Healthcare, Vol. 13, Pages 2549: Digital Transformation of Medical Services in Romania: Does the Healthcare System Meet the Current Needs of Patients?

Healthcare doi: 10.3390/healthcare13202549

Authors:
Ioana-Marcela Păcuraru
Ancuța Năstac
Andreea Zamfir
Ștefan Sebastian Busnatu
Octavian Andronic
Andrada-Raluca Artamonov

Background: The digitalization of medical services is promoted as a solution for improving access, quality, and efficiency within healthcare systems. In this context, the study investigates the extent to which digitalization in Romania meets the current needs of patients through a convergent analysis of user perceptions and managerial perspectives. Based on the specialized literature, the research tests two hypotheses: (H1) the implementation of digital technologies significantly contributes to improving the quality of medical services and operational efficiency; (H2) digitalization has a positive impact on patient satisfaction by facilitating access to care and improving communication with medical personnel. Methods: The study adopted methodology is cross-sectional and mixed, including an online mixed-methods questionnaire for patients, distributed between 6 and 14 May 2025, and a qualitative questionnaire with open-ended questions distributed via e-mail to managers from public hospitals through The Administration of Hospitals and Medical Services of Bucharest, between 3 and 24 March 2025. Results: In total, 125 patients and 15 hospital managers participated in the study. Statistical analysis (χ2, ordinal regression) and data triangulation highlight a predominantly positive, yet heterogeneous, patient perception of digitalization, with Hypothesis H1 only partially supported (weak, inconsistent, and in some cases negative associations between technology use and perceived service quality). By contrast, H2 was robustly validated, with patient satisfaction strongly linked to tangible benefits, particularly easier access and online appointment scheduling. However, use remains limited to administrative functions, while advanced technologies such as telemedicine or electronic health records are poorly adopted. From an institutional perspective, hospitals predominantly use IT systems for internal purposes, without real patient access to their own data, no interoperability between medical units, and marginal implementation of telemedicine. This reveals a significant gap between user perception and organizational realities, emphasizing the lack of a patient-oriented digital infrastructure. Conclusions: The results highlight the potential of digitalization to enhance patient experience and service efficiency, while also pointing out structural limitations that hinder the full realization of this potential. Patient satisfaction is strongly associated with tangible benefits, particularly easier access and online scheduling, whereas the effect on perceived quality is weaker and sometimes inconsistent. There are significant disparities in digitalization levels between healthcare providers, perceived by patients as public–private differences, and gaps among public hospitals are also confirmed by managerial data. These findings suggest that a successful digital transformation of the medical system in Romania must address both technological infrastructure gaps and organizational barriers, within a coordinated national strategy that ensures interoperability, patient-centered design, and sustainable implementation.

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Ioana-Marcela Păcuraru www.mdpi.com