The cloud computing market in healthcare is expected to grow to $9.48 billion by 2020. (MarketsandMarkets) Why? Synchronized real-time data management and the delivery of personalized healthcare are increasingly important, making cloud more important than ever in this sector.
During the 2016 annual meeting of the Health Information and Management Systems Society, some interesting insights were revealed. Technology plays a key role in restructuring the way providers relate to and communicate with patients. Today, the technology conversation revolves around strategic concerns like revenue-cycle management, data analysis, and population health management. And for patients, the entire experience matters, from finding a doctor to paying the bill.
Additionally, the meeting touched on an interesting finding regarding the differing age-based attitudes towards healthcare technology. The use of technology is important across generations, but how these different patients use it varies. For example, millennials are extremely research focused. They initially find their healthcare providers using online reviews. They also take advantage of telehealth services, and increasingly show up for their appointments already armed with information about their condition and potential treatments.
However, the generation that is most tech savvy, which is arguably the millennials, aren’t necessarily the largest users of healthcare. Those patients tend to be older, and want to take advantage of technology to make constant healthcare chores easier. This might include solutions that help them remember to take their pills or schedule an appointment.
Whatever the use, cloud computing is powering these technological capabilities for healthcare providers and patients. Cloud-based applications allow providers to streamline operations, organize data and complete routine tasks, and patients to access healthcare information, maintain contact with doctors, and create a consistent healthcare schedule.
Cloud computing within healthcare has grown so much in recent years that even privacy and compliance are no longer complete roadblocks. 64% of enterprises agreed that cloud infrastructure is more secure than legacy systems (Clutch). Cloud providers like RapidScale offer greater security than many organizations can provide themselves, largely because we are dedicated to powering our clients’ cloud solutions and have the resources in place to provide excellent security. With traditional computing, security breaches occur due to the simplest occurrences, like losing a device or sending critical data via email. A provider like RapidScale offers quality layers of physical and network security.
Many pieces of healthcare have a place in the cloud, if moved correctly. This might include:
- Electronic records
- Storage of protected health information
- Applications
- Clinical research
Electronic health records, for example, could create hugely positive change by living in the cloud. When data is stored in the cloud, it becomes available to any healthcare professional that needs it (with privacy and security measures in place), avoiding the risk of lost records or the inefficiency of sending information back and forth. And aside from convenience, this ensures that doctors are aware of things like patient health history or current medications to avoid any conflicts.
The healthcare cloud can work on a much larger scale, too. Medical researchers can more easily detect population health trends or risks, and data can alert the necessary parties when preventative treatment is needed in a certain location. Emerging technology, like wearable fitness devices, are generating massive amounts of data that can be used for insight into health and activity trends.
The opportunities the cloud and related technology offer the healthcare sector are huge.
Learn more about RapidScale’s cloud approach to this sector. Visit our Cloud for Healthcare page!
