Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Digital Health Solutions in Managing Workflow Within Emergency Departments in Saudi Hospitals

Abstract

Saudi Arabian Emergency Departments (EDs), like many international EDs, experience significant workflow inefficiencies due to overcrowding and resource overload. Although both electronic health records and clinical decision support are heavily invested in the digital health sector, there is a profound lack of evidence on how these solutions affect core operational measures in this high-acuity setting. The purpose of this study was thus to determine the combined potential of these technologies. We examined 1,200 patient encounters and surveyed 180 staff across three tertiary hospitals, using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, followed by 28 in-depth interviews. Findings show that the greater the Digital Utilization Index and the higher the Team Workflow Integration Score, the lower the patient length of stay (12.8% of the explained variance), as these variables are significant independent predictors (1). Nevertheless, one mediating factor was identified: 45 percent of the benefit of digital use on efficiency was mediated by staff perceptions of workflow integration. There were also considerable differences by occupation, and interoperability barriers had a very strong negative impact on system endorsement (OR=0.752). The results suggest that digital solutions will improve workflow in EDs, though their implementation relies heavily on a smooth integration process and the consideration of human factors rather than on technology deployment.