Bernard Friedman

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, New York University

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About

Bernard Friedman is a leading health services researcher whose work focuses on the diffusion and impact of advanced surgical technologies, particularly robotic surgery, within the U.S. healthcare system. His research critically examines the economic and clinical consequences of technology adoption, exploring the factors that drive hospitals to invest in expensive robotic systems and the downstream effects on patient outcomes and procedure volumes. A landmark study by Friedman, with 76 citations, identified key hospital characteristics associated with the adoption of robotic technology for radical prostatectomy, revealing how financial and organizational incentives shape surgical practice. He has also investigated comparative outcomes following robotic versus conventional hysterectomy, analyzing hospital revisits and readmission rates to assess the real-world effectiveness of these technologies. Through rigorous observational studies using large administrative databases, Friedman provides essential evidence for policymakers, hospital administrators, and surgeons navigating the complex trade-offs between innovation, cost, and quality in modern surgical care.