9 Reasons Why Health Practices Should Switch to the Cloud

Featured article by Rick DelGado, Independent Technology Author

In a study conducted by MarketsandMarkets, they discovered that the healthcare industry is set to increase their spending on the cloud-based services by nearly $9.5 billion in 2020. Why is this? Because health practitioners manage a huge amount of data particularly in the financial, operational, human resources, and back office department.

Data is highly important in this industry and if a software such as cloud servers present a safe, secure, and affordable solution, it’s only a matter time before it becomes a prerequisite for healthcare practitioners to do their operations.

Gone are the days when physicians fully relied on physical servers. If something were to happen to the clinic, say a flood or a fire, it would only mean disaster for the business.  As technology continues to evolve, we can expect more industries to use cloud-based software. What was once only used by savvy tech-enthusiasts is now being used in various IT applications.

There are many reasons why more and more health practices are switching to cloud servers.

1. Simplicity

The bigger a healthcare company is, the more data it has to carry which makes handling operations more complicated. By switching to cloud, the responsibility of maintaining such data is passed on over to the cloud provider. For a cheaper monthly fee, healthcare organizations can focus better at providing healthcare to patients while leaving it to the cloud software provider to make sure data runs smoothly.

2. Secure

Medical records are highly valuable to hackers who make profits by selling personal information. Physicians have the legal responsibility to keep patient data private. Today’s cloud servers offer a secure platform that’s hardly available anywhere else. It allows physicians to maintain the confidentiality expected of them by their clients.

3. Cost-friendly

Healthcare organizations that use cloud servers reduce their IT costs by 20% annually. This is a huge chunk that can be spent on more important departments like hospital equipment, research, and security. For organizations that are yet to switch to cloud computing solutions, upfront costs are less risky which makes the prospect of transitioning less scary. Cloud software also requires lesser IT infrastructure which translates to reduced IT energy and power consumption.

4. Retrieves data fast

In-house servers are highly vulnerable in a sense that if a calamity or hardware failure happens, healthcare providers could potentially lose millions of data which in turn could affect their operations. With cloud servers, information is stored in numerous data centers that if one is affected, it can still be recovered in another data center.

5. Scalable

Cloud-servers don’t have to rely on the set limit provided by physical servers. With cloud servers, there’s no limit to the amount of data that it can store. It’s flexible in a way that it can scale up or down depending on the organization’s needs.

6. Collaborative

Cloud servers give users the option to share data to a number of people whether it’s patients, researchers, or external partners. Doctor visits don’t require face-to-face interaction anymore. Patients can rely on the internet to speak with a healthcare professional. For practitioners who wish to advance their career by getting certifications such as PALS certification, they can easily access shared resources online and even communicate with their mentors.

7. Empowered users

Both practitioners and receivers of healthcare will become more empowered thanks to cloud servers. Healthcare providers have the ability to make resources easily accessible to patients so they can educate themselves, view their health records, and monitor their health.

8. Opens lines of communication

Patients requiring more guidance in their health can easily communicate with their healthcare providers. Mobile devices, instant alerts, and reminders are just some of the ways that communication can be extended so patients aren’t left to their own devices.

9. Provides real-time feedback

Patients can access health records using their connected devices allowing them a clearer picture of their health as it happens. Healthcare stakeholders are also able to address health issues more quickly by accessing information from a population level.

To fully benefit from cloud software solutions, healthcare organizations should pick a partner wisely. If a cloud app is popular, look beyond the name; just because it’s a big brand it doesn’t mean it’s ideal for all niches. By researching which cloud vendor understands the healthcare industry best, you can learn from fellow health organizations that have utilized it and use it to your benefit.

by Rick DelGado, Independent Author

“I’ve been blessed to have a successful career and have recently taken a step back to pursue my passion of writing. I’ve started doing freelance writing and I love to write about new technologies and how it can help us and our planet.” – Rick DelGado