Role of health informatics in hospital quality improvement: A scoping review of Indian healthcare facilities

Abstract

Hospital quality measurement in India is constrained by incomplete data collection and fragmented health information systems. Health informatics, the application of digital technologies to healthcare data management and decision-making has the potential to strengthen hospital quality; however, evidence of its impact across Indian healthcare settings remains dispersed. This scoping review maps available evidence on the role of health informatics in improving hospital quality in India. A study was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were used to source out relevant studies published between January 2010 to December 2025 that evaluated health informatics interventions in Indian hospital settings. A total of 24 relevant studies where sourced across the database of which twenty key empirical studies were selected for detailed characterization of settings. Findings were synthesized narratively across four hospital quality domains; patient safety, operational efficiency, clinical outcomes and data quality. Across the reviewed literatures, the health informatics adoption was consistently associated with improvements in operational efficiency. There are reductions in record keeping time of up to 50% and improved administrative processes. The hospitals that are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) show’s greater gains, including improved infection control compliance, higher patient satisfaction, and better staff job satisfaction. The public Health Management Information System (HMIS) platforms enable data capturing accurately, enhance routine monitoring and performance. However, challenges still exist which include, physician or clinician resistance, incomplete data capturing, and limited consistent improvements in clinical safety outcomes. Strategic implementation of health informatics integrated within governance frameworks and supported by workforce capacity building is essential for translating digital adoption into sustained hospital quality improvement efforts in India.