Is the Cloud Catching on in Your Doctor’s Office?
As technology progresses and becomes more available, many different industries are investing in cloud technology to make their work smoother and their services more efficient. The medical industry is no exception. Cloud technology is quickly being adopted by medical offices, spread out from small private practices to large medical systems. But is it actually making a difference in how medical offices operate day to day? In this article, we’ll take a look at the implications of cloud technology being adopted by doctor’s offices, if it’s actually catching on and what it means for the patient.
What is Cloud Technology?
Before discussing how cloud technology is affecting doctor’s offices, let’s take a moment to define what it is. Cloud technology can be thought of as an online service that stores, manages, and processes data accessed through the internet. It allows multiple people to store and access data without being physically present in the same place. This technology allows users to have access to their data anywhere, anytime, and share it with across offices and with other systems.
Benefits of the Cloud in Doctor’s Offices
Bringing cloud technology into doctor’s offices allows users to have access to:
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Electronic health records (EHRs)
Gone are the days of paper charts and manual record keeping. Electronic health records allow patients to easily access their health information without worrying about having to switch doctors or losing their records when moving. Cloud technology enables this access to records remotely and securely. This can help doctors more easily track patient data, follow up with care, and stay in touch with their patients outside of the office.
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Patient portals
Having cloud-based patient portals provide doctors with an easier way to communicate with patients. These portals enable patients to send doctors messages or notes on their conditions, provide test results, and securely exchange documents while also allowing doctors to keep records of their appointments and notes.
- Improved security
By using cloud technology, doctor’s offices benefit from improved security and data protection. Cloud technology provides an extra layer of security by encrypting data keeping confidential records safe from online hackers. This peace of mind allows doctors and patients to feel safe when exchanging information with each other.
- Better communication
By having cloud technology, doctors can easily communicate with other medical professionals and staff. Being able to communicate securely and remotely with other medical providers allows for medical records to be transferred easily. This can also help improve patient care and co-ordination when dealing with an ongoing medical issue.
- Improved efficiency
With cloud technology, doctors gain access to a wide array of software and services that can help improve the efficiency of their office. Through cloud-based services, doctors can make appointments and process payments faster and more efficiently, have access to real-time analytics, and make changes to their practice quickly and easily.
Is the Cloud Catching on in Doctor Offices?
Since 2016, the adoption of cloud technology among doctor’s offices has been rising steadily. As of 2019, more and more practices around the country have adopted cloud technology into their systems. Currently, 35% of doctors’ offices are using some form of cloud technology. This means that the majority of offices are still using the traditional software, but it does show a notable increase in acceptance of cloud technology.
Potential Challenges in Adopting the Cloud
Though there are many advantages to adopting cloud technology, there can also be some challenges.
- Cost
When investing in cloud technology, doctors offices need to take into account the expense of implementation and ongoing maintenance costs. This can be a huge obstacle for many practices, especially small offices that may not have the manpower or budget to support the transition.
- Patient Relations
If doctor’s offices transition to having a cloud-based system, patients may have difficulty utilizing it. Since cloud technology can be a foreign concept to many people, some new users may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with their new system. This can lead to an increased workload on the office staff who must be ready to answer any questions potential patients may have.
- Security
As with any digital technology there the potential for security risks. Although, Cloud services are much more secure than traditional systems, there are still potential risks that need to be monitored and managed.
The cloud is an ever-changing technology, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular systems across industries. For medical practices, cloud technology has the potential to transform their operations and open up possibilities they wouldn’t have before. However, there are still some challenges that come along with this new technology.
Overall, it seems that cloud technology is increasingly being adopted and accepted by doctors’ offices. With the right resources, this technology can open up bigger opportunities and provide a better quality of care for patients. As the industry continues to progress, more and more offices will likely benefit from cloud technology in the future.