Explore the need for innovation in healthcare, the development, adoption and spread of an innovation, and blockers to adoption.
2,852 enrolled on this course

Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it works
An Introduction to Innovation in Healthcare
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Discover the tools needed for healthcare innovation
On this four-week course from the University of Bath and the West of England AHSN, you’ll be introduced to some of the tools and techniques that individuals and teams can use to develop and refine new products, processes, and services. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to initiate and support innovation initiatives in your own organisation.
Understand how to take innovation from idea to realisation
When developing innovation, there are concepts and techniques that you can use to aid the process. This course will guide you through the innovation journey, from spotting opportunities for innovation to conducting research and generating ideas.
You’ll then look at innovation in practice and the key steps involved in the process. This section will take you through developing and testing initiatives, sizing the market and mapping competition, and the project planning aspects.
Explore the implementation of healthcare innovation
Innovation often isn’t just a one-person job; it takes strong teamwork and collaboration to ideate and implement innovation. This course will take you through the importance of these skills, as well as how individuals, teams, and organisations are encouraged to develop an innovation mindset.
You’ll also consider the obstacles and challenges that have to be overcome to bring healthcare innovation to market, as well as the factors that influence the successful adoption and diffusion of healthcare innovations.
Learn from the experts at the University of Bath
The course is developed by the University of Bath, drawing on the expertise of its School of Management and the West of England AHSN, which is able to link to all the key players in the area of health and care innovation across the region.
What topics will you cover?
The course aims to approach the challenges of healthcare innovation, while signposting useful tools and techniques. This course is not designed to cover all the aspects of healthcare innovation, but rather is designed to introduce learners to some of the core concepts and tools used in this field.
- Week 1 defines the key concepts associated with the process of innovation and diffusion. We will also discuss the importance of, and opportunities for, innovation.
- Week 2 examines how individuals and organisations can develop, test, and make the case for their healthcare innovation.
- Week 3 considers the organisational and financial hurdles that must be overcome in order to bring healthcare invention to the market. We will also examine how to evaluate healthcare innovation.
- Finally, Week 4 examines how innovation can be spread and sustained, concluding our course.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Understand the need to engage in innovation.
- Understand and apply the key steps involved to take an innovation from idea to realisation.
- Evaluate how individuals and organisations might be encouraged to develop an innovation mindset.
- Understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration.
- Evaluate the challenges of healthcare innovation in relation to your own organisation.
- Recognise healthcare innovation initiatives.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone looking to understand the process and challenges of innovation in healthcare. It will be of special interest to health practitioners, clinicians, health and social managers, and commissioners and innovators from the commercial sector.
It will be especially valuable if you work in health and social care as it will enable you to apply theories and approaches in your own workplace.
Who will you learn with?
Nigel is the Director of Innovation and Growth with the West of England AHSN, a visiting Professor at the University of Bath and West of England, and an Ex charity CEO and NHS Clinical Scientist.
Rossella is a Senior Lecturer in Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the School of Management at the University of Bath.
Health Innovation West of England
Health Innovation West of England (formerly the West of England Academic Health Science Network) brings together all the key players innovating health and care in our region.
We are one of 15 health innovation networks across the country, established by NHS England in 2013.
Ways to learn | Subscribe & save | Buy this course | Limited access |
---|---|---|---|
Choose the best way to learn for you! | $349.99 for one year Automatically renews | $109/one-off payment | Free |
Develop skills to further your career | Fulfill your current learning need | Sample the course materials | |
Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 21 May 2025 |
Access to 1,000+ courses | tick | cross | cross |
Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
Tests to check your learning | tick | tick | cross |
Certificate when you're eligible | Digital only | Printed and digital | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Buy this course
$109/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Subscribe & save
$349.99 for one year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 21 May 2025
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) |
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Learner reviews
Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.
Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...
You can use the hashtag #IntroToInnovation to talk about this course on social media.
More courses you might like
Learners who joined this course have also enjoyed these courses.
Browse more in Healthcare & Medicine and Business & Management