Network Computing is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

5 Ways Cloud Computing Is Revolutionizing Healthcare

healthcare
(Source: Pixabay)

Cloud computing is key to the digital transformation of healthcare. Over the last two decades, the industry has experienced a paradigm shift from traditional methodologies to equipping advanced cloud-based systems. Cloud impacts the healthcare sector by reducing data storage costs, enhancing security, increasing scalability, delivering better personal care, etc.

As per Global Markets Insights, the healthcare cloud computing market will be worth $79.3 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 13.4%. It shows how widely healthcare facilities are moving forward to choose cloud computing solutions to deliver a compelling user experience.

Here are five ways cloud computing is revolutionizing healthcare.

1) Low-cost unrestricted storage

In healthcare, a large amount of data is accumulated daily that needs to be stacked safely. Cloud offers unrestricted storage to maintain that data at a meager cost by paying for the resources you actually use.

Cloud computing solutions provide better infrastructure and services than health facilities' traditional data storage systems that include hardware, external drives, or paper documents. It involves cost reduction as cloud data storage eliminates the need for physical storage space utilization.

The cloud also provides an ergonomic environment for scaling the cloud capacity as patient data is generated from EMRs, healthcare apps, and wearables. Cloud computing gives complete control of cost-ownership as it operates on an on-demand basis.

2) Data analysis

Big Data Storage isn't new to healthcare, as medical centers store a massive amount of data to analyze and make informed decisions. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) algorithms with cloud technology enhance medical research and offer quick responsive treatment.

 

The cloud's high-level computing abilities that ensure the processing of massive data sets, both structured and unstructured, aren't a strenuous task. Implementing analytics on patient data also paves the way to identify possible future diseases that professionals can treat at an early stage with more personalized care programs.

3) Driving interoperability

Cloud computing drives interoperability through the healthcare system. As a result, patient data is readily accessible for distribution to essential stakeholders and gaining insights quickly to deliver timely treatment. Cloud computing services empower healthcare professionals to review cases and facilitate their viewpoints irrespective of their geographical location.

 

Owning patient data promotes interoperability among various healthcare industry segments such as laboratories, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and payments. The seamless flow of data between diverse stakeholders accelerates treatment delivery and improves efficiency in the process.

4) Improved collaboration

Collaboration among professionals is vital as there are instances where they require a second opinion on specific patient cases from their colleagues. In such unique cases, the data needs to be transferred to different peers in less time.

Cloud overcomes this challenge and updates patient's data in real-time that can be accessed by anyone on the network with security algorithms working around the clock. Also, healthcare leaders are moving to hybrid clouds that offer the benefits of both public and private clouds to ensure adherence to compliance, flexibility, and secure data transactions.

5) Telemedicine

Remote accessibility of data is one of the significant benefits that cloud computing provides.

Cloud-based telemedicine apps ensure increased accessibility, easily sharing the healthcare data, and delivering insurance coverage efficiently during the treatment.

Telemedicine is highly convenient for healthcare delivery while improving the patient's overall experience. Comfort, convenience, better assessment, primary care, and chronic condition management are some of the benefits of cloud-based telemedicine systems.

Conclusion

Cloud-based healthcare systems, along with rapidly evolving technologies like big data, AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT), are opening multiple healthcare delivery avenues. It has become a constitutive part of the healthcare industry by bringing a considerable shift in the consumption, storage, and sharing of medical data. Cloud computing in healthcare solutions also brings new channels for customer outreach and offers personalized care protocols to improve outcomes consistently.

Related articles: