Assessment of the influence of technology on the cost of healthcare service and patient’s satisfaction

ABSTRACT

The US healthcare sector is among leading globally in the incorporation of advanced technologies in its operations. This study evaluated existing data to understand how technological advancement in the US healthcare sector has impacted the cost of healthcare services and the patient satisfaction. The study was based on a quantitative analysis of 24 existing studies selected from various electronic databases. The results indicate a significant increase in the cost of healthcare service due to technological adoption and other factors. Increase in cost due to technological adoption is evident is the area of diagnosis (63%, P = 0.002) and patient monitoring (51%, P = 0.021). A significantly higher percentage, was found, of patients that believe the adoption of advanced technologies leads to improved quality in diagnostic procedures (67%, P = 0.042), monitoring (79%, P = 0.004), and data keeping (85%, P = 0.032). Strategies need to be developed to manage costs associated with technological adoption while ensuring the delivery of quality services.

KEYWORDS:

• Cost
• patient satisfaction
• advanced technologies
• healthcare sector

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Contributors: None.

Ethics approval: None.

Notes on contributor

Dr Paulchris Okpala is the Graduate Coordinator of the Master of Science in Health Service Administration program and Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Science and Human Ecology at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). He obtained his Doctor of Health Sciences degree from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Mesa, AZ, USA, Master of Health care Administration with concentration in Leadership from Bellevue University, Bellevue, NE, USA, Master of Public Administration from Bellevue University, Bellevue, NE, USA, Bachelor of Science in Health care Management from Bellevue University, Bellevue, NE, USA; Associate of Science degree in Health care Management from Ashworth University, Norcross, GA, USA; and Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy from Concorde Career College, Garden Grove, CA, USA. Prior to coming to CSUSB, Dr Okpala was an adjunct instructor at United States University, Cypress, CA, USA and American Intercontinental University, Schaumburg, IL, USA, where he taught in the undergraduate and graduate healthcare administration programs online. Dr Okpala has worked in both acute care and skilled nursing facilities as a licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner. Dr Okpala’s research interests have been shaped by the fact that healthcare managers are the main drivers of effective functioning of the healthcare sector. As such, his research studies primarily focused on harnessing the importance of theory, evidence-based research and advance technology in improving the quality of healthcare services and prevention of degenerative diseases among the vulnerable individuals in the society.