Adoption and diffusion of a new imaging technology: a magnetic resonance imaging prospective.

Adoption of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by individual purchasers and by the health care system will be influenced by many factors. A framework for considering these influences is offered, incorporating them into four major considerations: (1) MRI and its attributes--the technology, its safety and efficacy, and the benefits of acquisition; (2) communication channels--commercial and professional; (3) time for consideration of adoption and experiential testing; and (4) the medical system--including potential acquirers, health planning, and reimbursement. Among these, positive, negative, and variable influences affecting adoption can be identified. Factors that should most strongly motivate early adoption are the potential of the technology for providing new and useful clinical information and the competitive and economic benefits that early acquirers might enjoy. Important discouragements include the possibility of early obsolescence and that MRI represents an economic risk under diagnostic-related-group reimbursement. The less risky approach for most practices is to delay acquisition of MRI pending further experience with the technology and the changing reimbursement climate. Institutions that are primarily interested in the research potential of MRI or that are large enough to sustain the economic risks should consider earlier acquisition.