Security breaches and other potential HIPAA violations are, rightfully, a cause for concern among organizations within the healthcare sector. The fear of ransomware attacks or personal medical records being released has hindered many healthcare organizations from using technology, like cloud computing, that could revolutionize patient care, increase profits, and drastically improve communication and outreach.

While potential security threats should always be taken under consideration, they can be addressed by increasing cybersecurity measures. Organizations in the healthcare industry should realize that the rewards of this emerging technology far outweighs the, often preventable, risks, and embrace the benefits of this new cloud technology. Here are four ways in which cloud computing can make a positive difference in the healthcare industry:

1. Collaboration

Cloud computing makes it easy for healthcare professionals to collaborate with one another. Patient data and medical records can be stored and accessed on the cloud by healthcare professionals in various locations. In situations where mere seconds can mean the difference between life and death, it is more critical than ever that doctors have immediate access to patient information.

2. Remote Consulting

Cloud computing also allows healthcare professionals to instantly consult and share data with others. A doctor who has a question about a patient’s condition or treatment options can share scans and other medical records with other doctors anywhere across the globe and receive their input. Doctors can even consult with more experienced doctors in real time while completing medical procedures.

3. Targeted Treatment

The cloud is able to handle the volume of data being generated within the medical field better than traditional storage systems. Healthcare organizations that use cloud computing can use big data to recognize patterns and understand what diseases or conditions might be causing a patient’s symptoms. This allows for better patient care and accurate treatment.

4. Research

Cloud computing allows healthcare professionals to share data from different locations. More shared data means more data points for analysts to use to track medical conditions and ailments. This provides valuable information for research that could not otherwise be compiled. Researchers can look at real life data from a variety of sources about specific diseases and conditions rather than spending years trying to find that information themselves.

5. Remote Patient Care

Patients can use cloud technology to reach their doctors without even making an appointment. Technology allows patients to monitor and report symptoms and even communicate with doctors via electronic devices. Increased access to healthcare is a vital element of patient care.

In conclusion, I recommend the adoption of cloud technology for healthcare and other industries for many reasons, some of which was mentioned above.  With this mind, I do want to emphasize that I still require all my clients to use a secondary encrypted back-up device that is detached from your network.  This is the only way to truly protect your data against ransomware and other malwares.  These external back-up drives come in different sizes and even built-in redundancy and should be selected according to the size and type of data being stored.  These devices can also be set-up remotely to back-up your data on a daily or weekly basis from an outside location such as a residence to protect against catastrophic events like fire, earthquake, and flooding.  

For help making sure your healthcare organization is HIPAA compliant, visit Enviromerica online today!

We can ensure that you receive the best advice for optimizing your healthcare practice.