Journal of Biomedical Practitioners (Dec 2022)
Exploratory Research for the Identification of a Decision-Making Model for the Adoption and Implementation of Emerging Technology in Healthcare Operations
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The most promising medical innovations appear to take a long time to be used in healthcare practice. This research has two main objectives: to understand the factors that limit or promote the adoption of Emerging Technologies (ET) in healthcare and to provide a model for understanding, codifying and improving the current situation. METHODOLOGY A case study is used to shed light on the process of adopting ET in healthcare between a teaching hospital (adopter) and a manufacturer of innovation (producer). The primary data, investigated through thematic analysis and literary evidence, consists of nine semi-structured interviews from ET experts on the side of the adopter and the producer. The Attitude, Decision, and Implementation (ADI) decision-making model is used as the theoretical lens for this study. This framework is a modification of the process described in the theory of Diffusion of Innovation (DoI) (Rogers, 2003) adapted to the peculiarities of the healthcare environment. RESULTS From the analysis of the interviews, it is clear that innovation in medicine has several limitations (financial resources, free time of healthcare professionals, correct identification and know-how of the professionals involved, communication, healthcare resistance) against few facilitators (Innovation Champions, appropriate marketing, medical conferences). This study also highlights the absence of a shared and codified model for the adoption of innovation in medicine. DISCUSSION The impediments and the facilitating factors that emerged in the analysis of the primary data have been confirmed in literature. Furthermore, the primary data analysis with literary evidence supports the ADI model as a possible decision-making process for the adoption of ET in healthcare. Its three cyclical phases: the creation of an attitude (A) towards the ET, the decision to continue the collaboration between the parties (D), and the implementation of innovation (I) are sustained by primary data and literary evidence. CONCLUSIONS The ADI model could improve the efficiency and pace of adoption of ET in healthcare by limiting barriers, exploiting facilitating factors and building a beneficial relationship between users and producers of ET.
