We’ve explored what the cloud is and how to optimize your security once you make the move. We’ve discussed how the cloud optimizes company efficiency. You’re finally starting to understand that the cloud could be a viable option for your organization, but what you don’t understand is what specific applications and workflows could the cloud host and optimize? It’s almost impossible to understand exactly how your practice should be implementing the cloud, since applications and workflows vary widely, even for businesses in the same industry. We can, however, start to look at how the cloud is impacting different industries. If you’re a medical provider that is looking to make a switch, here are a few ways that the medical industry is using the cloud.
- Physician Collaboraton Solutions (PCS).
Remember the good old days when doctors were able to make house calls? It wasn’t the most efficient way to run a practice, but it definitely provided for very personalized care. Physician collaboration solutions, often called “tele-health solutions” allow doctors to “see” patients through video conferencing. This means that if a patient is out of state and falls ill, they can uses PCS to see their patient, make a diagnosis and write a prescription without either party having to leave their location. This is a fantastic way that medical practices are embracing cloud technology and serving their patients better with personalized care. - Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
While the majority of medical practices are now on some sort of electronic medical record, when this information is stored in the cloud it allows a doctor to have access to it from anywhere. This means that if a doctor is on vacation or traveling, they can easily access patient information without bogging down the server or relying on the practice’s internet connection. This can be particular useful if another physician is seeing their patient, but wants to consult their medical history with their usual doctor. - Health Information Exchange (HIE).
Taking information availability a step further is allowing collaboration across different fields in the medical industry. That means that a urologist and an oncologist and an ENT a family physician can easily share information with each other electronically with minimal effort. This is extremely useful for quick diagnoses when a doctor needs full access to information. Rather than waiting on an express package of x-rays or medical records, they can access them quickly via a hosted cloud solution.
The cloud is allowing medical providers to deliver services and make diagnoses faster than ever. While the medical field has historically been known as slow to adopt change and slow in delivering services – these types of solutions bring speed and agility to practices, allowing them to distinguish themselves from their competition and ultimately win more patients and grow their practice.
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