Medical Innovations and Interorganizational Diffusion

Abstract

Throughout their history as sponsors of biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have mainly emphasized basic research and have allotted few resources to the translation of research findings into clinical applications. This policy was based on the assumption that medical education sufficiently equips the physician to keep abreast of new medical developments. Subscription to medical journals, attendance at professional meetings and continuing medical education symposia, and talking with colleagues are presumed to provide access to up-to-date information on how to deliver state-of-the-art care to patients (Breslow, 1977; Kaluzny et al., 1976; Tilson et al., 1975).