HealthTech

HealthTech’s research methodology is based on an extensive survey of existing technology assessment and forecasting methods. It adapts and combines several approaches to forecasting to produce specific information that will be useful for strategic planning and decision making by executive leadership in health delivery systems and health plans.

This methodology has four components, illustrated on the attached graphic:

• Literature review: In-depth scans of existing research on the nature and potential applications of the technology. The initial scan of the research includes, but is not limited to, articles from national periodicals, peer-reviewed journals, and reports from nationally recognized research organizations and federal agencies. From the literature review, a working definition and overview are created, as well as a baseline for the forecast.  Product and Developer Review includes scans of current developers and their products within the relevant technology.
  

• Expert Interviews: Interviews are conducted throughout the research process with individuals identified by HealthTech as experts within the field. These individuals include clinicians, researchers, academics, regulators, policy makers, and developers. Experts are asked to identify core aspects of the technology, provide their opinion on the various subclasses of the technology, discuss keys issues in the research, identify and highlight the major impact areas on healthcare and healthcare delivery systems, and provide opinions on the overall staging of the technology and associated classes. 

• Stakeholder Analysis: Models the interactions between key stakeholders to predict conflicts and resolutions. Advisors for the Health Technology Center, together with the internal staff, review the technology and identify the perspectives of various healthcare stakeholders, including care providers, consumers, policy makers, regulators, and healthcare delivery system executives. The primary goal of the analysis is to search for specific issues and conflicts that may arise as the technology evolves.

• Expert Panel: The panel members are a subset of the expert interviewees and consist of a carefully selected group of 12 to 15 individuals representing diverse perspectives. The chosen panel members are a highly regarded group of professionals from various healthcare sectors and include clinicians, providers, consumer representatives, policy makers, developers, and workforce experts. HealthTech maintains ongoing communication with the panel members throughout the research and report writing process. The research culminates with a closed panel meeting where the experts focus their attention on components of the forecasting report and specific forecasting questions and discuss the expected impact of the technology on the healthcare delivery system and healthcare environment in the next two to five years. The participants also focus heavily on advances in the technology, the staging of the technology and its subclasses, and the expected penetration rates. The expertise, input, and refinements received from the panel members throughout the research process inform and contribute significantly to the overall research and the final forecast report.