10.10.10 -- Wicked Problems in Healthcare

For my Colorado friends and coworkers, we are less than 2 months away from the 3rd annual 10.10.10 event for Healthcare. 10.10.10 brings together 10 prospective CEO for 10 days, to solve 10 “wicked problems” in Healthcare. The aim is to solve some of the most difficult problems in healthcare, while deriving enough economic benefit to support a business. Last year's event included a few really inspiring speakers. So much so, that I decided I would volunteer to help with the event this year.

Did you know that children develop a taste preference for sweets at a very early age? Moms should limit sweet juices and soda to save a child from life-long sugar craving which may lead to obesity and other health issues, according to Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson from Seattle’s Childrens Hospiital, a.k.a “Seattle Mama Doc”. But how can we encourage moms on the lower end of the economic scale to do the right thing, when juice and pop are so cheap at the grocery and big box stores? Childhood obesity is Wicked Problem #3, 2016. 10.10.10 is asking if technology can help.

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Many seemingly normal people suffer mental health issues in silence. Dr. David Rosenman of the Mayo Clinic, related his experience mentoring a bright young female student from Princeton over the course of a year. With no warning signs beyond the typical stress of residency, this young lady took her own life. Can technology help identify problems early enough to intervene? Perhaps Alexa or Google Voice can engage as a surrogate friend at an opportune time. Mental Health Management is Wicked Problem #8, 2016.

The full list of Wicked Problems in Healthcare from 2016:

  1. THE NEXUS OF HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING AND HEALTH
  2. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
  3. CHILDHOOD OBESITY
  4. IMPROVING HEALTHCARE QUALITY: NARROWING THE CHASM BETWEEN THE CARE WE EXPECT AND THE CARE WE RECEIVE
  5. HEALTH LITERACY, INSURANCE AND DECISION MAKING: REDUCING THE COST OF HEALTHCARE DELIVERY THROUGH IMPROVED HEALTH LITERACY
  6. CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT
  7. AGING
  8. MENTAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT
  9. REDUCING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN
  10. TOXIC STRESS AND ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS (ACES)

This year brings a new set of 10 Wicked Problems to the forefront, likely with some overlap from last year’s 10. You may be curious how much progress was made against last year’s list. There is no silver bullet here. The best organizers can hope for is to combine an entrepreneurial CEO, Healthcare institutions with a mission to solve the problem, and a broadly skilled support staff to help the CEO. Mix in an energetic, innovative atmosphere for 2 weeks, and perhaps the result will be a new business with a chance to make a real difference. Last year, the event culminated with 2 or 3 real businesses created to tackle significant portions of a Wicked Problem. There are no quick solutions to these intractable problems. But this is a good start.

Does this pique your interest? You should take a look at the web site and plan to attend the public events, starting with “The Big Reveal” on June 5, 2017. Most of the public events require a ticket and a small fee to help cover expenses. I hope to see you there!

Photographs taken from CyberMed News article.

Kirstan Vandersluis