Caring for innovation and caring for the innovator

Abstract

Innovative individuals can be an annoying source of disruption in the workplace--always asking "why are we doing this?" and challenging long-held assumptions. Some individuals have the audacity to make changes believed to improve outcomes with or without support. Their actions and rationale for the actions are based on the belief that they are improving outcomes and adding value because current processes are no longer appropriate. This lack of regard for the status quo may be essential for organizational survival. These creative, innovative, and risky activities can and should be reframed and transformed from the lens of the innovator. Caring theory provides the interface for successful integration of innovative behaviors into the current healthcare culture. As we are students in the first Master of Healthcare Innovation program in the country, our experiences and challenges are shared from the framework of Caring for the Innovator. This article builds a case for enhancing the healthcare culture to recognize and value innovation and subsequently to support and care for the healthcare innovator. A brief discussion of the need for a new approach to innovation, an overview of the concepts of innovation and caring, and caring strategies to support innovation are presented.