Coolest innovations around the world

Sweden has one of the world's highest percentages of seniors, and in the late 1990s, Höglandet's local hospital began overflowing with patients.

Officials from the Jönköping region and healthcare employees collaborated on a better system to care for the elderly, who frequently ended up in the hospital. They dreamed up the fictional character Esther, a reasonably self-sufficient 88-year-old pensioner with some chronic health issues. Then they asked, "What is best for Esther?"

This led to an overhaul of the entire care system, which cut down on long waits, redundant tests and repetitive questions from professionals.

"It's about radical customization and trying to design processes based on the needs of the patients and not the needs of the system," said Göran Henriks, an official who helped launch the "Esther Project."

The system brings together doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and occupational therapists. In many cases, the best possible care is at home, which is far more cost effective. And when a hospital stay is required, municipal social care staff go to "Esther's" home to ensure she has food and a clean bed when she returns.

Nicoline Vackerberg, who manages day-to-day operations at the Esther Network, said everyone is encouraged to participate. (While everyone working in senior healthcare is involved in some way, there are 180 "coaches" who have been trained to always ask, "What is best for Esther.")

"We do a lot of reflecting. Everyone has the possibility to say 'This is not the best for Esther'," Vackerberg said. Patients also meet in groups with care providers to discuss their care and suggest improvements.

The Esther Project has been very successful in reducing hospital admissions (there was a 30% decline from 1998 to 2013) and in cutting costs (roughly $1 million a year from 2002 to 2013).

Similar programs are being rolled out to other groups that need complex care in Höglandet, including psychiatric patients. It's also being copied in places as far away as Singapore and San Francisco. --A.P.

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