Economic, Organizational, and Research Impact Evaluation of Introducing Robotic Rehabilitation in a Medium-Sized Hospital: Scenario-Based Comparative Analysis

Background While the clinical efficacy of robotic rehabilitation is well documented, its widespread adoption is often hindered by uncertainty regarding its organizational and systemic impact. A comprehensive evaluation that integrates economic sustainability with research and innovation potential is currently lacking. Objective This study evaluates the economic, organizational, and scientific impact of introducing a robotic rehabilitation unit in a medium-sized hospital, comparing it with standard care through a health technology assessment–based simulation model. Methods A comparative scenario-based model was developed to simulate 2 equivalent facilities over a 5-year horizon: a “hybrid” clinic (robotics + conventional therapy) and a standard care clinic. The model uses a “workforce multiplier” framework and evaluates efficiency through the cost per point of clinical outcome (Fugl-Meyer Assessment). Results Under the simulation hypothesis, robotic integration allows for a 16.1% reduction in cost per patient and an increase in workforce efficiency. Our scenario-based analysis suggests that robotic-assisted rehabilitation units can achieve favorable cost-effectiveness profiles compared with standard manual care, provided that patient throughput remains high. However, robotic systems do not replace the necessity of careful capital budgeting and workflow reorganization. Conclusions Robotic rehabilitation should be appraised not merely as a technological cost, but as a multiplier of organizational capacity and a driver of digital innovation. Institutional decision-makers should view robotic adoption as a strategic operational shift rather than a stand-alone guaranteed cost-reduction tool.