Innovation

What does innovation mean at Sørlandet Hospital?

The term innovation is used to refer to many things by many people, so it is not easy to establish a shared understanding. That is why we have written a little about what Sørlandet Hospital means by innovation:

Innovation involves developing and implementing new and improved products and services, as well as improving operations through new and cost-effective processes, organisational solutions and patient pathways. In short, innovation means new solutions put into practice. In the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, the terms “new, useful and put to use” are used. This is because an idea does not become an innovation until it is put into practice and creates value.

The Idea Office is here to help you, as the owner of an idea, turn it into an innovation. Users’ experiences are central to identifying needs and influencing the design of tomorrow’s services, products and service models.

Different projects require different approaches
Every innovation project is unique. However, we have simplified things a little and use two main categories:

1. Service innovation
2. Product innovation

Service innovation is about developing new and improved services and processes based on patients’ needs:

Focus on patient satisfaction, the working environment, quality and benefits to society

Can be implemented without the help of a third party

Product innovation is about developing and implementing new products that will improve the hospital’s services. Such an invention can often be patented and therefore has commercial potential. Hospital employees are legally required to report inventions with commercial potential (cf. the Employee Inventions Act). Inven2 and the SSHF Idea Office can help you with, among other things:

• Securing rights/patenting
• Safeguarding the rights of both the employee and the employer relating to an idea
• Contact with commercialisation partners and industry collaboration
   

Inven2 manages, develops and commercialises all work and research results with commercial potential generated at health trusts in the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.

Inven2 assists the owners with negotiating and entering into research collaboration agreements with industry partners.

Does not preclude commercialisation at a later stage

Who can submit ideas?

All our employees can submit their ideas to the Idea Office.

What about feedback on patient care?

Please send your enquiry in writing to:

Sørlandet Hospital
Administration
PO Box 416
4604 Kristiansand

Does the Idea Office distribute funding?

The Idea Office does not have its own funds to distribute. If you have a good idea, we can support you in applying for funding.

Does the Idea Office have project managers who can bring the idea to fruition?

The Idea Office’s role is to receive, assess and coordinate work on ideas in collaboration with hospital employees and external partners. We do not have project managers available to lend.

Who we are

The Idea Office is here to help move your idea forward so that its value can be realised. We work across the entire health trust.

Employees can submit ideas and follow ongoing initiatives on the internal page here.

Members of the public, patients and relatives are encouraged to send useful suggestions to postmottak@sshf.no, marked “innovation”
 

The Idea Office

Steinar Omnes
Head of Innovation | Innovation and Development
416 98 998
Steinar.omnes@sshf.no

Line Marie Fjeldsgård Ekse
Adviser | Innovation and Development
934 04 070
Line.Marie.Ekse@sshf.no

Susanne Lindheim Solaas
Adviser | Innovation and Development
482 33 264
Susanne.Aune.Solaas@sshf.no

Other relevant professional communities may also be involved when needed.