Title : Digital health technology integration and healthcare management efficiency: Organizational readiness and innovation capability as mediators in Saudi healthcare systems

Background & Objective: Digital transformation is reshaping healthcare systems worldwide. Under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Health Sector Transformation Program, substantial investments have been directed toward digital health infrastructure. However, empirical evidence explaining how digital health technology integration translates into improved healthcare management efficiency remains limited. This study investigates both the direct impact of digital health technology integration and the mediating roles of digital transformation readiness and innovation capability in enhancing healthcare management efficiency within Saudi healthcare institutions.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 healthcare professionals working across hospitals and primary care centers within the Riyadh Second Health Cluster (R2), Saudi Arabia. A structured questionnaire comprising validated reflective measurement scales was administered. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.0. The analysis followed a two-step approach, assessing measurement model validity and reliability before evaluating structural relationships and mediation effects using bootstrapping (5,000 resamples).

Results: Digital health technology integration demonstrated a significant positive direct effect on healthcare management efficiency (β = 0.29, p < 0.001). Technology integration also significantly predicted digital transformation readiness (β = 0.63, p < 0.001) and innovation capability (β = 0.58, p < 0.001). Both organizational capabilities significantly enhanced management efficiency (digital transformation readiness: β = 0.41, p < 0.01; innovation capability: β = 0.37, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis confirmed significant indirect effects through digital transformation readiness (β = 0.15, p < 0.001) and innovation capability (β = 0.11, p = 0.002). The structural model explained 47% of the variance in healthcare management efficiency (R² = 0.47) and demonstrated strong predictive relevance (Q² = 0.31).

Conclusion & Significance: The findings demonstrate that digital health technologies alone are insufficient to generate sustained efficiency improvements. Their impact is significantly amplified when healthcare organizations cultivate digital transformation readiness and innovation capability. The study provides empirical support for a socio-technical perspective of digital health transformation and offers strategic guidance for healthcare leaders and policymakers aiming to strengthen digital governance and operational performance within Vision 2030 healthcare reforms.

Adel Alanazi is a PhD candidate in Health Management at Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. He is an experienced Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professional with over 18 years of expertise in healthcare operations, emergency response planning, and health and safety management within complex healthcare environments.

His research examines the impact of digital health technology integration on healthcare management efficiency, with particular emphasis on the mediating roles of digital transformation readiness and innovation capability. Adopting a socio-technical and systems-based perspective, he investigates how technological integration and organizational capabilities jointly enhance operational performance and healthcare system effectiveness.