Embedding Innovative Work Orientation for a Sustainable Healthcare Landscape: A Bibliographic Mapping of the New Trends

Background-To ensure long-term success and expansion, health care institutions need to swiftly adapt for the shifting challenge posed by environmental degradation. Effective risk mitigation, innovative technology diffusion, and strategic thought are necessary for navigating uncertainties. Creativity and innovation enhance resilience, enabling sustainability despite challenges.

Purpose- In this backdrop, the purpose of the study is to identify the factors that propel innovation in healthcare and explore how innovative work orientation affects the industry from a global standpoint.

Design/methodology/approach- An extensive review of all scholarly articles on Innovative work orientation (IWO) that were indexed in the Scopus database during 2014 to 2025 was carried out using a hybrid approach. In this research, approximately 45 articles that addressed healthcare innovation and healthcare professionals' innovative work orientation were screened. Findings- For an organisation to remain competitive and thrive over the long run, innovation is highly essential. Using the lens of PRISMA (The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) methodology guidelines, we performed a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify key gaps and propose future research paths. This article covers untapped research themes and knowledge designs in the domain of IWO. Innovative work acts as a catalyst for sustainable healthcare by fostering creativity. Consequently, the paper strengthens the corpus of existing literature by offering practitioners in the discipline of IWO with future directions.

Practical implications Frontline healthcare professionals, due to their direct patient contact, are well-positioned to identify and address service shortfalls. Their proximity to patients encourages creative thinking to enhance the patient experience, making it essential to understand the factors that drive healthcare innovation.

Originality/value- This research adds value by deepening the understanding of innovative work orientation in the healthcare sector and offering unique insights into the elements that propel healthcare innovation.