Novant Health wants to be on the cutting edge — in medical technology, in patient care and in community impact. To do that, the Winston-Salem-based health system has invested in a local space to drive more innovation.
It recently opened a 1,400-square-foot innovation lab in uptown Charlotte's Third Ward, part of the larger headquarters for product launch company Enventys Partners. In passing, one might just see an office space. Look at little closer, however, and the room is full of 3D-printed models, virtual-reality headsets and technological tools for clinicians. One table showcases Viz.ai, a system that allows doctors to more quickly determine if a patient has a life-threatening condition, such as a stroke. Another setup has an at-home kit to help doctors record a patient's symptoms virtually.
Paula Kranz is leading the innovation lab as executive director. Her goal is to bring more of these tools to providers to improve patient care. She said the lab is meant to be an event space for community organizations, vendors, workers and corporate CEOs to collaborate. The space is modular and can be easily adjusted.
"We have the best job at Novant ... a lot of engagement, a lot of pushing boundaries, and we have a wonderful boss who really supports that," Kranz said. "There's an appetite and an excitement for it, and that's why we think it's going to be a good recruiting tool, a retention tool, to just have this space available."
Novant's innovation lab is so far funded by donors and grant money, she said. It wants to eventually have its own fund. Revenue from these new products can also be funneled back into more research, she said.
There is already a wide range of ideas coming from the innovation lab.
Robots will be deployed in the next couple of years to handle resupplying or distribution of medications, saving time for understaffed nursing departments. There are headbands used in Novant's free clinics to coach patients, and even workers, to breathe deeply and calm down. The health system is talking with Lowe's Cos. Inc. (NYSE: LOW) about potential fall-detection systems for aging adults. It is discussing solutions to food deserts with grocery chains. Innovation, although often technology-based, could be simple process improvements.
Matthew Floyd, regional director at the lab, said Novant is also looking to partner with smaller startups. It is focusing on that more than large companies. Novant engages with startups via incubator programs or pitch events. Locally, RevTech Labs has played a substantial role in connecting the health system with small businesses.
"That's where you find those innovative ideas because the big companies — Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson — yes, they have a lot of technology and a lot of capabilities, but they already have those established partnerships, they already have those established relationships," Floyd said.
Testing products is a highly regulated process, Kranz noted, as Novant must implement cybersecurity and other protocols to protect patient data.
Another key factor for the innovation lab is its proximity to Enventys. Novant has access to the entire 10,000-square-foot headquarters building, including the 3D-printing space and production studio. The health system can work with Enventys, which already has a solid track record on medical devices, to prototype ideas and see if they are worth manufacturing on a larger scale.
Enventys focuses on intellectual property, which is the foundation for new products and companies, CEO Louis Foreman said. Its involvement can range from licensing agreements to manufacturing, depending on the client. The opportunity to partner with Novant is an advantage, he said. It connects the company's engineers firsthand with providers and other stakeholders to vet new products or ideas, which then builds a larger ecosystem.
