Optimizing Healthcare Data Management: The Evolving Role of Medical Secretaries in Saudi Arabia's Digital Health Transformation

Abstract

The digital transformation of healthcare in Saudi Arabia has prompted a reexamination of the roles and responsibilities of medical secretaries in managing healthcare data. This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence on the evolving role of medical secretaries in optimizing healthcare data management in the context of Saudi Arabia's digital health initiatives. A comprehensive search of multiple databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and 2024. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using standardized tools. The findings highlight the expanding scope of medical secretaries' roles, encompassing data entry, quality assurance, information retrieval, and coordination with healthcare teams. The review also identifies the key enablers and barriers to effective healthcare data management by medical secretaries, such as training and education, technological competencies, organizational support, and data governance policies. The study provides recommendations for policy, practice, and research to optimize the contribution of medical secretaries to healthcare data management and support the realization of Saudi Arabia's digital health goals. The findings emphasize the importance of empowering medical secretaries, fostering digital literacy, and promoting a culture of data-driven decision-making to enhance the efficiency, quality, and continuity of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia.