Economic Effects of Digitalization: Health Sector Example

Abstract

Digitalization contribute to reducing costs, as well as many advantages such as increasing efficiency in healthcare services, improving patient outcomes, quality improvement, ease of access to information, and security. Although digitalization have so many advantages and have become widely used, there are very few studies on the economic effects of digital applications in the healthcare sector. In this regard, this study aims to examine the primary economic benefits of digital hospital applications, which are becoming increasingly widespread in Turkey. In the study, paper costs and labor costs were taken as primary costs. Approval for the study was obtained from the ethics committee of a university (dated 19.12.2024 and numbered 34).As a result of the study, it was determined that the economic effects of digitalization on hospitals were positive. It has been determined that digitalization contributes 48494 TL to hospitals in paper saving costs and 7 779 474 TL in labor costs, with an average annual contribution of 7 827 968 TL. In the study, it was determined that 24-hour service availability, patient entry and exit status, the number of personnel working in the unit and the one-minute wages of these personnel are determining factors in labor costs.

Keywords

• Economic Benefits
• Health Service
• Digitalization
• Hospital
• Cost

Economic Effects of Digitalization: Health Sector Example

Öz

Dijitaleşme sağlık hizmetlerinde verimliliği artırma, hasta sonuçlarını iyileştirme, kalite iyileştirme, bilgiye erişim kolaylığı, güvenlik sağlama gibi birçok avantajının yanında maliyetleri azaltmada katkısı bulunmaktadır. Dijital uygulamaların bu kadar fazla avantajları bulunması ve yaygın kullanılmasına başlanmasına rağmen sağlık sektöründe dijital uygulamaların ekonomik etkileri hakkında çok az çalışma mevcuttur. Bu doğrultuda bu çalışma ile Türkiye‘ de giderek yaygınlaşan dijital hastane uygulamaların birincil ekonomik yönünden kazanımları incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada birincil maliyetler olarak kağıt giderleri ve işçilik giderler alınmıştır. Çalışma için bir üniversitenin etik kurulundan onay (19.12.2024 tarihli ve 34 sayılı) alınmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda dijitalleşmenin hastaneler üzerinde ekonomik etkilerinin olumlu yönde olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Dijitalleşmenin hastanelere kâğıt tasarruf maliyetinin 48 494TL, iş gücü maliyetlerinin ise 7 779 474 TL toplamda ise ortalama olarak yıllık 7 827 968 TL TL’lik katkısı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada iş gücü maliyetlerinde 24 saat hizmet verme durumu, hasta giriş ve çıkış durumu, birimde çalışan personel sayısı ve bu personelin bir dakikalık ücretlerinin belirleyici olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dijitalleşme
• Ekonomik Kazanım
• Hastane
• Maliyet
• Sağlık hizmetleri

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