Medical Equipment Adoption in Greek Hospitals: The Case of CT Scanners

Abstract

The paper aims to unravel the elements which constitute the decision-making process concerning new medical technologies in the context of the Greek Health System, where there are more than one decision makers. Computerized tomography is used as a case study. Using a unique data setting that refers to the total number of the Greek Public Hospitals, the pattern of adoption is outlined. At the second stage, data is associated with regional and geographical characteristics as well as information related to the hospital efficiency. A probit model is used for the factor analysis and a survival function hazard model for time to adopt. Results indicate that the models used are suitable for examining the factors influencing the adoption of medical technologies as well as the time that such technologies are adopted. It was found that the size of the hospital and its plenitude positively influence not only the probability of adoption but also the time of adoption of computerized tomography. Findings are encouraging; they support the use of the model in studying the adoption of other medical technologies too and can be used also as a tool by policy makers to assist the process of investment in new health technologies.