Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health joined Newark-based New Jersey Innovation Institute's Ideation Program for Healthcare, an innovation and incubation program. The New Jersey Innovation Institute is a New Jersey Institute of Technology corporation.
The program aims to create and launch healthcare problem-solving technology, products and services. The institute's Ideation Center, unveiled in April, was established to serve as a "living lab" for scientific education and research.
As a member of the ideation program, Hackensack Meridian Health plans to leverage the skills of entrepreneurs, major corporations, research scientists, students and New Jersey Institute of Technology faculty to develop healthcare solutions and accelerate product launch activities. Additionally, ideas generated via the program will advance into a second phase of innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health's proprietary Hackensack Meridian Health Innovation Center.
"Having access to NJII's Ideation Program Team during Hackensack Meridian Health's innovation sessions ... builds on our ongoing relationship with NJII that is furthering the development of research into new health care applications and technologies that may ultimately improve the lives of untold numbers of people," said Andrew L. Pecora, MD, vice president, cancer services and chief innovation officer at the John Theurer Cancer Center, HackensackUMC.
Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 13 hospitals, physician practices, more than 120 ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services and more. In all, it includes 28,000 employees and more than 6,000 physicians.