The Development of a Model for Achieving Diamond-Level Smart Hospital in Udon Thani Province.

Abstract

      This Research and Development Study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a model for achieving Diamond-level Smart Hospital certification in Udon Thani Province during October 2025 to March 2026. The study was divided into three phases: 1) situational analysis and model development 2) model implementation, and 3) monitoring and evaluation. Quantitative data were collected by questionnaires with reliability coefficient of 0.89. The samples consisted of 55 participants in Phase 1 and 117 participants in Phase 2. Qualitative data were collected by brainstorming guidelines with 18 key Informants, and focus group discussion guidelines with 18 key Informants. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, T-test, and McNemar test. Qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis.

      The findings revealed that the majority of participants were male (52.7%), with the largest occupational group being computer technical officers (29.1%), followed by nurses (23.1%). The developed Diamond-Level Smart Hospital model, newly named the "UDON Model," consists of: U – Understand (understanding the context and identifying success factors), D – Develop & Design (developing the model and designing an action plan), O – Operate & Optimize (implementing the model and enhancing efficiency), and N – Nurture & Normalize (evaluating outcomes and sustaining progress). The effectiveness of the model resulted in a statistically significant increase in the number of hospitals achieving Diamond-level criteria, rising from 6 hospitals (28.6%) to 15 hospitals (71.4%), an increase of 9 hospitals (p = 0.004). Additionally, the mean self-assessment scores after the intervention increased significantly (t = -15.02, p < 0.01).