How to Solve Problems the Google and Apple Way

By Sarah Sheber

You don’t have to wait for the opening general session on Sunday, October 9 at 4:30 p.m., to kick off your AHIMA22 experience. Spend the afternoon in a pre-conference workshop and jumpstart your week of growth and insights.

The workshop “Design Thinking for Innovation in Healthcare,” beginning at 1 p.m., introduces the design thinking process, a five-part problem-solving approach that you can apply in both your organization and your daily life.

Design thinking begins with putting aside our own perspectives and looking at the world as the end-user sees it. Household names such as Apple, Google, and Samsung have adopted the design thinking approach, and top universities including Harvard, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins teach the methodology.

“Healthcare requires continuous innovation to meet the needs of patients and providers,” says Mary Ann Sullivan, MA, CCMP, senior director, professional development and education operations and innovation at AHIMA. But important stakeholders are not always considered when new interventions or processes are designed. That can lead to products and services that do little more than gather dust, while the underlying issues remain unaddressed.

“Design thinking,” Sullivan says, “can be used to improve clinician-patient workflows, healthcare spaces, customer service, and community programs.”

Creative and effective solutions to complex problems in your workplace, volunteer settings, or community are within reach. Danielle Piccinini Black, MPH, MBA, an instructor in design thinking from Johns Hopkins University who also uses the approach in addressing emerging public health and business needs internationally, will lead this hands-on learning experience.

The Details

The “Design Thinking for Innovation in Healthcare” workshop takes place Sunday, October 9, 1–4 p.m. ET, at AHIMA22 Global Conference in Columbus, OH. To attend, add this workshop to your cart when you register for the conference. Three CEUs are available for workshop participants.

If you have already registered for AHIMA22 and would like to add this workshop, follow these instructions:

1. Click here to be directed to your original registration record.
2. Select “Add Sessions & Events” and select the workshop.
3. The site will then route you to the checkout cart, where you will be able to add the workshop to your registration record.