Cloud technology in healthcare attracts vendors for many reasons. It boosts organizational agility, enables interoperability, and cuts expenses. According to Deloitte, one of the leading healthcare providers saved $50 million by migrating its applications to the cloud. It was 20% of the company's total operating budget for annual IT spending.
The growing demand for cloud computing in the healthcare industry propels market growth. With the help of technology companies, providers implement cloud solutions and upgrade their legacy systems. By 2026, the cloud-based healthcare computing segment will reach $76.8 billion with an 18.7% CARG.
Learn how to use cloud computing in healthcare, what for, and why cooperate with Binariks for custom cloud software development here.
What is cloud computing in healthcare?
Basic questions come first. What is cloud computing in healthcare? Who are the providers and what do they offer?
Cloud computing in the healthcare industry is the use of remote cloud servers to store, manage, and handle healthcare records within software solutions. These technologies are the most popular for EHR systems, but software developers also frequently use them for telemedicine, IoT wearables, clinical decision support systems, data analytics services, etc.
Cloud computing companies that shape the healthcare industry
With 40.0% of a worldwide market share, AWS leads the list of the top healthcare cloud software providers. Hence, if your company wants to use the cloud for healthcare, you are very likely to need AWS software development. Microsoft Azure (18%), Google Cloud Platform (12%), IBM Cloud (13%), and Alibaba Cloud (7%) are also top players with respective shares. These are the cloud technology providers most healthcare software development companies choose between.
Overall, cloud computing companies fall into four tiers:
- Large technology providers, including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Alibaba, and others
- Smaller technology providers that use the services of the tech industry giants as a foundation to add additional capabilities
- Vertical market players that offer EHR hosting
- PaaS offerings from large healthcare institutions that sell software developed for themselves
Therefore, you have two options if you manage a healthcare organization and need to implement cloud solutions: develop a custom system for internal use and consider selling it or choose ready-made services from third-party providers. Custom solutions are generally more efficient since they are tailored to the needs of a specific organization.
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How to adopt cloud computing in healthcare?
To feel the benefits of cloud computing in healthcare, providers need to go through a multiple-step process. Apart from software development and integration, it also requires holistic changes in some business processes. While the implementation can sometimes take months, the comprehensive automation for the full ROI may require three to five years.
McKinsey offers a model including three streams of work for cloud transformation. They can guide you on how to complete cloud transformation:
- Define the strategy to understand what are your targets and expectations. You need to know what you want to achieve using the cloud for healthcare to map the implementation and bring transparency to the process.
- Execute cloud migration, set up continuous delivery and optimization.
- Take care of cloud security and risk management practices to protect personal patient data.
The listed streams provide instructions for holistic digital transformation. Yet you don't need to implement everything at once. Cloud implementation is a gradual process that slowly changes different aspects of a healthcare organization. You will feel the benefits of cloud computing in healthcare as you go.
A client launched an AWS-based platform but faced issues when data loads started to grow. Case study AWS based healthcare app
5 Reasons to use cloud technology in healthcare
93% of medical groups that plan to replace their EHRs seek cloud-based functionality over server solutions.
Cloud-based healthcare is a trend backed up with many tangible benefits. The best thing about cloud computing in the healthcare industry is that this technology is advantageous both to healthcare organizations and patients. While providers get business and operational benefits, patients enjoy smoother services through innovative healthcare software.
Given the benefits of cloud computing in healthcare, organizations leverage cloud technology for the following reasons.
1. Cloud makes healthcare software less expensive
Cloud technology enables on-demand computing resources, including computing power and data storage. Healthcare organizations don't have to invest in the hardware and servers necessary to run complex healthcare systems. It saves lots of money you would otherwise spend on equipment.
