The diffusion of medical technology.

The diffusion of medical technology is a complex process dependent upon the character of the industry, cost of investment and adoption, sophistication of users and their environments, general-use standards, user prestige, patient distribution, government regulations, and scale of operation. The one positive influence with the greatest impact on the rate of adoption of a new technology is the third-party-payer system. The more we understand those parameters affecting the diffusion of technology in medicine, the more we will be able to provide society with good care in a reasonable cost.