In recent years, the adoption of cloud computing software has increased at a frenetic pace. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by Technavio, the global market for cloud technologies in the healthcare industry shows promising growth of over $25.54 billion by the year 2024. While the cloud computing industry still has a long way to go, it has the potential to open up multiple avenues for improved efficiencies and simplify healthcare delivery. In this article, we will discuss the ways cloud computing software impacts healthcare and how it improves patient care through the cloud.
Decreasing Costs
In this fast-paced and modern world, many hospitals and healthcare facilities have shifted to cloud systems to handle the construction, administration, and maintenance of health records, reducing operational expenses. Besides the fact that it helps process information and data more efficiently, the adoption of cloud computing decreases the overall manpower costs in the absence of large in-house IT teams.
Access to Patient Data
The combination of cloud computing with healthcare acts as a tool for patient engagement and education, giving patients more control over their own health. It enables a patient-centric approach by offering the patients a new level of safety that protects them from unnecessary testing and overprescription. Hospitals and healthcare providers also benefit from the seamless transfer of data between different stakeholders, thus improving efficiency in the process.
Data Protection and Security
Healthcare providers can now protect sensitive patient information from potential risks, such as getting lost or completely destroyed by unforeseen natural disasters. This is a good alternative to storing reams of patient records in filing cabinets. With cloud security, medical images and patient records are now easily archived and retrieved since relevant patient data are collated from different sources. Consequently, the shift to cloud-based software and servers improves data security to keep the uniformity of medical records and protect them against phishing schemes and other cyberattacks healthcare facilities face. For example, many healthcare facilities have come to appreciate the importance of Azure’s security management when organizing their health-related data; it includes PCI-DSS, which protects cardholder data.
Telehealth Capabilities
The telehealth capabilities of cloud computing are perhaps some of the most remarkable ways cloud computing software impacts healthcare today. Cloud computing breaks down location barriers that restrict access to quality healthcare through telemedicine, virtual medication adherence, and post-hospitalization care plans. Cloud-based data analysis comes in handy, as it ensures that no pertinent patient detail will be missed when prescribing treatments. It also diminishes the distance between the healthcare provider and patient. This allows the provider to give timely prescriptions and treatment protocols without requiring the patient to miss a day of work or risk running into traffic jams.
