The future of healthcare: Federica Morandi's contribution with the new roles of Healthcare 4.0
In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, innovation is no longer just a possibility, but the driver of change. However, as pointed out by Federica Morandi, associate professor of Business Organisation at the Faculty of Economics of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and director of academic and research programmes at the Alta Scuola di Economia e Management dei Sistemi Sanitari (Altems) the real challenge lies in the ability to manage this transformation.
The meeting between culture and organisational practice
Professor Morandi's contribution highlights a fundamental point of contact between two paths: “The Future of Care”, aimed at building a conscious and shared culture of innovation, and “Skills Workshop”, which aims to translate this culture into concrete roles and responsibilities within healthcare organisations. ‘To be real, innovation cannot remain just an idea, it cannot remain at a theoretical level or remain a drive linked to the individual [...] but must be embraced by healthcare organisations, translated into new roles, new skills and even new responsibilities.’
Three key roles for the healthcare of the future
Through the ‘Officina delle Competenze’ project, three new professional profiles have been identified and tested, which are essential for making innovation possible and sustainable at every level:
- Healthcare Director 4.0: responsible for governing innovation according to a purely strategic logic.
- Patient Journey Manager: a figure dedicated to integrating and coordinating processes, maintaining a constant focus on the patient's journey.
- Chief Innovation Officer (CIO): acts as an ambassador and catalyst for change.
The Chief Innovation Officer: a bridge between technology and clinical practice
Particular attention is given to the Chief Innovation Officer, whose mission is to ensure that the solutions adopted generate real value for all stakeholders. This figure promotes alignment between corporate strategy and clinical needs, shifting the focus from tools to process transformation. The impact of this role is measured not only in terms of digitalisation, but also in terms of the ability to bring about real organisational change and the long-term sustainability of the system.
Innovation as a cultural choice
In closing her speech, Professor Morandi reiterates that technology alone is not enough. Innovation must become part of the DNA of healthcare institutions. "Innovation is not just technology, and innovation is not a project or even a fad. Innovation is a culture. Innovation is a skill and a responsibility."
Now more than ever, the National Health Service needs to invest in people and skills to transform change into tangible value.
