Research on the construction of a digital medical consumables asset management system based on information ecology theory

Abstract

Medical consumables constitute a core object of hospital asset management, and the traditional extensive management model can no longer meet the requirements of refined management in modern hospitals. This narrative review aims to construct a conceptual theoretical framework based on information ecology theory, to analyze the patterns of information flow in the field of medical consumables management, and build a digital asset management ecosystem centered on the four elements of “information platform–digital technology–responsible actor–social environment”. As a narrative review, it synthesizes selected literature and policy documents rather than providing a systematic or exhaustive synthesis of evidence. The conceptual contribution of this framework is to address the “technology-heavy, system-light” limitation of existing research by shifting toward ecological governance through the coordination of the four elements, and proposing an operating mechanism in which the information chain links the closed loop of asset management. The framework is illustrated through a worked example of high-value consumable use during cesarean section. The framework is illustrated through a worked example of high-value consumable use during cesarean section. It provides a conceptual reference and a hypothesis-generating roadmap for future research and local adaptation, rather than a validated operational solution. All thresholds, targets, automated responses, and organizational arrangements mentioned in this article are proposed design principles for future validation, not empirically confirmed standards.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Frontiers in Digital Health, 2026 · DOI ↗