Importance and Effectiveness of Digitalization in Healthcare: A Study

This dissertation investigates the importance and effectiveness of digitalization within the healthcare setting, with a specific focus on the impact of the Internet of Things (IOT) on enhancing the quality of care. The research, conducted as a case study on Care UK, explores the benefits of digital technology in improving healthcare services and patient outcomes. The study includes an in-depth literature review covering the concept of IOT, its applications, and the challenges faced in digital transformation within healthcare. The research employs a qualitative approach using an inductive research approach, positivism philosophy, and descriptive research design. It addresses the aim of determining the impact of IOT, the objectives of understanding the concept of IOT, and identifying the challenges and recommendations. The dissertation comprises chapters on introduction, literature review, research methodology, results and discussions, conclusions, and recommendations, providing a comprehensive analysis of digitalization's role in modern healthcare. The study aims to provide insights for healthcare organizations like Care UK to effectively utilize digital technologies to deliver high-quality services, manage resources, and improve overall healthcare delivery.

Complete Dissertation

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
Background of the research.........................................................................................................1
Aim and objectives......................................................................................................................1
Research questions......................................................................................................................2
Research methodology................................................................................................................2
Rationale.....................................................................................................................................3
Significance.................................................................................................................................3
Dissertation structure..................................................................................................................4
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................5
Introduction.................................................................................................................................5
Concept of digital technology....................................................................................................5
The impact of advanced equipment's in healthcare industries....................................................7
Challenges faced by healthcare industry in digital transformation.............................................9
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY............................................................................11
Introduction...............................................................................................................................11
CHAPTER 3- RESULT AND DISCUSSION...............................................................................16
CHAPTER 4- CONCLUSION......................................................................................................27
CHAPTER 5- RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................................28
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................30

CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
Digital technology is one of the most effective tool in today's world and also used in
various sectors. It is providing significant benefits to health care services that it has transformed
the traditional life into modern life. For the present research, Care, UK business is chosen which
a small health unit is in the health care sector within UK. Digital technology is helping health
care organisations to make their performance and work more effective (Hanelt and et.al., 2015).
The report will discuss about importance and effectiveness of digitalisation in order to solve
many issues faced by businesses. Moreover, health and care organisation is required to use
effective tools and techniques in terms of digital technology to provide quality services to
customers effectively (Importance of digital technology in healthcare, 2017). The area of interest
in dissertation is health care industry. Digital technology is very vast topic in which Internet of
things is the most advance and innovative technology that is helping to healthcare organisation.
The internet of things has a myriad of applications in healthcare that benefit patients, families
and physicians alike. Some hospitals are using the internet of things in healthcare to keep the
tiniest patients safe and healthy, while others are using the technology to keep track of inventory.
Further, the report will discuss method of collecting information for the investigation. In these
regards, aim and objectives will be made to demonstrate the feasibility and relevancy of research
project.
Background of the research
Internet of Things helps to create new values within firm in terms of internal capabilities,
consumer experience and effective process in order to support business operational activities to
produce quality services. In addition to this, digital healthcare is similar to telemedicine that
utilises technologies and techniques in order to provide sports, fitness, and wellness solutions
that helps to empower patients. IOT has numerous applications in healthcare, from remote
monitoring to smart sensors and medical device integration. Further, the discipline specifically
refers to the use of information and communication technologies to help address the health
problems and challenges faced by patients in order to solve them effectively (Grishikashvili,
Dibb and Meadows, 2014). The research will provide importance of digitalisation in health care
setting in enhancing the quality of care.
So it is required by Care, UK to make effective use of digital technology in order to
deliver high and quality services to their clients. This also helps to manage resources by reducing
1

the cost of operations that provide significant benefits in services. The current dissertation is
based on impact of digitalisation on Care UK in increasing the quality of care in services.
Aim and objectives
Aim:
The main aim of this dissertation is to determine importance and effectiveness of
digitalisation in today's world within health care setting in order to provide quality products and
services to consumers effectively.
“Aim: “To determine the impact of Internet of Things (IOT) in enhancing the quality of
care in Health Care: A case study on Care UK”.
Objectives:
Objective 1: To understand the concept of Internet of Things (IOT)
Objective 2: To determine impact of Internet of Things (IOT) in enhancing the quality of care in
Health Care:
Objective 3: To identify the challenges in implementing IOT within healthcare organization.
Objectives 4: To recommend healthcare organisation to use IOT.
Research questions
 What the concept of Internet of Things (IOT)?
 What are the impact of Internet of Things (IOT) in enhancing the quality of care in
Health Care?
 What are challenges in implementing IOT within healthcare organization.
Research methodology
Research is logical as well as systematic search for new and useful information on a specific
topic. Research methodology is the part of research as it is organized as well as theoretical
analysis of the methods that are applied in the study.
Research type: Qualitative and quantitative are two different methods in research in
which explanatoryand conclusive are two types of methods available for researcher to conduct
the final answer and to explore the objectives of investigation (Dickerson and et.al., 2018). For
the present case study, explanatorytype will be used for research.
2

