The 4 Things Every Good Product Team Does: Insights from HealthTech Innovation
Product teams are responsible for so many aspects of a product, all the way from conception through to launch and beyond, but how can you set the team behind those decisions up for success? It is a question that we explore through our clinical talent consultancy and product strategy and visoning services. Using our experience in the HealthTech innovation sector, we identify four key practices that consistently set great product teams up for success.
1. They Maintain a Laser Focus on User Needs
Great product teams in HealthTech understand that their ultimate goal is to solve real problems for healthcare professionals, patients, and other stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem. They centre this in their work, constantly referring back to these personas and asking if it solves their problems.
What This Looks Like in Practice:
Regular user research and feedback sessions
Continuous analysis of user data and behaviour
Prioritisation of features based on user impact rather than technical interest
Why It Matters:
In healthtech, we are primarily designing these products to solve a real human need. Whether that is freeing up time so clinicians can work more purposefully or developing a consumer-facing diagnostic device, a deep understanding of user needs is non-negotiable. It ensures that products not only function well but also integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows and improve patient outcomes.
Traditional healthcare often views patients as passive recipients of care. A genuinely user-centered approach sees them as active partners and acknowledges their expertise in their own health experiences.
Erica Warp, Product & Neuroscience Specialist
Erica Warp, Curistica’s Product & Neuroscience Specialist, says ‘In a true user-centered HealthTech ecosystem, success is not measured solely by financial performance or engagement with a product or service, but by the tangible improvements in user health outcomes and experiences. Key metrics should include patient satisfaction, reduction in hospital readmissions, and overall quality of life improvements.
The healthcare industry has long been focused on episodic interventions – treating diseases or symptoms as they arise. A user-centered approach in HealthTech should shift to supporting continuous, holistic health journeys which take care of the patient as an individual rather than taking care of an isolated episode of poor health.’
2. They Embrace Cross-Functional Collaboration
The best product teams in HealthTech break down silos and foster collaboration across different disciplines. Product is just one piece of the puzzle and cross-team collaboration is crucial in bringing to market a world-class product.
What This Looks Like in Practice:
Efficient cross-functional meetings and workshops where all disciplines provide respectful contributions
Shared objectives across design, development, clinical, and business teams
Encouraging team members to develop T-shaped skills
Why It Matters:
HealthTech products often require a delicate balance of clinical expertise, technical innovation, regulatory compliance, business acumen and marketing skills. Teams that can effectively incorporate these perspectives are more likely to create holistic, impactful solutions.
Erica writes that ‘HealthTech is a complex domain. Our bodies are complex. The healthcare landscape is complex. And the technologies available to create novel solutions are complex. The best teams have a mix of people who are specialists in each of these rich domains coupled with people who are generalists and experts at finding patterns and opportunities across domains.
The best teams I have been part of have had a healthy mix of specialists and generalists where there is mutual respect for what each person brings to the table. They are the most creative and innovative. And also the most fun to work with.’
3. They Prioritise Rapid Learning and Iteration
Top-performing product teams in HealthTech understand the value of failing fast and learning quickly within a safe framework.
What This Looks Like in Practice:
Adopting agile methodologies adapted for healthcare contexts
Using MVP (Minimum Viable Product) approaches where appropriate
Implementing robust feedback loops and analytics
Why It Matters:
The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, with new regulations, technologies, and patient needs emerging regularly. Teams that can quickly test hypotheses, learn from results, and iterate are better positioned to stay ahead of the curve.
4. They Never Compromise on Quality and Safety
While speed and innovation are important, the best HealthTech product teams never lose sight of the paramount importance of quality and safety.
What This Looks Like in Practice:
Rigorous testing protocols, including automated and manual testing
Proactive risk assessment and mitigation strategies
Continuous monitoring and quick response to potential issues
Why It Matters:
In healthcare, where products can directly impact patient health and safety, maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety is not just good practice—it's an ethical imperative and a regulatory requirement, which is what we focus on in our clinical safety and due diligence service.
The need for clinical and safety expertise in any healthtech product is a non-negotiable, but doing so effectively can be challenging.
Dr Keith Grimes, Curistica Founder
Dr Keith Grimes, Curistica’s Founder and a Clinical Safety Officer, says ‘You may bring a deep experience and understanding of the healthcare setting, but with that you bring some of your own biases. It’s important to continue to consider the limits of your own capabilities and where needed bring in additional clinical and end-user opinions. Your role might then become the bridge between external and internal stakeholders.
You must always remember that you are just one part of a team, and you have to ensure that everyone clearly understands your perspective and some of the nuances of quality and safety. Your experience of communicating complex medical concepts to patients and their families can be very helpful here! As this respectful conversation and collaboration develops you’ll also be learning from your colleagues about their areas of expertise, which in turn makes you a more effective communicator.
Another challenge is managing the pace of product development and commercial needs of the company, which can feel pretty rapid compared to the pace of innovation in a healthcare setting. This is where you prove your worth. At all times hold to the red lines, but make sure you are thinking creatively about the problem in front of the team and ways in which you can move past any barriers. Your growing understanding of the whole team and their roles will play a key part here, as well as gaining you the trust you need when you have to deliver difficult news.’
Putting It All Together
These four practices—user focus, cross-functional collaboration, rapid learning, and quality commitment—form the cornerstone of successful HealthTech product teams. By embracing these principles, teams can navigate the complex landscape of healthcare innovation more effectively.
At Curistica, we've seen firsthand how these practices can transform product development processes and outcomes. Our team works closely with HealthTech companies to instil these principles and enhance their product development capabilities.
Building a great product team in HealthTech is no small task, but focusing on these four key areas can significantly improve your chances of success. Remember, it's not just about building products—it's about creating solutions that genuinely improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
Are you looking to elevate your product team's performance? Curistica offers tailored consulting services to help HealthTech companies optimise their product development processes.
Get in touch with us today to learn how we can help your team excel in HealthTech product development.
