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Innovation is not simply invention; it is inventiveness put to use.1
If you ask people what innovation is, responses might include new inventions, ideas, business models, technical accomplishments, process improvements, or applications for existing technology. And while some of these may be requisite for innovation, what distinguishes true innovation from mere invention is implementation and adoption.2
In anesthesiology, the pulse oximeter is arguably the most impactful innovation of the past few decades. Dr. Takuo Aoyagi developed the technology in the early 1970’s, but almost a decade passed before its utility in the operating rooms and intensive care units was validated and market demand had accelerated. Widespread adoption followed and irrevocably changed the safety and practice of our profession, and pulse oximetry remains indispensable to this day.
Pick up a newspaper or business text and you’re likely to read about the relationship between innovation and value creation, where value is something that meets a person or entity’s otherwise unmet needs. This arguably holds in health care so long as value’s definition is inclusive of patient experience, safety, and outcomes.
Anesthesiology and perioperative care delivery will likely change dramatically within our lifetimes. We hypothesize that areas of burgeoning innovation most likely to impact our practice include artificial intelligence (AI), virtual or augmented reality, and telemedicine. For example, closed loop systems (powered by AI) of insulin measurement and delivery are transforming both the outpatient and inpatient experience of living with diabetes. While this technology has not been systematically implemented in the operating room, small studies of closed-loop systems delivering general anesthesia show potential promise for improving cognitive outcomes when compared to current methods.
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About the Committee on Innovation ›
1. Evans, Harold. They Made America: From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine, Two Centuries of Innovators.
2. Carlson, C. and Wilmot, W. Innovation: The Five Disciplines for Creating What Customers Want.
Curated by: ASA Committee on Innovation
Date of last update: May 17, 2024
You do not have to make a payment at this time, but you can reach out to your practice/group leader to find out when they plan to pay your dues. Email or call the ASA Support team for assistance: (630) 912-2552 or info@asahq.org.