Research approach: Deductive and inductive and abductive are three approaches
available for investigation to achieve the aim of research effectively. In this case, inductive
approach will be used by researcher.
Research philosophy: Philosophy provides detailed analysis about the research topic.
Positivism, interpretivism, realism and pragmatism are four types of philosophies in which
positivism will be used by investigator to conduct the research.
Research design: Design of investigation helps to deliver general answers regarding
research questions. Descriptive, analytical, experimental and correlation are available for
investigation in which descriptive will be used (McGregor and et.al., 2018).
Sampling- Probability and non-probability are usually two methods of sampling which
contestant have chance to take part in the research process to provide their contribution. Simple
random sampling will be used as it eliminates the happening of bias research outcomes and
researcher will collect data form 20 employees of Care UK company.
Data collection: It is important part of research in which primary and secondary data
collection method are available for investigator to gather information about topic. Researcher
will use secondary data collection method for this case study instead of primary data.
Data Analysis- Data Analysis is also one of the most significant part of the research
study. In this present research, researcher has used to qualitative method in which thematic
analysis has done.
Validity and Reliability: It is one of the crucial part of research in which the investigator
will determine validity and reliability of research to generate positive and valid results
effectively (O'Brien and Saldanha, 2014). It is important to have a valid and reliable research to
generate reliable and valid results.
Rationale
The topic which is chosen i.e. Internet of Things. is very helpful for people working in
health care. The importance and effectiveness of digitalisation in today's world within health care
setting in order to provide quality products and services to consumers effectively will be
understand in this dissertation. This topic is also very important as it introduces Electric Health
Care Record (EHRs) and Internet of Things which replaces paper record for many allied
healthcare professionals and remote monitoring of patients health. This topic will also assist in
improving the public health by introducing various technologies like EHR. Addition to this,
3

digital technology will help in better and safer storage of data as well as it improved access to big
data.
Significance
The topic of research, (To determine importance and effectiveness of digitalisation in
today's world within health care setting in order to provide quality products and services to
consumers effectively) be taken is very helpful for all the people who are attached towards the
healthcare. The research conducted on Internet of things not only helpful for Care UK, but it is
very useful for entire healthcare industry. Addition to this, this investigation will also very
fruitful for students who are persuading PHD in medical, they will also use these data and
information in there study. On the other hand, this research topic is also helpful for professional
researchers.
Dissertation structure
Chapter 1: Introduction- This is the very first part of dissertation in which an explanation
about the what is going to be find out related to the research topic is described in thesis. The
section involves, background of the study, aim, objectives, questions and other procedures
including research methodology short review is discussed.
Chapter 2: Literature Review- Narrative review is a critical part of research in which different
theories, models and information is analysed and discussed associated with the topic. In this
section, answers are provided for questions made in the above introduction part. Information
presented here is based on views of different scholars and authors.
Chapter 3: Research methodology- Research methodology is a vast topic that helps to discuss
investigation in great details. This section is very important for the research in order to determine
the impact of technology on health care in which valid and reliable data is used.
Chapter 4: Results and discussions- This section analyses information presented in the
literature review part in order to find results to explain them in detailed manner. It helps to make
a link between research aim and objectives in which data is analysed using relevant methods and
techniques.
Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations- This is the last chapter where valid
recommendations, conclusion and summary about the topic and research is provided. In addition
to this, this section, summarize the study which denotes effectiveness of entire study and
information collected.
4

Conclusion
The introduction section includes all the major headings used in the investigation in order
to evaluate and find out key results effectively. This section concludes a brief summary about
methods, strategies, background and structure of the investigation. This helps to have an idea
about overall research structure to generate positive outcomes.
5

CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
Literature review is a kind of article review. It is scholarly paper that includes the current
knowledge including substantive findings and theoretical and methodological contributions to a
specific topic. It is a report of evaluating information that is found in literature that is related to
the area of selection. With the help of this theoretical knowledge, a base is created that help
researcher to analyse the nature of the research (Sultan, 2015). The main purpose of conducting
literature review is that it provides users easy to approach to research by choosing top quality of
articles, studies, books and journals. The key finding is also highlighted by researcher in
literature review. Thus, this literature review will have better understanding of this topic which is
selected to find out the key area of the research that aids in conducting further research
efficiently.
Concept of Internet of Things.
According to Topol, (2015), The internet of things has a countless of applications
in healthcare that benefit patients, families and physicians alike. Some hospitals are using
the internet of things in healthcare to keep the tiniest patients safe and healthy, while others are
using the technology to keep track of inventory. A shift from volume to value is known as
digitalisation. Digital is the word that is one of the oldest equipment for counting that comes
from Latin word, digits, and finger. Digital technology includes all types of electronic
equipment’s and applications that use information in the form of numeric code like Internet of
things. Information in this is usually in binary code. Binary code are those that are represented by
strings of only two numeric characters which are 0 and 1. IOT in healthcare is very important as
it turn the data into actions, it improves the health of patients, it promote preventive care, and it
also raise the level of satisfaction as well as engagement. Devices that process and use digital
information includes calculators, personal computers, auto mobiles, controllers, traffic lights,
cellular telephones, compact disc players, televisions sets and communication satellites. In
today's world, business is totally changing (Concept of Internet of Things, 2017). 88% of
business leaders has put digitalisation on top priority. No any other business can ever survive in
this world of competition if they ignore innovation and digitalisation in their functions and
operations. It is one of the most effectual instrument in today's world and also used in various
sectors. It is furnishing significant benefits to all the businesses, services that it has transformed
6

the life into modern life. Digital technology is not only important for health care, but it is very
essential for all the other industries and business because this is the world of digitalisation.
As per the Vigdor, Ladd and Martinez, (2014) technology has very essential impact on
the operations of business. It does not matter what is the size and scale of organisation, but it has
both tangible and intangible advantages in terms of profitability and productivity. Culture,
relationship and efficiency of the company is influenced by digital technology. Health care
industry seeking the edge of digitalisation have to transform the entire processes and system,
models of business and the customer experience by exploiting the permeating digital connection
between systems, people, places and things. There are so many ways where Internet of things is
helpful in many ways like they can utilize technologies in production, manufacturing,
improvement in customer care, transportation, management of human resource, communication
of business and it is used in developing other services and products. Advance technology is
helping organisations of all sectors to make their performance and work more effective. Digital
technology help companies to solve many issues faced by businesses. Addition to this,
organisation need to use effective tools and techniques in terms of Internet of things to provide
quality services to customers effectively. It is also fact that technology can not only helpful for
big companies but it makes capable of small businesses to compete with big organisations. It
increases the efficiency and decreases the human errors by developing process of automation.
Casey and et.al, (2018) stated that, transformation to digitalisation has changed the way a
person lives, play, communicate and work. Transformation encourage profitability, raise the
speed to market products as well as it leverages satisfaction of customer into loyalty. This is the
age of digital technology. Information technology is a key to get success in the market. It has
many advantages that companies are enjoying. Advanced technology make easy and effective
communication with stakeholder (customers, employees and share holders). In today's
environment it is very important to interact with stakeholders clearly and quickly. Companies are
now making company websites to make so that customers find easy to collect information about
the organisation and get answers of their questions. On the other hand, it also raises the
efficiency in the functions and operations of company. It also helps to create new values within
firm in terms of internal capabilities, consumer experience and effective process in order to
support business operational activities to produce quality services. Technology also helps
business to understand its cash flow needs and preserve valuable resources like time and physical
7

space. Technology for inventory management also let Health care industry to manage the cost of
storage and holding of products. Internet of things is helping many organisations to make their
performance and work more effective and efficient day by day.
According to Darwish, (2017) in terms of security and privacy, digital technology plays a
vital role. In order to defend financial information, confidential decision of executives and any
other important information that leads to competitive benefits to company. It also keeps their
innovation or ideas away from their rivalry organisation. With the help of technology like
CCTV cameras, motion sensor, they can have monitored regularly on their business operations.
There are many systems of security that is directly linked with digital technology which protect
Health care industry form theft and vandalism. It does not only furnish real time alerts but they
also render different tactics like alarms. Internet of things also assists monitoring of health of
patients in very effective way. With the help of advance technology, organisation can manage
and control a huge number of employees easily and effectively. There are applications like
punching machines, thump impressions, eye retina machines that help company to track the
employee's entry and exist time. Internet of things is reshaping the society and business in a
beautiful manner. In addition to this, employees of healthcare companies are the key stakeholder
as within them it is not possible to implement Internet Of Things within organisation. Addition
to this company's in healthcare also use these technologies which are very advance such as
ultrasound and MRI machines, CT and PET scanners, X-ray Machine. These machines also
identified the actual pain and disease and save the life of person.
The impact of advanced equipment's in healthcare industries.
According to Fricker and et.al., (2015) Healthcare system is the company, institutions and
resources that deliver healthcare services to populations needs. Digital technology plays a vital
role in growth and development of company. Millions of lives have saved because of continuous
improvement in digital technology. It also improved the quality of life as well. The impact of
digital technology is not limited up-to health of patients and families but it has huge impact on
processes of medical as well as practices of professional in healthcare (Electronic Health Record,
2017). Advancement in technology have allowed practitioners to healthier and good diagnose
and treat patient effectively. Among all the other industries, healthcare industries is the most
important industry. It has very big responsibility of saving as well as improving countless lives
all around the world. Innovation plays a vital role in the area of medical technology such as
8

