The diffusion of two diagnostic technologies among hospitals in New York state

Using combined data from an independent survey by the American Hospital Association and the State of New York, the diffusion of two diagnostic technologies--the automated chemistry analyzer and the computed tomography (CT) scanner--among hospitals in New York State was analyzed. A linearized form of the logistic function was estimated using cumulative diffusion data for each. Diffusion patterns of both technologies fit the logistic curve well, with the coefficient of diffusion for the CT scanner being greater than that for the automated analyzer. Further analysis examined characteristics of early adopters of each technology. Similar hospital characteristics (e.g., high volume of admissions and medical school affiliation) were important in explaining early adoption of both technologies.