Digital Health Standards Improve Hospital Efficiency and Clinical Decision-Making
Hospitals using Digital Health Standards are seeing improvements in efficiency, clinical decision-making, and their overall digital capabilities, according to a new study by the Max Institute of Healthcare Management at the Indian School of Business (ISB).
The findings were published in a paper titled Post-Adoption Value of NABH Digital Health Standards: A Multi-Hospital Assessment in India. The study looked at 20 hospitals that had received certification under the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) Digital Health Standards.
The study was unveiled at the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The event was attended by Ajay Seth, Chairperson of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, along with officials from the Quality Council of India, NABH and ISB.
According to the study, the hospitals were assessed across Silver, Gold and Platinum certification levels. These levels are designed to help healthcare providers measure their capabilities and identify areas for further improvement.
The research included interviews with 80 stakeholders from hospital leadership, quality, IT, operations, and clinical teams. It also used survey data to understand why hospitals adopt Digital Health Standards and how the certification affects their operations.
The study found that hospitals mainly adopted the standards to improve care and operational efficiency. Senior hospital leadership played a role in these decisions, accounting for 76.9 per cent of adoption decisions.
The study also highlighted the importance of systems that can work together and use standardised high-quality data. Such systems can support clinical and financial decisions while improving efficiency across healthcare services.
Ajay Seth said digital health standards should be used as a foundation for making healthcare more accessible, affordable and efficient than being treated only as a compliance requirement.