Disseminating Innovations in Healthcare
Health care is rich in evidence-based innovations, yet even when such innovations are implemented successfully in one location, they often disseminate slowly-if at all. Diffusion of innovations is a major challenge in all industries, including health care. This article examines the theory and research on the dissemination of innovations and suggests applications of that theory to health care. It explores in detail three clusters of influence on the rate of diffusion of innovations within an organization: the perceptions of the innovation, the characteristics of the individuals who may adopt the change, and contextual and managerial factors within the organization. This theory makes plausible at least seven recommendations for health care executives who want to accelerate the rate of diffusion of innovations within their organizations: find sound innovations, find and support "innovators", invest in "early adopters", make early adopter activity observable, trust and enable reinvention, create slack for change, and lead by example.
Journal
JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Publication Year
2003
Publication Month
Apr 16
Volume
289
Issue
15
Page Number
1969-1975
Category