It’s been singled out as the problem holding innovation back for an array of industries and causes. But here’s something you may not have heard before:

People’s fear isn’t the reason that innovating within healthcare is difficult.

Instead, change in the healthcare industry is difficult because it is, above all, complicated. The system has many moving parts — all of which have different objectives and incentives, making change slower and the climb, steeper. If we’re talking effect, it’s not as simple as one cause — or two or three, for that matter. In the case of reform, change will apply to a collective system made up of several independent, yet interdependent elements. So in this case, change isn’t happening because it’s scary, it’s stalling because interests just aren’t aligned.

But believe it or not, innovation can start with healthcare companies, not just legislation. Those companies at the top of the healthcare industry know that innovation is imperative and furthermore don’t need convincing that the future is already here.

Enter a more personal, preventative and proactive healthcare system.

It’s a well-known fact that weight and age-related health problems are costing the healthcare system — and the American people — a fortune. With an aging population and growth in chronic diseases such as diabetes and congestive heart failure, Americans will continue to drive up the overall costs to the healthcare system which accounts for about 16% of GDP and rising.

So what’s the innovative solution?

In order to sort this out, in-home and remote healthcare will become imminent. The concept of maintaining health, of understanding that it requires upkeep and monitoring instead of damage control, will require connectivity to clinical providers between check-ups.

This innovation is necessary to bring technology and services outside the bricks and mortar of the hospital and clinics and into non-traditional settings like the home. With these systems in place, providers will be able to detect changes in conditions sooner, which will ultimately prevent costly emergency room visits. This shift in location and frequency will in turn shift healthcare to lower cost settings.

But connectivity alone won’t create a better system. Driving behavioral change in patients is equally important. As more of the costs shift to the consumer and their pocket books, patients’ incentives to make these changes will rise. New mobile apps, personal health records, educational tools, medication compliance management tools, etc. will become fundamental to enable people to better manage their personal care.

And the companies that develop the tools and services to facilitate this kind of change? They will be driving innovation — and the entire industry, forward.

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