Why Do Healthcare Organizations Need Managed IT Services?
Healthcare organizations are facing increasing demands for faster and more secure IT services. The growing number of connected devices and complex software applications have made it difficult for healthcare organizations to manage their IT infrastructure. As a result, they need to rely on reliable managed IT service providers like Managed IT Services New Jersey to ensure that all their critical systems are working perfectly at all times, without any interruptions in service delivery or performance degradation. Vantage Market Research estimates that the Digital Health Market could reach $430.52 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9%.
Healthcare technology demands are growing rapidly
Healthcare organizations have long relied on electronic medical records (EMRs) and other digital tools to keep track of patient information, resulting in an ever-growing dependence on information technology (IT) in this domain. With the rise of the internet and doctors/ patients going increasingly mobile, however, the healthcare industry has seen an even more rapid increase in its reliance on IT due to demands from patients and providers alike. In fact, according to a recent survey by International Data Corporation (IDC), 77% of people who visited a doctor’s office recently did so intending to obtain some type of health information online afterward.
Increased Cyber-attacks
Cyber-attacks are a significant threat to the healthcare industry, and they’re becoming increasingly common. According to IBM, costs associated with healthcare data breaches increased from an average total cost of $7.13 million in 2020 to $9.23 million in 2021, registering a steep increase of 29.5%.
While cyber-attacks can be debilitating for any business, it is notably more devastating for healthcare organizations as patients cannot afford to wait for the attack and its various fallouts to get sorted. Cyber-attacks target health IT infrastructure and data, which is why managed IT services are essential for healthcare organizations. With proper monitoring and security measures in place, you can reduce your risk of cyber-attacks while ensuring that your systems’ performance is always optimized.
Healthcare organizations need highly specialized IT support and services
Healthcare organizations are unique in how they operate, which is why they require 24*7 IT support for healthcare. These organizations face challenges that non-healthcare businesses don’t typically face, such as ensuring the privacy of patient information and adapting to changing technology needs while providing the highest quality of patient care.
Healthcare organizations must also be able to adapt quickly to technological changes because their industry is undergoing a significant shift in digital innovation—and it’s happening fast. According to IDC research, by 2021, there will be more than 50 billion IoT-connected devices globally, with 10 billion being medical wearables. The industry spends more than ever on connected devices; over 80% of hospitals also plan to invest in additional technologies like AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning within the next five years.
Healthcare organizations require 24*7 IT support
It’s a well-known fact that healthcare organizations have sensitive data that needs to be protected at all times. To achieve effective protection, they require 24*7 IT support. One of the biggest reasons behind this is the predominance of data breaches that are becoming more frequent in the healthcare industry. The trend has particularly picked up during the pandemic and continues. There have been multiple high-profile instances where hackers have gained access to patient records. This has resulted in significant financial losses for the affected organizations and decreased customer trust and loyalty.
Another reason why 24*7 IT support is essential for healthcare organizations is that downtime can be very costly. Patients rely on their doctors being able to access their medical records from home or work when they need them most – especially in emergencies. Even a small amount of downtime due to technical issues could cause chaos within your facility.
5 Benefits of Managed IT Services for Healthcare
Access to Technical and Cyber Expertise and Experience
The healthcare industry is at a higher risk of cyberattacks than other industries. This is because medical data is often highly sensitive and a lucrative target for hackers who can gain from stolen data, identity theft, and more. Cyberattacks can also cause harm to patients, who may face deteriorating health conditions as IT systems malfunction without warning.
Managed IT services can help prevent cyberattacks by providing access to technical experts who have experience dealing with these challenges. Managed IT providers understand the unique challenges that healthcare providers face and can develop solutions that are tailored specifically for your business needs.
Exceptional Data Security
Data security is a critical issue for healthcare providers, but that’s hardly the only reason it’s critical for any business. Data security is a concern for any organization, whether a small business or a massive corporation. It’s also an issue of great importance to individuals.
- Protecting data is essential because you don’t want your information getting into the wrong hands (or being stolen by hackers).
- You need to protect yourself from liability issues and fines if you’re negligent in protecting customer information.
- The more secure you are, the less likely your business will suffer financial losses due to hacking or data loss.
Reduced Operating Costs
A managed IT services provider typically reduces operating costs in several ways.
- The most obvious way is by handling the day-to-day operations of your IT infrastructure. A managed IT service provider assumes responsibility for monitoring and maintaining your systems. This allows your staff members to focus on patient care and end-user experience instead of being caught up in troubleshooting technical problems on their own.
- Managed IT services also reduce maintenance costs by including software updates and upgrades as part of their monthly fees.
Improved Patient Care
By providing effective IT support, managed IT services can help your hospital offer better patient care. This is because improved patient care is the most important reason why hospitals need an effective IT system. The faster a patient access healthcare, the better their chances of recovering or surviving a disease or injury. Managed IT services help increase efficiency and productivity across your entire organization, resulting in fewer delays in patient treatment and greater access to doctors and nurses when needed most by patients.
More Effective Use of Resources
Managed IT services enable you to utilize your existing resources better. Instead of hiring more people and allocating more budget towards your technology, you can work with an outside partner who can deliver the same level of service at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, managed IT services help ensure that your company always complies with industry regulations and best practices. This means there’s less chance of mistakes or accidents due to human error.
Post courtesy: Chris Forte – President, and CEO at Olmec Systems.
