Digital competencies for health service managers and health service implications for Australia

As the healthcare delivery landscape evolves and the impact of digital technologies and transformations becomes increasingly apparent, a competent healthcare management workforce, confident in the capabilities to employ and effectively incorporate digital health technologies into health service delivery is imperative.

The article explores the perceptions and experiences of middle-level health managers in their responsibilities and competency requirements in the context of digital health transformation.

Six focus groups were conducted with mid-level managers recruited across Australian public hospitals in 2023. Braun et al (2019) six-phase, reflexive thematic analysis approach was used to distinguish, explore, organise and advance insight into themes and categories of the factors emerging.

Findings indicated that the digital competencies managers are required to demonstrate include a much broader and expanded competence across eight identified competencies.

The unique attributes identified highlight and underscore the importance of enhancing digital competencies for health service managers to lead and manage in the digital health context.

This study reveals two key areas of health service manager competency enhancement required: (i) competence in digital data management and security, and (ii) the management of digital technologies in practice. These findings can inform institutional competency frameworks that guide the development of management capability in the digital health environment, as well as illuminate the system and human resource implications for organisations to facilitate the application of these competencies in the workplace and optimise the benefits of digital health.Implications for health information management practice:The competency enhancements detailed have implications for health service, digital and information management regarding institutional competency frameworks and systems requirements that may need to be upgraded, expanded or introduced, and the continuous professional development that may need to be provided within the institutional or accreditation authorities to health service managers and health information managers.