Diffusion Of Innovation.

Health care providers are in the midst of a massive effort to diffuse innovative approaches to patient care. While most innovations fail, a few diffuse successfully and are sustained. This month's DataGraphic describes the spread or outcomes of four important health care delivery innovations adopted by hospitals or primary care clinicians: hospital palliative care, electronic consults for preoperative anesthesiology assessment, Medicare's free annual wellness visit, and a primary care improvement network.