At least two translational blocks have been identified in the pathway from a new idea to a new, successful, important improvement in patient care. Strategies for accelerating technological innovation have been well studied in many industries, but not as rigorously in healthcare. Novel approaches to innovation outside healthcare include lead user methodology, adapting disruptive technology, and effective manipulation of sticky information. Two types of barriers to successful development and transfer of technology have been described. Type I barriers include lack of clear understanding of a clinical problem, lack of knowledge about technical options, and trouble finding appropriate collaborators. Type II barriers include protecting intellectual property, finding funding for prototypes and investigation, gaining additional funding, evaluating safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness, regulatory issues - government and third party payors, and an exit strategy (license to industry, incubator, or start-up).

We have two organizations which seek to bridge these gaps and overcome these barriers. CIMIT, the Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology, is a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary Boston-based center that intentionally brings together and supports teams of physicians plus engineers and scientists to improve patient care instead of depending on chance encounters and opportunistic resources to advance this process. This is accomplished with a three pronged approach: education, facilitation, and technology development. CTAIPP, the Council for Technology Adoption and Innovative Process Promotion, was founded in 2005 at Massachusetts General Hospital to promote and foster technologic advances at the hospital. Examples of the activities of both of these groups will be presented and discussed.