Not everyone understands the cloud, but that hasn’t stopped us all from using and benefitting from cloud computing applications.
During the pandemic, our entire healthcare system—healthcare professionals, patients, and each medical institution—reaped the benefits of these IT infrastructures. Cloud technology offers benefits to nearly every industry, things like reduced costs of infrastructure and maintenance, not to mention faster and more adaptable scalability. These new technologies can also be implemented remotely, which has been critical in recent times.
Here are six of the most compelling reasons cloud technology has been embraced by the healthcare industry.
1. Records rooms have moved to a more affordable, expansive location.
As Electrical Medical Records (EMR) systems have become mandated, the healthcare industry has embraced cloud-based solutions to store and secure patient records. Cloud technology provides efficient ways to manage the massive amounts of data generated by healthcare providers every year—things like lab tests, insurance claims, and prescriptions.
The larger data storage made possible by cloud storage means that cloud-based analytical tools can better process the data, transform it into meaningful insights, and forecast trends. Awesome, right? And it does all this while also reducing infrastructure costs.
2. Telemed zooms to the forefront.
With cloud-based apps and telehealth systems, medical professionals can easily share healthcare data and insurance information. They can also offer better access to healthcare providers and specialists.
Taking things one step further, some apps even offer virtual analysis of medicine consumption or doctors’ appointments through video conferencing. Without cloud computing, we couldn’t have this high level of telemedicine care—especially when it’s difficult to leave home.
3. Patients have ready access to the information they need.
By providing real-time access to test results, medical info, and doctors’ notes, cloud computing helps patients manage their health with ready access to knowledge.
Being able to read test results, summaries of visits, and health histories and schedule appointments online saves time and gives individuals more control. It also increased patient engagement. Cloud technology also helps prevent unnecessary medical tests and unexpected prescription interactions.
4. Better patient care.
Gone are the days of having to bring copies of your medical records to an appointment with a new provider.
Now doctors can share data, view previous imaging, and check earlier consultations with other healthcare professionals, and share data. This saves time for doctors and patients, and this collaboration leads to more precise and efficient diagnosis and treatment. That’s definitely a win-win.
5. Heightened security and protection.
Cloud services are an inexpensive and efficient way to maintain patient data and ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Most healthcare institutions neither have the time nor resources to devote attention to cybersecurity. But an established cloud provider can provide much more sophisticated levels of protection. Not only can patients trust that their sensitive information is safe, but healthcare systems can trust that their data is kept in a safe place off-site. All the way up in the cloud, to be exact.
6. Flexibility and adaptability.
In addition to the other ways that cloud-based architecture reduces costs, it also improves scalability and comes with lower ongoing maintenance costs.
Cloud platforms set the stage for solving problems we don’t even yet know we have. For instance, cloud-based data dashboards were able to quickly provide real-time analytics and data visualizations to track and control the spread of Covid.
Ready to see greater efficiency, experience heightened security, and benefit from decreased costs? Talk to our Cloudologists to learn how implementing cloud-based technologies can improve your company’s bottom line. Our philosophy is simple: when you allow us to do what we do best, it will enable you to efficiently and affordably do all the things that you do best.