Putting ideas to work.
Sounds simple enough.
But, as the article says, “Innovation is arduous, nonlinear, fraught with failure (or learnings) and long to success.” New ideas are often difficult to implement, pilot, prove, scale and sustain. Innovation may require radical thought or simple, incremental change. So why do it? Because if not bi3, then whom?
Who else will take on risk and play the long game? Who else will learn alongside our funded partners as we challenge them to co-create or simply work differently? Who else will work to change current systems and cultures that prevent everyone from realizing their highest level of health and well-being?
Despite the highly competitive healthcare market in Cincinnati, there are opportunities for us all to come together— in partnership with community-based organizations and government —and transform the health of our community.
As we enter this new year, let’s agree to innovate together and start putting ideas to work in our community.
Jill Miller
President, Bethesda Inc.
bi3 awards $1 million grant to fuel new health-focused school-to-work program
With support from bi3, TriHealth and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) are partnering to pilot an innovative School-to-Work Apprenticeship program. The goal is to inspire diverse high school students to pursue healthcare careers by giving them real-world exposure, work experience and access to mentorship over two years within TriHealth.
This game-changing program moves far ahead of what is typically seen in apprenticeship programs.
Reporter Liz Bonis met with students at TriHealth’s Good Samaritan Hospital for a Local 12 story on how this unique program is changing their lives. She also talked with Jeremiah Kirkland of TriHealth, Jill Miller of bi3 and Travis Rowley of CPS to discuss the program’s multi-faceted approach on “What’s Happening in Health.”
Now in their third rotations, students continue to learn and experience careers in patient care, pharmacy, food and nutrition services, and radiation therapy — just to name a few.
Grantee Update: St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy models collaborative practice agreements
St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Charitable Pharmacy has developed a Collaborative Practice Agreement Implementation Guide to guide similar agreements for other charitable pharmacies and free clinics. It includes a business plan enabling the model to be scaled to traditional retail pharmacies.
A $100,000 bi3 grant helped SVDP complete a consult agreement with the Good Samaritan Free Health Center in Price Hill. This innovative collaborative care model enabled SVDP pharmacists to become a more accessible part of the care team, helping to manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and support patient behavior change, including smoking cessation.
Fernside requesting proposals to strengthen operations
bi3 partner Fernside: A Center for Grieving Children is requesting proposals for an operational partner to help strengthen its operations and activities, identify areas of opportunity, and establish a framework for sustained continuous improvement efforts moving forward.
Fernside, which is an affiliate of Hospice of Cincinnati, is the nation’s second-oldest children’s grief center and has proudly served more than 35,000 people free of charge.
Proposals are due March 1, 2020.
View Fernside’s Request for Proposal.