5 Ways Cloud Computing Is Affecting The Healthcare Industry

Larry Alton
Published 05/26/2021
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doctor using ipad for digital health automationThere’s been a significant shift in how healthcare data is shared and stored. Many healthcare organizations now used cloud computing in the management of their data. If your healthcare company is thinking about going to the cloud, there are several positive changes, including site security and others we list below.

Lower Costs

The idea behind using the cloud is to have computer resources such as computing power and data storage to be available anywhere. Healthcare providers don’t need to buy servers and other hardware anymore. You have no high upfront costs associated with storing your data in the cloud. All you pay for is the resources used, which will save your organization big bucks.

Cloud computing also offers the ideal environment for scaling. Patient data nows flows from electronic medical records and many health wearables and apps. So, working in the cloud is the perfect solution for scalability while keeping your costs under control.

Security

Healthcare data must be confidential. The personal data held in the healthcare sector makes it a target for cybercriminals. Cloud networks ensure security with many tools that inform your organization about malicious access attempts.

Robust Analytics

Healthcare data is a significant asset to your organization. Vital patient data from many sources can be collected and computed in the digital cloud. Applying Big Data analytics and AI algorithms to your cloud-stored patient information can boost medical research. Processing massive amounts of data are more possible than ever in the cloud.

Doing analytics on your patient data also can allow you to create more personalized healthcare solutions for individual patients.

Patients Own Their Data

Cloud computing returns the ownership of data to the patient where it belongs. It increases patient participation in healthcare decisions and offers enhanced decision-making by being a helpful fool for patient engagement and education.

Medical images and patient records can also be archived and retrieved when in the cloud. Data storage in the cloud is reliable and secure, and there is less data redundancy. Backups are made automatically, and there isn’t any one place where critical data is stored. So, recovering data is simpler.

Telemedicine Possibilities

Data being accessed remotely is one of the most significant advantages of cloud computing. Telemedicine is more possible, as are post-hospitalization care plans. Access to many healthcare services is increased with telehealth.

Also, telemedicine apps make delivering healthcare more convenient while improving the patient experience. Cloud-based apps and telehealth systems allow healthcare data to be shared, which improves accessibility.

Interoperability

Interoperability allows for data integration in the healthcare system, no matter where the data originates from or is stored. This means that patient data is available to be distributed anytime. Significant insights can be gained to improve healthcare planning and delivery.

Working in the cloud allows healthcare organizations to obtain access to critical patient data from many sources. You can then share it with stakeholders who can provide timely prescriptions and treatments. Further, it reduces the distance between medical specialists and allows them to go over patient cases and provide opinions no matter where they are.

Patient data residing in the cloud also encourages interoperability among many parts of the healthcare field, including insurance, payments, and pharmaceuticals. This means seamless data transfer between stakeholders, which speeds healthcare delivery and efficiency.

Cloud computing is evolving in the healthcare industry. Big Data analytics, AI, and the Internet of medical things are improving efficiency and opening up many avenues to streamline healthcare delivery. There’s no reason your healthcare company should not begin to migrate to the cloud with its multitude of benefits.

Larry Alton is a professional blogger, writer, and researcher who contributes to a number of reputable online media outlets and news sources. A graduate of Iowa State University, I’m now a full-time freelance writer and business consultant.