Electronic Health Reporter

Guest post by Brent Whitfield, CEO, DCG Technical Solutions, Inc.

The healthcare industry deals with tight IT budgets and highly confidential records that require premium security, which is why desktop as a service (DaaS) is an appropriate solution. This technology allows you to focus more on your healthcare business than IT, which in the long run, cuts costs. Here are various other reasons why desktop as a service may be the right solution for your healthcare operation.

Virtual Desktops and the Cloud

When you use desktop as a service you are operating on a “virtual desktop” powered by a cloud provider. It connects everyone in your organization through one platform. Employees can then bring their own laptops or other devices to access data or communicate with other team members. This system potentially means you no longer need IT to maintain every physical desktop and server in an in-house infrastructure.

Instead of updating security on every company computer, the cloud provider handles security updates, which tend to prevent breaches better than a locally managed system, especially those that are HIPAA-compliant.

Healthcare Collaboration

Because of the growing complex nature of the healthcare industry, professionals from various specialties within the field are working together, creating a more collaborative culture. That’s another good reason to use virtual desktops, which allow for easy collaboration between even distant facilities in real time.

This team effort requires strong, decisive leadership so that staffing, ethics and communication are high quality. If this essential foundation is in place combined with desktop as a service, the result is enormous synergism for dealing with committee issues such as interdisciplinary programs, charters and training programs. Another reason for collaboration is that it helps expedite services, which can help save lives.

Strength of DaaS Security

Since all healthcare facilities must comply with strict HIPAA regulations, which require robust security to protect patient privacy, cloud solutions are becoming increasingly more appropriate than trying to run all systems on in-house architecture. As long as you make sure your cloud provider is HIPAA-compliant, you won’t have to worry much about constant security updates or data backups since the cloud provider will do that for you.

In recent years, healthcare data breaches have affected more than 30 million patients. But that was often a result of thieves stealing laptops were confidential information was stored. It raises the question: would you rather store data on multiple devices that can potentially be stolen, or in a safe cloud-based haven where only users with passwords gain access?

The cloud simply makes it easier for various departments to integrate through one central platform that can be accessed at any time from any location with any device — as long as you have administrative permission. That way, different specialists can access patient data in a simple seamless way that doesn’t lead to lost or misplaced files. The cloud also reduces the chances of downtime since it typically involves automatic continuous data backups and backup servers in remote locations.

Ideal For Mobile Users

The reason virtual desktops are ideal for employees with mobile devices is that they can walk around from department to department or floor to floor while still being able to access data at any time. It allows doctors and nurses to check their appointment schedules when they are away from the office. Personnel can also use info-driven apps to get quick answers to medical questions.

Rapid Growth

By 2020 desktop as a service is expected to grow by over 40 percent, according to an industry forecast by Technavio. The reason for this optimistic outlook is due to how virtual desktops enhance customer experience and help cut costs. Customers tend to be impressed with how teamwork and well-trained employees add up to a more efficient operation that’s a win-win for the industry and patients.

Innovative Interactive Apps

Since the healthcare industry is quickly adopting virtual desktops, it has spawned a series of innovative app development for the industry. Here are some of these apps that have further enhanced the cloud experience for healthcare professionals and patients:

• Helparound – provides answers to questions from diabetes caregivers
• Stat – offers instant medical companionship for patients
• Medicast – a platform that assists health systems upgrade care delivery networks

Another exciting development that’s helping improve the industry is intelligent automation. About 70 percent of healthcare officials, according to TechCrunch, are increasing investments in this emerging technology, which combines artificial intelligence with automation for:

• automating workflows
• analyzing data and processes
• streamlining decisions for staff members to review

Conclusion

One of the most futuristic technology solutions for a health care business is DaaS since it greatly reduces the chances of security breaches and it’s simply more economical. As the organization grows, this cloud solution provides easy scalability and flexibility in terms of integrating new technology. It works well in The Netherlands, which is often on the cutting edge of business technology.