Cloud also helps start digital transformation when the budget is limited. The thing is, cloud data storage doesn't require any up-front charges. You pay for what you need gradually and can optimize unnecessary capabilities. As a result, your budget planning becomes more flexible, and you get more control over finances. Besides, cloud solutions minimize maintenance costs. There is no need to keep on-premise servers or hire internal tech specialists to configure and monitor them.
These factors ensure significant cost savings for anyone who uses cloud computing in the healthcare industry. It's a good reason to choose solutions that reside in the cloud.
2. It's easier to achieve interoperability
Interoperability in healthcare is about a seamless exchange of structured health information through data integration between systems. It allows building a single platform for all teams and gives patients better access to their medical records. Interoperability is also essential to meet the latest regulations, including ONC and CMS provisions.
How does cloud technology facilitate interoperability? Cloud adoption makes patient data instantly available for distribution and sharing. Information from multiple sources goes to the same place so that all teams can access patients' data and other critical details.
Thanks to this, healthcare providers can instantly give out prescriptions, share treatment protocols, join efforts on complex cases, and more. The collaboration between various stakeholders in the healthcare industry also improves. Hospitals, insurance agencies, pharmaceuticals, and financial services get a single source of data to rely on.
3. Data ownership belongs to patients
Cloud computing in healthcare allows managing access to personal health (PHR) and electronic health records (EHR). Patients get convenient means to store, share, and import health data. It translates into the ultimate transparency of the provider's data processing practices and ensures patients' data ownership.
Moreover, patients gain a more active role in decisions related to their health. Since they receive information from medical teams in real-time, they can participate in decision-making.
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4. Advanced analytics with cloud technology in healthcare
Big data analytics is the only way to turn disparate data records into valuable insights. Yet, to apply analytics tools, researchers need to collect large volumes of data first. Cloud computing in the healthcare industry helps with it. The technology allows gathering structured and unstructured health data from diverse sources in one place for further processing.
When data is united and easily shareable, it brings several considerable advantages. First, healthcare software can automatically process it to offer more personalized care plans for every patient. Second, it drives medical research. Researchers can estimate the efficiency of different treatment options based on extensive data volumes. Thanks to this, treatment becomes data-driven, and doctors can predict the most likely outcome of the chosen approach.
5. Cloud computing in healthcare for telemedicine
Cloud for healthcare simplifies the adoption of telemedicine solutions that have increased 38X since the pre-Covid times. It supports remote accessibility of data, enabling providers and patients to communicate regardless of the distance.
As a result, medical care gets more convenient and becomes available even in remote areas. It reduces the load on clinicians as patients with minor issues can receive help remotely. Cloud-based telemedicine also simplifies the provision of preventive and recovery healthcare services. If an individual has a question, they don't need to visit healthcare facilities. A mobile app or web platform is enough to stay in touch with medical staff.
A patient management platform Binariks has developed for a Spanish company is one of multiple telemedicine use cases. It's a web solution incorporating an app for patients and healthcare managers that allows patients to get help remotely while they travel. In this project, we assembled a team of backend and frontend developers, a UI/UX designer, a QA specialist, and a project manager to rewrite the legacy solution of the customer and adapt it to the current user needs.
Final thoughts
The tech trends show that cloud computing in healthcare will persist. It enables providers to cut expenses and make medical services more convenient. All stakeholders, from medical teams to insurers, can share data and cooperate more efficiently, optimizing the core healthcare operations.
Yet the implementation of cloud-based healthcare remains a challenge. Since every healthcare facility's needs are unique, only a custom solution can meet them. That's why the best way to start cloud transition is to find a tech partner with the relevant expertise. An external tech team can develop a cloud platform for you or migrate legacy solutions if you have any.
As a certified AWS Consulting, Google Cloud, and Microsoft partner, Binariks can provide the cloud-based healthcare services your organization needs. We cooperate with large healthcare providers, small companies, startups, and anyone else who looks for tech assistance.
Learn more about the AWS-based primary care platform and other cloud solutions we developed here. Contact us directly to discuss your project and potential cooperation.