Ask the expert: How should a hospital decide whether to adopt an innovative technology or procedure?

The Deming philosophy of management, developed by William Edwards Deming, PhD, has helped numerous organizations improve quality. Deming suggests organizations ask themselves the following questions before adopting any new technology or procedure:

• What materials will be required, and at what cost?
• What will be the method of production?
• What new people will have to be hired?
• What changes in equipment will be required?
• What new skills will be required, and for how many people?
• How will current employees be trained in these new skills?
• How will supervisors and service-line directors be trained?
• What will be the cost of production?
• What will be the cost of marketing?
• What will be the cost and methods of service?
• How will the customer use the product or service?
• How will the company know if the customer is satisfied?

Deming once noted that it is amazing how many companies forge ahead without having the answers to these questions.

This week’s ask the expert is an excerpt from Assessing New Procedures and Technologies: A Guide to Credentialing, Privileging, and Dispute Resolution by Jack L. Cox, MD, MMM.