Economic Effects of Digitalization: Health Sector Example

Year 2024, , 717 - 724, 30.08.2024

Nazan Torun

https://doi.org/10.18506/anemon.1507704

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Dijitalleşme, Ekonomik Kazanım, Hastane, Maliyet, Sağlık hizmetleri

Ethical Statement

Approval for the study was obtained from the ethics committee of a university (dated 19.12.2024 and numbered 34).

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

References

• Al-Shorbaji, N. (2001). Health and medical informatics. Technical paper. World Health Organization, RA/HIS, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.
• Barlow, S., Johnson, J., & Steck, J. (2004). The economic effect of implementing an EMR in an outpatient clinical setting. Journal of Healthcare Information Management: JHIM, 18(1), 46-51.
• Bayer, E., Kuyrukçu, A. N., & Akbaş, S. (2019). Evaluation of Digital Hospital Applications from the Perspective of Hospital Employees and Managers: A State Hospital Example. Journal of Academic Research and Studies, 11(21), 335-360.
• Biçer, E. B., & Yurtsal, K. (2021). Service quality and customer satisfaction perception in hospitals. Atatürk University Social Sciences Institute Journal, 25(2), 751-773
• Buntin, M. B., Burke, M. F., Hoaglin, M. C., & Blumenthal, D. (2011). The benefits of health information technology: a review of the recent literature shows predominantly positive results. Health Affairs, 30(3), 464-471.
• Demir, T., & Özcan, A. (2023). Systematic review of published research on digitalization in health in turkey between 2014-2023. Eurasian Academy of Sciences Social Sciences Journal, (51), 1-25.
• Gökkaya, D., & İzgüden, D. (2022). Digital hospital applications: a study on city hospital employees. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences, 11(3), 848-859.
• Kılıç, T. (2016). Digital hospital; an example of best practice. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 1(2), 52-58.
• Kılıç, T. (2017). E-Health, Good Practice Example; Holland. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences, 6(3), 203-217.
• King, L. A., Fisher, J. E., Jacquin, L. A. U. R. A., & Zeltwanger, P. E. (2003). The digital hospital: opportunities and challenges. Journal of Healthcare Information Management: JHIM, 17(1), 37-45.
• Long, L. A., Pariyo, G., & Kallander, K. (2018). Digital technologies for health workforce development in low-and middle-income countries: a scoping review. Global Health: Science and Practice, 6(Supplement 1), S41-S48.
• Menachemi, N., & Brooks, R. G. (2006). Reviewing the benefits and costs of electronic health records and associated patient safety technologies. Journal Of Medical Systems, 30, 159-168.
• Nguyen, K. H., Wright, C., Simpson, D., Woods, L., Comans, T., & Sullivan, C. (2022). Economic evaluation and analyses of hospital-based electronic medical records (EMRs): a scoping review of international literature. Digital Medicine, 5(1), 29.
• Onbay, T. U. & Kantarcı, A. (2009). Distributed Interhospital PACS Network. Paper presented at the In EFMI STC VI. National Medical Informatics Congress, Antalya, Abstract retrieved from: https://turkmia.net/kongre2009/cd/pdf-format/Onbay.pdf
• Salehi Nejad, S., Ahmadian, L., & Khajouei, R. (2014). Effects of Health Information Systems in Iran: a Systematic Review. Health Information Management, 11(2), 282-296.
• Schmitt, K. F., & Wofford, D. A. (2002). Financial analysis projects clear returns from Electronic Medical Records: Demonstrating the economic benefits of an electronic medical record is possible with the input of staff who can identify the technology's benefits. Healthcare Financial Management, 56(1), 52-58.
• Shaw, T., Hines, M., & Kielly-Carroll, C. (2018). Impact of digital health on the safety and quality of health care. ACSQHC (date of access: 24.04.2024), https://apo.org.au/node/245811
• Tunçsiper, Ç. (2023). Digital transformation and health economics: a bibliometric analysis on digital health. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences, 12(1), 21-31.
• World Health Organization. (2017). Global diffusion of eHealth: making universal health coverage achievable: report of the third global survey on eHealth. World Health Organization.
• Vishwanath, A., Singh, S. R., & Winkelstein, P. (2010). The impact of electronic medical record systems on outpatient workflows: a longitudinal evaluation of its workflow effects. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 79(11), 778-791.
• Volkan, E. (2019). Analysis of the Effect of Digital Hospital Studies on Paper Savings in Inpatient Procedures and the Duration of Nursing Care Services. Master's Thesis, Istanbul Medipol University Institute of Health Sciences, Istanbul