My time so far has been chock full of amazing things to observe and do. In just a few days I’ve accomplished so much, from shadowing gastroscopies and ENT surgeries to drafting high impact needs statements in teams. It was surprising to me how much needs finding is a skill to hone, rather than just a concept to learn over time. I initially started with observations by writing down anything the doctor would talk to us about, whether that be facts about the procedures we observed or things they would like fixed within their workflow. However, this became hard when the doctor’s spoke in quick Spanish, or were simply busy teaching staff and performing procedures. I began to take notes on the little things, such as medical equipment usage, common provider practices, and patient display of pain or emotions. I also had to become confident asking clarifying questions to staff, especially in another language, to ensure I was getting the full picture of what was happening. When it came to drafting needs statements, I had to think deeper about being clear with what the problems were, and what positive outcomes we were looking to achieve. Still, I really appreciated the exercise in drafting needs statements because I felt like I was learning how to organize my thoughts in a way that could allow me to attack problems in healthcare settings. Clarifying the problem is half the battle, and because healthcare issues can be pervasive and large, choosing the scope that best meets patient needs is an important skill that I believe I gained by drafting purposeful needs statements. Overall, I think I learned a lot from these past few days, and can’t wait to keep moving forward with the medical innovations bootcamp to see what we can learn about the prototyping process.