biotechnology, pharmaceutical, development of medical tools and devices, information
technology and have all made important contributions in improving the health of people all over
the world. Moreover, the discipline specifically refers to the use of information and
communication technologies to help address the health problems and challenges faced by
patients in order to solve them effectively.
As per the Sawesi and et.al., (2016) Internet of things has countless contribution in
healthcare industry. Information technology has crucial effort across the world, especially in the
industry of medical. With the extreme use of EMR (Electronic Medical Records), mobile
technologies such as smart phones and tablets, services of telehealth, both patients and
physicians are getting advantages that these new medical technologies are emerging. Digital
technology has developed from launching of new tools for Doctors in order to use private
practices inside the healthcare organisation or hospitals in connecting patients as well as doctors
living thousands of miles away only with the help of communication. It is fact and very
uncommon that patients and doctors hold video conference rather than travelling in order to save
time and money. Addition to this, digital technology also makes easy and effective access to any
type of information they required with the use of advance instruments like mobile phones, local
extension at workplace. Patients record or any other information can move from one place to
another within in seconds by emails, text messages, fax etc. Among all the other industries,
healthcare industries are the most important industry. Technology helps in shaping the entire
structure of healthcare in effective manner.
Ford and et.al.,(2017) sated that, digital technology develops Internet of Things (IOT), as
it is very big network of physical devices, home-appliance, vehicles as well as many other items
that integrated with electronic, sensors, actuators, software and connectivity that enables these
things. This is incomparable innovation in healthcare sector. The use of IOT in healthcare has
aggressively raises. IOT has great contribution in bringing improvement in care. IOT is not an
uncommon thing, it is now on everyone's lips. The purpose of IOT is to connect doctors and
patients with the help of smart device without any restraint. However, it is fact that patients can
reach faster. With the help of this devise, patient can consult to doctors if any emergency is
required without making any extra efforts. Internet of things has two fundamental purpose, it
improves the management of disease which provides good experience to patients, secondly it
9

reduces the cost of healthcare, thus, it is affordable for a wider demographic. 87% of healthcare
companies will have adopted IOT technology by 2019.
According to Shore, (2015) Internet of Things(IOT) has several advantages like it gives
simultaneous monitoring and reporting, last to last connectivity as well as affordability,
assortment of data as well as its analysis. Alerts and tracking and remote medical assistance.
These are all advantages that IOT provides on healthcare. In real time monitoring through
connected device can save the lives in the case of medical emergency such as heart failure,
asthma attacks, diabetes, stroke etc. With the help of this device, information is transferred to
physicians by connecting to smart phones. It collects and transfers all the information of health
like oxygen, blood pressure, sugar level, ECG and weight. Cloud stored the information and it
can be shared to authorised person like doctor or physicians, health firms, insurance company or
any other external consultants. Addition to this, IOT can save vast amount of data or information
about health and send it to any other person without a short period of time. Addition to this,
digital technology allows healthcare companies to get animated analytics as well as data driven
insight that help in speed up in making decision and minimize the errors. Digital technology has
a positive and incredible impact on healthcare industry. Digital healthcare is similar to
telemedicine that utilises technologies and techniques in order to provide sports, fitness, and
wellness solutions that helps to empower patients.
Challenges faced by healthcare industry in digital transformation.
According to Weaver and et.al., 2016, The more understandable challenges to accepting
Internet of Things in healthcare are storage, handling as well as data securing. The lack of EHR
combination is one another barricade to overcome. The dependability and safety problems with
data along with interoperability as well as lack of training and infrastructure among providers
because even when records does flow easily, many providers lack the infrastructure and know-
how to access it. Internet of things raises many challenging question in respect to health. It has
been noticed that with the advantages as well as changing status, digital health leads to some
ethical consideration and challenger’s policy makers in an unexampled manner. It is very
challenging for caregivers to use digital technologies as innovation is very fast. Caregivers are
not able to understand all the features that comes in innovation. In healthcare there are several
machines and equipment’s that makes very challenging to use. Digital literacy is the major issues
that is faced by practitioners. They are not given proper training and knowledge before using the
10