Adoption and Use of New Medical Technology at the Hospital Level

While innovative technologies drive modern healthcare and may dramatically improve patient outcomes, they also have been identified as the leading cause of increasing healthcare expenditures. Technology adoption decisions pose a challenge to decision-makers who are often forced to make timely decisions regarding new technologies before there is definitive evidence on their clinical efficacy and economic merit.

Many hospitals have decision-making structures for the adoption of new technologies, but the nature of the structure and the adoption process may vary depending on the type of technology considered.

The adoption decision is different when high-ticket technologies or new specialized services are involved. Cohen states that since new technologies are becoming increasingly specialized and complex, the decision-making structures and processes for equipment purchases and service expansion are also becoming more complex and involve decision-makers from different specialization fields.