Title: The Pitfalls of Developing Healthcare Technology Without Frontline Experience
Creating innovative solutions for healthcare is undoubtedly a noble pursuit, but experience on the ground often reveals overlooked complexities. Unfortunately, many developers venturing into health tech for the first time tend to design systems without truly understanding the environment they aim to serve.
Having spent three years working within a hospital setting, I’ve witnessed firsthand how vendors frequently arrive with their “breakthrough” products, often lacking a real grasp of clinical workflows. For example, I recall a startup pitching a patient intake platform that, paradoxically, would have added an extra 20 minutes to each appointment. The reason? They hadn’t consulted with front desk staff, who have honed their processes over years to streamline patient flow. It was eye-opening to see how disconnected some solutions are from actual clinical operations—a clear sign that healthcare has its own unique rhythm and needs.
Looking back, I admit I was once guilty of similar mistakes. In my early days of developing a patient scheduling app, I didn’t understand the intricacies of insurance authorizations, provider credentialing, or the nuances of appointment types. It wasn’t until I spent months shadowing clinic staff that I was able to evolve my project into something genuinely useful and non-disruptive.
The truth is, designing healthcare solutions from afar—without ever stepping into a clinic during busy hours or understanding the day-to-day challenges—can lead to ineffective or even harmful outcomes. When you’re dealing with life-critical systems, “move fast and break things” isn’t just reckless—it’s dangerous. Breaking a workflow can mean delaying a patient’s insulin dose or complicating urgent care.
Have you also experienced a wake-up call working on healthcare tech? Or lessons learned that “digitize everything” isn’t a magic solution? Sharing these insights can help foster more thoughtful innovation in this vital industry.
