IT has been around to help businesses adapt to customer needs and competition. It brings nothing short of efficiency to any industries it’s applied to – especially in the healthcare industry.
The healthcare industry relies on IT for the growing demands of patient care. Managed IT support services have become an indispensable asset to medical providers worldwide, from managing electronic health records to implementing telemedicine solutions.
IT service providers (or managed service providers) are getting more popular among small businesses and large corporations worldwide. Many seek the help of MSPs to help with their day-to-day operations. The Service Level Agreement (SLA) will define the services, fees, and setups you'll get out of the deal.
Healthcare managed IT service providers excel in various areas of IT that can be of tremendous help to healthcare companies, from cloud migration and cyber security to comply with HIPAA regulations. So, in this article, we’ll explore why healthcare IT services are the ideal solution for medical providers.
Secure management and storage of patient data
One primary reason IT services for healthcare providers are crucial for the industry is the secure management and storage of patient data.
With hospitals and clinics handling vast amounts of sensitive information, such as medical records and personal details, maintaining data privacy and security is paramount. You’ll also have to consider the high possibility of cyberattacks that target the healthcare industry regularly. If you ever fall into one of these attacks, you’re at risk of system downtime or losing confidential patient data.
IT service providers for the healthcare industry can help you prevent these predicaments by implementing stringent security measures like encryption protocols and access controls to protect patients' information from illegal access or cyber threats.
Seamless communication between healthcare providers
As with companies in other industries, seamless communication is essential for everybody’s success in the healthcare industry, from providers to patients. And if your IT infrastructure gets built with collaboration in mind, your teams can operate effectively, and patients get the utmost care they deserve.
Integrated electronic health record systems
The healthcare industry uses electronic health record systems to store and manage patient data. This infrastructure is necessary for your overall operations. So you’ll need an IT infrastructure with a tailor-fit approach in supporting your applications and processes.
Your IT service provider should have the means to streamline your processes and ensure that it stays that way. This solution can range from storage and backup to cloud implementation that will help you scale your operations according to your requirements or keep up with the ever-evolving technological landscape.
Compliance with the Privacy Act 1988
Healthcare providers not only have to ensure their patients are well taken care of, but they also have to keep up with security compliance regulations to protect their information. Australia has the Privacy Act 1988, their version of HIPAA, that legislates the protection of an individual’s data from cyber threats and data leaks. This legal act requires you to apply security practices and stay up-to-date with the latest trends.
Your IT service provider should help you comply with these compliance and regulatory requirements to save you from legal troubles and protect your patients from harm. You should have access to IT services like security risk assessments, security awareness training for employees, essential eight mitigation strategies, and security policy implementations.
Proactive system maintenance and monitoring
Regular maintenance and monitoring help prevent IT issues before they happen. Vulnerabilities are a common thing in IT. No matter how high-end your infrastructure is, there’s always something – either a bug in your security or a new kind of cyber attack – that will threaten your data. But what you can do is to keep an eye out for them regularly so you can resolve them to ensure your IT runs without any hiccups.
System maintenance and monitoring also improve the overall health of IT. Proactive IT service providers like Office Solutions IT will maintain and monitor in real time to solve potential issues before they become real problems. This part is especially critical because medical professionals rely heavily on system uptime to perform their work efficiently – and a single downtime can pose grave consequences to patients’ lives.
Improve system uptime
If your IT is consistent, your team’s performance will likely be too. But to maintain system uptime, you will need a team of experts with the skills to fight off IT issues once spotted. This uptime responsibility also involves keeping up with software patches, performing routine preventive maintenance, penetration testing, and managing the entire IT asset lifecycle. There’s a lot involved in lowering downtime risks, but all of it is worth it when the health and lives of patients are at stake.
System uptime also involves keeping up with the latest technologies and IT solutions. As you have the best solutions under your belt, you improve overall team productivity and provide quality healthcare to your patients without compromising your budget.
Reliable 24/7 Support
IT-related emergencies can come at any time, and if your systems stop working in the middle of the night, your patients will be in serious trouble. Go for a medical IT services provider that offers reliable 24/7 IT support ready to respond to service requests quickly. This way, you reduce downtime and can return to your patients immediately.
Rest peacefully at night, knowing your healthcare IT is in the hands of reliable and proactive experts ready to help wherever and whenever. You’ll no longer have to worry about downtime or other potential IT issues that may come – and instead, focus on saving lives.
Scalable IT infrastructure
It’s common for healthcare providers to have outdated IT infrastructures. It’s their biggest challenge yet due to a limited IT budget. And it can be difficult to provide efficient patient care if your IT is working against you. Only with a scalable IT infrastructure measured to your current requirements can you help patients effectively.
Your medical IT provider can help you scale your systems accordingly. Note that instead of on-premises servers, they will use cloud-based services to limit your spending without compromising software and hardware quality.
Implement backup and disaster recovery
Losing files happens to the best of us. It can either be deliberate or accidental. And if you don’t have a reliable backup before that happens, your data can be considered lost for good. So, to prevent disaster from happening, your MSP will have to create solutions that can bypass various incidents. One of the most common backup strategies is the 3-2-1 backup strategy, which involves having three copies of your data stored in two different places, with one copy stored off-site or in the cloud.
Healthcare companies face unique challenges when it comes to data security and compliance. An MSP who understands these requirements can ensure a more tailored and effective backup and disaster recovery solution. By implementing such robust solutions, you can safeguard your valuable patient data while ensuring continuity of operations even during unpredictable circumstances like cyber-attacks or natural disasters.
Controlled IT costs
Building an IT infrastructure doesn’t come cheap. You’ll have to prepare to invest in various software and hardware assets. To preserve its integrity, you will also need regular maintenance and updates. By partnering with an experienced healthcare IT services provider, you can enhance your IT operations while controlling costs.
MSPs like Office Solutions assess your organisation’s needs and design tailored IT solutions that align with your goals and budget. You can also have your MSP create a fixed monthly service agreement according to your IT budget.
Summing up
With evolving technological advancements transforming medical practices worldwide, investing in reliable healthcare IT services has transcended mere necessity—it has become an absolute must for companies operating within this sector.
Investing in a robust IT infrastructure enhances day-to-day operations, ensures data privacy, and facilitates seamless communication among medical professionals. Ultimately, prioritising these essential technological resources will foster a safer and more flexible environment for patients while boosting productivity within medical facilities.
Ready to get your healthcare organisation the IT service it deserves? Get in touch today, and we’ll show you the path to business success.
