Often times during an introductory conversation with a hospital administrator, I am asked, “What software does Logic Solutions offer?” My response starts out simply stating that we actually don’t have a software product to offer them. The puzzled look I get in return isn’t uncommon, and is usually followed by an awkward moment of hesitation, confusion, or perhaps an audible sigh. What we do have, I explain, is a process, and the first step is for me to understand what unique challenges exist for that administrator and their environment. You see, our job is to help solve a problem — but first we need to understand what that problem is.
David Shaywitz wrote in a recent Forbes article the importance of emphasizing customer discovery and development in creating solutions that place far more emphasis on customer need. In the article, Healthcare Entrepreneurs Learn Important Lesson From The Valley: Your Solution Is Not My Problem, Shaywitz says, “Many ideas never go anywhere; many high-potential startups fail because their solution, while elegant, can’t be matched to a problem somebody wants to solve.”[1] In other words, many companies pitch their solutions without a solid understanding of the challenge at hand. He believes digital health entrepreneurs seem “especially susceptible” to offering a technology solution without considering whether it solves a problem for which a customer is willing to pay.
At Logic Solutions, we always encourage a detailed exchange of information and will ask a lot of questions to ensure that the issues are clearly articulated before a project even begins. And, while there are well-documented problems that are widespread among many hospitals that an existing platform may help to solve, we also understand that are also significant nuances within each hospital that require that solution be customized. Contrary to the more common approach by technology solutions providers, a “build it and they will come” solution for technology may not be best suited to deal with the complexities and intricacies of healthcare. We recognize the importance of an administrator’s role, and we can consult with that individual so that he or she isn’t at the risk of investing in a technology solution that ultimately doesn’t address the core issues that the hospital is faced with.
If you would like to sit down and discuss some of your IT challenges, how they impact your hospital environment and how Logic Solutions can arm you with the right information to truly make an informed decision, please reach out to us at info@logicsolutions.com.
About Richard Walker
Richard is a business development manager at Logic Solutions with a focus on Healthcare IT and Education Technology. A graduate of Edinboro University of PA, Richard also earned an MBA from Wayne State University and a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law. He worked for years in advertising and sales, and maintains his license to practice law. Richard can be reached at richard.walker@logicsolutions.com.
[1] Healthcare Entrepreneurs Learn Important Lesson From The Valley: Your Solution Is Not My Problem, David Shaywitz, Forbes, Feb. 1, 2014; www.forbes.com/sites/davidshaywitz/2014/02/01/healthcare-entrepreneurs-learn-important-lesson-from-the-valley-your-solution-is-not-my-problem/