THESIS - Identifying opportunities and a framework for implementing automated workflows to improve operational efficiency in hospitals

Topic Description

​​​Background: 
Healthcare systems worldwide are striving to enhance efficiency and quality while managing resource constraints and increasing patient demands. One approach gaining traction is the use of automated workflows to streamline hospital operations, reduce manual workload, and optimize care delivery. However, research on the impact and implementation of automated workflows remains fragmented across disciplines, lacking a unified framework for identifying suitable hospital processes for automation and providing actionable implementation strategies. 

 
Despite growing interest in workflow automation, the existing literature is highly scattered, making it difficult for hospital administrators and policymakers to derive clear insights. Furthermore, structured guidelines and tools for systematically evaluating which processes can be automated and how automation should be effectively implemented are currently lacking. Addressing these gaps requires a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge and the development of a quantitative, evidence-based decision-making tool to support automation efforts in hospitals. 
Research Objectives: 
1. Comprehensive Literature Review: 
• Analyze and consolidate existing research on automated workflows in hospital settings. 
• Uncover research gaps and inconsistencies in the existing body of knowledge. 
2. Quantitative Model Development: 
• Construct a structured, evidence-based framework for assessing hospital processes that are suitable for automation. 
• Utilize empirical data to validate the framework. 
3. Implementation Guidelines: 
• Develop pragmatic guidelines for hospital administrators to support the implementation of automated workflows. 
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