Financial and infrastructural resources for new technology implementation

Abstract

Promotion of surgical technology relies on the availability of financial and infrastructural resources, particularly as traditional sources of funding, such as National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, have waned in recent decades. Resources for financial support depend on the stage of development and the context in which the idea is being studied. For technologies being evaluated by clinical trials, insurance reimbursement may assist with support as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has mandated that routine costs of enrollment in clinical trials be covered by health insurance. However, there are exceptions to this, as not all insurance providers are required to adhere to the ACA. Additional sources of funding when a clinical trial is not feasible or practical include stimulation grants from institutions, surgical societies, and the NIH. Industry partnership also remains a critical resource in the development of new technology; in addition to industry grants, corporate partnership for development, implementation, and eventual marketing of surgical technologies may assist with innovation. Although a risk of conflict of interest exists in this setting, a properly structured collaboration may allow for swifter development of new technology while maintaining strict ethical standards. Finally, organizations may assist with promoting innovation by critical infrastructure. This includes establishing a culture of collaboration, facilitating access to mentorship, and providing material support for such research. In conclusion, existing barriers to development of new technology may be circumnavigated by utilization of available financial and organizational resources.