Understanding Cloud Technology in Healthcare 

Cloud computing is a technology allowing access to computing resources and services via the internet. In healthcare, these services offer providers numerous benefits, such as data storage, software applications, and cloud architecture services, accessible online. Custom software development services provided aim to streamline healthcare management and patient experiences. The healthcare industry is increasingly turning to cloud services to enhance services, cut costs, and boost patient outcomes. 

7 Perks of Cloud Computing for Healthcare 

Better access to patient information 

Cloud computing enhances accessibility and flexibility for healthcare providers by allowing them to access records and critical data from any location, provided they have an internet connection. This capability improves the availability of healthcare services and enables providers to offer care remotely and collaborate with others as needed.   

Cost savings 

Cloud computing offers a more economical approach. It eliminates the need for organizations to invest in and upkeep extensive on-site systems. This shift allows for significant reductions in data storage expenses.  

Cloud migration service providers manage and upkeep these storage solutions, cutting costs associated with your company’s hardware and IT infrastructure. This financial efficiency frees up resources to enhance patient care.  

Additionally, robust security measures cloud storage provide significantly decrease the risk of hefty fines. This protection is essential for compliance with HIPAA and similar regulations. 

Enhanced collaboration via improved access 

Before, a patient’s medical history was scattered among different healthcare providers, including general practitioners and specialists.  

With cloud computing’s integration into healthcare settings, it’s become simpler for medical professionals to access, share, and collaboratively review a patient’s records. They can now observe updates in real-time, enabling them to make treatment decisions informed by a patient’s medical history, including interactions with various healthcare providers. 

Improved Security Measures 

In the era of paper-based medical records, such documents were highly vulnerable to theft, loss, destruction, and incidents like fires, which severely threatened patient privacy and confidentiality.  

Switching to Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) reduced these risks, but they did not entirely remove them. On-site electronic storage offered improvements, yet it still required a dedicated team of IT experts. These professionals were skilled in data protection to ensure the safety of patient information.  

Now, many healthcare institutions are opting for cloud storage solutions. They entrust their data to providers who adhere to stringent data privacy and security standards. This move helps maintain compliance with HIPAA and ensures the utmost security of sensitive patient data. 

Facilitated AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML Adoption 

One of the benefits of cloud migration is that it enables the processing of digital assets from various sources, which is essential for powering machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. These technologies can significantly enhance the operational efficiency of healthcare organizations.  

AI can detect trends by analyzing extensive medical data stored in cloud environments, such as patient histories, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. It can also forecast potential health issues and suggest suitable treatments.  

Moreover, AI aids healthcare professionals in sifting through cloud-based data to pinpoint patients at higher risk of developing specific conditions, facilitating periodical and preventive care measures. 

Improved Telehealth Services 

The pandemic significantly increased the need for telehealth services as concerns over transmitting the virus in medical settings grew, leading to a surge in healthcare delivery via digital platforms.  

Telehealth’s advantages, including its convenience and potential for cost reduction, have sustained its popularity. It also reaches a more diverse range of patients across various locations and socioeconomic backgrounds.  

Cloud migration consulting services offer secure, remote access to data and have further enhanced and expanded healthcare organizations’ telemedicine capabilities. 

ECF Data’s Successful Partnerships with the Healthcare Sector 

Utah Health Policy Project 

The Utah Health Policy Project (UHPP) is a nonprofit organization that develops sustainable healthcare solutions for underserved and low-income populations. Its initiative, Take Care Utah (TCU), aims to reduce the state’s 8.6% uninsured rate. It offers free health insurance assistance across Utah with the help of 50 enrollment specialists.  

Despite its success in expanding services and including bilingual support, UHPP identified inabilities. These inefficiencies arose from manual and multiple legacy application processes that were costly, time-consuming, and error prone.  

To address these challenges, UHPP collaborated with ECF Data, an IT firm, to integrate Dynamics 365 Customer Service. This solution enhanced UHPP’s service delivery by streamlining the inquiry, processing, and approval phases. This initiative made their operations more efficient. It also aligned with their mission to improve access to healthcare and reduce medical debt, a leading cause of bankruptcy in the US.