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.