Health →
- 08 Mar 2022
- Cold Call Podcast
France Telecom: Corporate Restructuring and Employee Well-Being
The France Telecom case series follows the evolution of the organization from a national telephone monopoly to a private company facing severe challenges. These included a lessening competitive advantage, with the advent of mobile carriers and competition from other countries, as well as a workforce that was much larger than needed and included many civil servants, making it difficult to reduce headcount. As increasing pressure mounted internally to make changes and 22,000 jobs were lost between 2006 and 2009, the culture at France Telecom shifted from one where employees were proud to work to one where the physical and mental wellbeing of some employees became increasingly fragile. Did corporate leaders push employees too far, creating unacceptable levels of stress and unhappiness? Professors Cynthia Montgomery and Ashley Whillans discuss some fundamental tensions between the pressures and benefits of capitalism, the responsibilities of management, and the day-to-day and long-term impacts on employee well-being in the case, “France Telecom: A Difficult Restructuring.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 24 Feb 2022
- Op-Ed
Want to Prevent the Next Hospital Bed Crisis? Enlist the SEC
After two years of COVID-19, many hospitals still haven't figured out how to manage the overwhelming wave of patients that flood ICUs during each surge. Regina Herzlinger and Richard Boxer offer a novel solution. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 16 Nov 2021
- Cold Call Podcast
Can Mass General Brigham Diversify Its Community of Innovators?
In November 2019, Mass General Brigham (MGB) was the largest recipient of National Institutes of Health funding in the world. The Innovation Office, led by Chief Innovation Officer Chris Coburn, sought to capitalize on that funding – with the goal of commercializing research done at the hospital to generate revenue and improve patient care. But CEO Anne Klibanski and other key stakeholders had a serious concern: although women comprised approximately 40 percent of the medical researchers and physicians at MGB, the percentage of women participating in innovation activities lagged behind. Associate Professor Katie Coffman, Coburn, and MGB’s managing director of administration and strategy Diana Schwartzstein discuss how they identify the main sources of the disparities and find the right strategy to expand and diversify MGB’s community of innovators in the case, “Inclusive Innovation at Mass General Brigham.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 02 Nov 2021
- Research & Ideas
Why COVID-19 Probably Killed More People Than We Realize
Millions of people around the world have died from COVID-19, according to government records, but research by Ethan Rouen, George Serafeim, and Botir Kobilov suggests that the actual number could be much higher. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 02 Jun 2021
- Research & Ideas
A Rare Find in Health Care: A Simple Solution to Racial Inequity
Research by Amitabh Chandra offers a stark new explanation for racial disparities in heart attack survival rates—a problem with immediate answers. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 30 Mar 2021
- Working Paper Summaries
Kidney Exchange: An Operations Perspective
Kidney exchange has become a standard form of transplantation in the United States and a few other countries in part because of exchange process improvements. However, much more needs to be done: There are still many more patients in need of transplants than can be saved.
- 22 Mar 2021
- Research & Ideas
How to Learn from the Big Mistake You Almost Make
A brush with disaster can lead to important innovations, but only if employees have the psychological safety to reflect on these close calls, says research by Amy C. Edmondson, Olivia Jung, and colleagues. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 15 Mar 2021
- Working Paper Summaries
The Health Costs of Cost-Sharing
Small increases in cost cause patients to reduce their use of drugs with major benefits, ultimately causing their death. Since patient cost-sharing introduces large and deadly distortions into the cost-benefit calculus, payers should evaluate the merits of policies in light of their impact on health, not just on health care costs.
- 22 Feb 2021
- Working Paper Summaries
Private and Social Returns to R&D: Drug Development and Demographics
Research and development (R&D) by pharmaceutical firms focuses disproportionately on medical conditions afflicting the elderly. The proportion of R&D spending targeting older age groups is increasing over time. Even though these investments in R&D prolong life expectancy and improve quality of life, they have little effect on measured productivity and output growth.
- 29 Jan 2021
- Op-Ed
How Influencers, Celebrities, and FOMO Can Win Over Vaccine Skeptics
Drawing from product innovation theory, Rohit Deshpandé and colleagues offer three recommendations to speed adoption of COVID-19 vaccines. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Jan 2021
- Research & Ideas
Unexpected Exercise Advice for the Super Busy: Ditch the Rigid Routine
Itching to get off the COVID couch? New research by John Beshears bucks conventional wisdom about what it takes to make exercise a habit. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Jan 2021
- Working Paper Summaries
Hospital Allocation and Racial Disparities in Health Care
Black Americans experience disparities in health outcomes in the United States relative to other demographic groups. This study of heart attack sufferers over two decades develops a framework to examine the allocation of health care and the effectiveness of medical treatments, including beta-blockers and other technologies.
- 14 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
What Does December's Drug-Approval Dash Mean for COVID-19 Vaccines?
Even in the best of times, pharmaceutical regulators tend to rush through drug applications in December. Now add in a ruthless pandemic. Research and insights from Lauren Cohen. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 24 Nov 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
Evaluating Innovative Health Care Solutions for Obesity
From Weight Watchers to bariatric surgery, innovations for combatting obesity abound. But which will do the most good for society and yield the best business results? Professor Regina Herzlinger discusses a new case study. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 29 Oct 2020
- Research & Ideas
The COVID Gender Gap: Why Fewer Women Are Dying
To promote the greatest safety, public health officials should target their pandemic messaging to men differently than to women. Research by Vincent Pons and colleagues. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 22 Sep 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Older People Are Less Pessimistic about the Health Risks of COVID-19
The pandemic presents a unique opportunity to investigate formation of beliefs about an unprecedented, widespread, and life-threatening event. One finding: COVID-19 makes the prospect of disease and death particularly salient for the young.
- 17 Sep 2020
- Research & Ideas
Many Small-Business Employees May Be Close to Losing Health Insurance
Small-business owners have delayed rent payments and other bills to protect health benefits for employees. Now, financial pressure is mounting, according to research by Leemore Dafny, Yin Wei Soon, Zoë Cullen, and Christopher Stanton. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 03 Sep 2020
- Op-Ed
Why American Health Care Needs Its Own SEC
The United States needs a health care equivalent of the Securities and Exchange Commission to increase transparency and competition, argues Regina Herzlinger. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 20 Aug 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Can Shared Service Delivery Increase Customer Engagement? A Study of Shared Medical Appointments
Shared service delivery means that customers are served in groups rather than individually. Results from a large-scale study of glaucoma follow-up appointments at a major eye hospital indicate that shared service delivery can significantly improve patients’ verbal and non-verbal engagement.
Lessons from COVID-19: The Business Skills Doctors Need
The pandemic forced many physicians to become supply chain experts and strategic planners. Robert Huckman and colleagues offer a roadmap for teaching doctors the management and leadership skills they need—before the next public health crisis. Open for comment; 0 Comments.