Digital transformation in healthcare: Analyzing the current state-of-research

TLDR

Digital transformation in healthcare is increasingly relevant for scholars and practitioners. The article assesses how multiple stakeholders implement digital technologies for management and business purposes. The authors conduct a systematic literature review of the state of the art of digital transformation in healthcare. Prior research clusters into five areas—operational efficiency, patient‑centered approaches, organizational factors, workforce practices, and socio‑economic aspects—linked in a model that shows technology implementation drives operational efficiencies, with future research directions and management implications suggested.

Abstract

Digital transformation in healthcare is of increasing relevance for both scholars and practitioners in the field. Our article attempts to assess the research question how multiple stakeholders implement digital technologies for management and business purposes. To answer this question, we perform a systematic literature review about the state of the art of digital transformation in healthcare. Our findings show that prior research falls into five clusters: operational efficiency by healthcare providers; patient-centered approaches; organizational factors and managerial implications; workforce practices; and socio-economic aspects. These clusters are linked together into a model showing how these various forms of technology implementation lead to operational efficiencies for services providers. Various directions for future research and management implications are offered.