Creating Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs) to Reduce Infant Mortality

Abstract

This case study illustrates the growth process of a collaborative innovation network in healthcare. It tracks e-mail communication of COIN members through a method we call “virtual mirroring”, and measures the online perception of the topics of the COIN by coolhunting on social media such as Twitter and blogs. It also describes how the COIN members through “coolfarming” self-organize and identify new sub-topics for their work. In particular, the paper describes the growth process of the US Department of Health and Human Services Infant Mortality CoIIN (Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network), applying both improvement and innovation concepts to reducing infant mortality among disadvantaged families in the US.