Cloud Computing in Healthcare Applications: Choosing the Right Cloud Infrastructure for Healthcare Applications
Technology in healthcare has drastically advanced in the last few years, with more providers, doctors, and healthcare systems adopting more sophisticated ways to manage and treat their patients.
One of these approaches is integrating cloud computing into healthcare, which allows providers to better interact with their patients, improve the speed and efficiency of their operations, and raise the standards of patient care.
If used properly, cloud computing can completely revolutionize healthcare and healthcare services. But how can it achieve this, and what considerations should healthcare providers keep in mind when looking to adopt cloud computing? This article explores how the right cloud infrastructure can help in healthcare applications and how providers may best use this technology.
What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing refers to the practice of tapping a cloud provider for IT resources, tools, and services that an organization or institution needs. Widely considered the future of many different fields, around $103 billion was spent on global cloud IT infrastructure alone in 2023—with the trend only indicating more adoption and investment into cloud computing in the future.
Cloud computing solves a significant hurdle that the healthcare industry faces when it comes to digitalization: the resources required to integrate it with their own pre-existing systems. Investing in cloud computing doesn’t require buying physical servers or training an entire IT department: cloud providers handle these on behalf of their clients, even with services like custom software development.
What Is Cloud Infrastructure?
Cloud infrastructure refers to the actual components that enable cloud computing or what can help a healthcare provider operate within the cloud. Anything, from applications to products and services, requires the right cloud infrastructure in order to work.
There are roughly four different components that make any cloud infrastructure:
Storage
Cloud storage refers to the central cloud-based servers that cloud providers maintain and operate for healthcare providers. Providers like Amazon Simple Storage Service and Google Cloud Storage manage this storage on behalf of the healthcare provider, ensuring that data is secure and backups are kept.
Hardware
Hardware refers to the physical hardware, devices, and other technologies needed to access the cloud. These devices form a cloud network that can stretch across different locations. Hardware includes devices and networking equipment used to access and interact with the cloud, like routers and local data storage arrays.
Virtualization
Virtualization refers to the software that allows hardware to connect to the servers in the cloud infrastructure storage. Virtualization is what allows users to adjust storage space on the cloud, distribute user credentials to other users, and manage the overall cloud system.
Networks
Networks refer to the physical components that allow users to access cloud resources from the internet. These networks facilitate the smooth transition of cloud-based resources to the users that request them, typically through the Internet.
Which Infrastructure Should Healthcare Applications Choose?
Given that all four components of cloud infrastructure are necessary to enable cloud computing, it’s not feasible for a healthcare provider to simply choose one. However, there can be cases where investing more resources into a specific component can be more beneficial than the other.
Why invest in storage
Investing in storage allows a healthcare provider more control over where their data is kept and additional space to either store data or deploy other cloud-based solutions. This is particularly crucial as healthcare providers will only accrue more data the longer they operate, which requires adjustments in the size of their overall storage.
Another reason to invest more in storage is to ensure that data is secure and frequently backed up. Constant demands on a healthcare system can cause on-site breakdowns of data storage and information loss—risks that can be mitigated by investing in more cloud infrastructure storage.
Why invest in hardware
Hardware forms the core of what allows healthcare providers to access and store data on-site before it uploads to cloud storage, such as servers. Investing in hardware improves accessibility to the cloud in a single site or across multiple locations, which allows a healthcare provider to use their cloud system more efficiently.
Cloud infrastructure hardware can also play a crucial role in ensuring data security, as it includes backup devices and firewalls. Hardware is also one of the more flexible options for any healthcare provider, as they can choose between public, private, or hybrid cloud architecture.
Why invest in virtualization
Virtualization is what allows the flexibility of the cloud across different servers, sites, and networks. It allows multiple operating systems to run parallel with each other and is what allows teams to use virtual machines with the prerequisite memory and network interface.
By investing more in virtual machines, healthcare providers can securely access patient documentation from anywhere connected to the cloud network or replicate any other functionality usually required by a physical machine. This allows a more efficient use of a cloud system’s resources and drastically improves overall operations.
Why invest in networks
Networking components in cloud computing can enable the creation of virtual local-area networks (VLANs), which can form segmented networks that are more secure against attacks. This can form a crucial core in protecting patient data and will significantly reduce any damage in the event of a successful cyberattack.
More investment in a cloud infrastructure network can also improve the performance of the cloud on-site, as only authenticated connections will be allowed to access cloud resources at any time. However, this also requires significant investment to make sure that any networks are segmented properly.
What Are the Applications of Cloud Computing in Healthcare?
The major benefits of cloud computing, like accessibility and data centralization, are already significant to any organization. However, in the context of healthcare applications, their benefits are even more pronounced:
- Storage of patient information: With Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Electronic Health Records (EHR) capabilities, storage and retrieval of patient information can be done within minutes. This is particularly crucial for patients retrieving records across state lines.
- Scalability: Plenty of healthcare software companies can offer end-to-end or specialized cloud computing services to healthcare providers, which can help smaller providers provide the same level of service to their patients as big institutions.
- Improved patient experience: Cloud computing can also simplify many of the usually-arduous steps in the patient journey, such as filling out forms or retrieving medical records. With the rise in mobile app development, any provider can interact directly with their patients right from their devices.
- Reduction in operating costs: Many cloud computing healthcare applications can also automate the majority of clerical work in healthcare, which frees up time and resources for providers to focus on more crucial areas of their operations.
- Efficient screenings and treatment: Cloud computing can also speed up the process of actual patient treatment, giving patients and providers more opportunities to work closely with each other. Telemedicine consultations and Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are just a few examples of improvements in patient care.
Considerations with Adopting Cloud Computing for Healthcare Applications
Even if a provider has decided to invest in cloud computing, there are some considerations and hurdles that they must keep in mind before adopting cloud computing as a healthcare solution:
- Cloud security in healthcare: Cloud computing’s ease of access can also be a potential security flaw if left unsecured. Due to the sensitive information of patient’s electronic health records, healthcare applications are often a common target for cyberattacks.
- Late or flawed adoption: Many healthcare systems and institutions still rely on (or are used to) traditional approaches such as keeping physical records of patients. While cloud-backed computing and systems are an upgrade, there may be some friction with how well they’ll initially be implemented.
- Reduced access for patients/providers: While most healthcare technology trends indicate the mass adoption of cloud computing applications, this will not always be feasible for providers due to time, budget, or training limitations. Some patients—especially the elderly—may also not adapt well to these new systems, which restricts their access.
- Changes in regulations: While the rise of cloud computing has been rapid, not all healthcare legislation has been as quick in outlining the standards for its use. This requires healthcare providers to ensure full compliance with healthcare and data protection laws before using any cloud-computing solution.
- Adoption/usage costs: Healthcare software vendors can offer cloud computing services at a reasonable cost. However, this cost may still be too high depending on the needs of the healthcare provider in question.
Improve Your Healthcare Systems with Cloud Computing
Cloud computing has already proven useful in healthcare around the world, and more healthcare organizations and institutions are considering its adoption. This not only improves the operations of these healthcare providers but also drastically improves the quality of healthcare visits for their patients.
Our team at Taazaa has extensive experience in helping healthcare providers improve their operations through innovative technical solutions and software. Our solutions can scale with your operations, integrate with your existing healthcare management systems, and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations. For more information about what solutions we can provide, contact our healthcare solution development team today.
