Leveraging Cloud Computing for Scalability in Healthcare IT Infrastructure

A good life is a healthy life, and advances in digital technologies are making it easier for healthcare professionals to support their patients back to strength.

Yet due to the sensitivity of patient data and the strict regulatory frameworks in which medical institutions must operate, the healthcare sector’s IT infrastructure lags behind others.  

This causes risky inefficiencies which worsen patient experiences and even incur life-threatening impacts — undermining the sector’s mission.

Fortunately, embracing digital transformations is more accessible than ever today.

Cloud computing in healthcare enables organisations and individuals to manage their data online and on-demand, while only paying for what they actually use, outsourcing all maintenance of remote servers to external service providers.

This makes managing vast amounts of information, from patient records and accounts to inventory levels and staff shifting,more flexible, efficient, secure and cost-effective.  

Discover the possibilities of cloud computing in healthcare with this blog,  we’ll walk you through the benefits, challenges and options for bringing streamlined digital infrastructures to your organisation.

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‍Understanding Scalability in Healthcare IT.

You may be wondering: What is scalability in healthcare information systems?

Scalability enables private practices and medical organisations to increase or decrease their IT resources as their needs change.  This significantly reduces the administrative and financial burdens digital infrastructures once entailed.

This is especially important in healthcare, where large, complex datasets constantly change to update procedures, treatment plans, medical supply inventories and patient information.

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Benefits of Cloud Computing for Healthcare Scalability.

The advantages of cloud computing in healthcare are numerous, including cost efficiency, resource flexibility and improved performance and availability.

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Cost efficiency

Since cloud computing operates on a pay-as-you-go model, the upfront costs of integration are kept low.

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Resource flexibility

The ability to modulate infrastructure levels allows organisations to seamlessly increase or decrease their usage as needed.

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Improved performance and availability

Cloud providers ensure optimal function, offering high uptime and reduced latency for all client organisations.

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Challenges When Adopting Cloud Computing.

While there are no outright disadvantages of cloud computing in healthcare, transitioning to any comprehensive cloud-based infrastructure requires overcoming certain hurdles before its considerable benefits result.

Some key considerations when transitioning to cloud computing include:

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Data protection

Security and privacy in cloud computing for healthcare are paramount. Technicians need to maintain the confidentiality of patient data by fending off breach attempts, preventing unauthorised access throughout the transition period.

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Regulatory compliance

The healthcare sector is highly regulated, and for good reason.  These rules and restrictions ensure quality of care, patient safety and dignity, and the feasibility of treatments.  

When enabling cloud computing in the healthcare sector, technicians work to ensure that no regulatory measures are violated in the process.

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Quality internet connections

The transition to cloud-based infrastructures can risk interfering with the normal access and functionality for various patients and healthcare professionals. Technicians work to maintain reliable, high-speed internet connectivity.

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System integration

Not all digital infrastructures in the healthcare sector were designed with cloud functionality in mind.  Technicians need time to enable remote server-hosted services for such outdated internal systems.

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Transitions and training

Shifting to a new IT infrastructure is a major investment for an organisation.  Staff require assistance when learning new workflows, interfaces and procedures, and technicians develop specific training workshops to make the transition as seamless as possible.

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How cloud computing can be used in the healthcare industry.

But what is cloud computing in healthcare?  

Leading medical organisations have already begun to deploy cloud computing to fulfil a number of specialised purposes:

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Enhanced patient record-keeping

Cloud-based electronic health records (EHR) systems store patient information in secure, orderly virtual facilities for more efficient preservation and access.

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Virtual consultations and remote monitoring

Cloud computing allows healthcare professionals to consult with patients virtually and monitor patients who require continual oversight in delicate phases of their recovery.

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Improved efficiency and care

By harnessing big data analytics, cloud computing generates actionable insights to drive improvements in both patient care and operational efficiency.

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Secure data sharing for collaboration

Safer than other digital infrastructures, cloud computing permits easy collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers and patients without compromising security.

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Enhanced disaster recovery

Cloud-based infrastructures prevent total information loss by producing secure backups and redundancies, allowing for absolute data privacy and continuity of operations even in the event of an infringement or malfunction.

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Patient portals and mobile healthcare applications

A single secure cloud platform equips healthcare providers to host and link a larger suite of virtual tools, including patient portals and mobile health apps.

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Conclusion.

Cloud computing scalability represents a novel and urgent frontier for healthcare.  It reduces overall IT costs, optimises security measures and enables more flexible usage options fluctuating demand.

The transitions can be complicated.  Some initial obstacles — such as maintaining data privacy, connectivity and regulatory compliance throughout the transition to cloud infrastructure, as well as training staff to operate new interfaces — require careful navigation.

But the results are more than worthwhile.  Improved EHR systems, analytics-driven enhancements to operational efficiency and patient care, virtual consultations and patient monitoring, data-secure collaborations, robust disaster recovery solutions, and secondary-app integrations are just some of the benefits of cloud computing in healthcare.

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Why Choose JustSolve.

If it’s digital innovation you want, JustSolve stands at the ready.  

With over 100 products delivered, our multiple global award-winning team has mastered the art of custom software development and enablement for global enterprises in industry, including Healthcare, Financial Services, Telecommunications and more.

Moreover, our direct experience in the healthcare industry positions us among the best healthcare cloud computing in South Africa.

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Ready to transform your healthcare operations with cutting-edge cloud computing solutions?

Book an risk-free consultation with us and discover how we can help you navigate the complexities of digital transformation in healthcare.