PROJECT PROTOTYPING AS A TOOL FOR PREDICTION AND OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

Abstract

Significance. Prototyping is a tool to develop a draft (early) project paradigm, with the aim of testing and evaluating effectiveness of its use and analyzing technical characteristics prior to implementation. For the first time ever, the authors have attempted to substantiate the need for a prototype in a medical organization implementing projects, with a choice of the prototyping detail level, focused on efficient use of the healthcare system resources in future, patient needs, lean approach to the time budget as the main value by choosing the optimal logistics of the processes under implementation. The object of the study is prototyping processes of different degree of detail, depending on the subjects - participants in the implementation of the federal projects, implementers at the regional level, and patients. The purpose of the study is to create an absolute minimum in a medical organization (prototype) that implements projects, as a tool to test functionality of the stages prior to their actual implementation (development) and subsequent evaluation. To achieve this goal, an attempt has been made to substantiate application of prototyping processes at different levels of implementation of the strategic goals set by national projects in terms of the following characteristics: speed, cost, feedback and realism. Material and methods. The research material included publications by Russian and foreign scientists related to prototyping in various fields of activity. For the first time ever, this technique was proposed to be used in healthcare. To substantiate the need to use prototyping processes in implementing national projects, the method of systemic and structural-functional analysis was used. Results. As a result, the authors have formulated practical recommendations that will help reduce risks and optimize costs associated with project implementation, using potential capabilities of the prototype, depending on the level of its detail as well as receive feedback from potential project stakeholders. Conclusion. Prototyping is a new management tool in healthcare and can become an effective reserve for achieving the goals of the national project “Healthcare”. A highly detailed prototype is much similar to the project final result; therefore, service consumes interacting with the prototype, will receive as realistic practical experience as possible.