Innovation of Health Services: A Comparative Study of Hospitals and Health Departments

It was found that variables are differentially related to both thetype of program and the type of organization, and characteristics of the staff, such as cosmopolitan orientation and training, were prime predictors for both high- and low-risk programs in health departments andLow- risk programs in hospitals.

Abstract

This paper investigates the differential contribution of various organizational variables affecting the innovation of high-risk versus low-risk health service programs in two types of health care organizations: hospitals and health departments. It was found that variables are differentially related to both the type of program and the type of organization. Organizational size was a critical factor in program innovation as it relates to high-risk services in hospitals and low-risk services in health departments. Excluding size, characteristics of the staff, such as cosmopolitan orientation and training, were prime predictors for both highand low-risk programs in health departments and low-risk programs in hospitals. The degree of formalization was the primary predictor of innovation of high-risk programs in hospitals. Cosmpolitan orientation of the administrator was a critical factor in the innovation of high-risk programs in both hospitals and health departments.