2. THE CLOUD OFFERS ENHANCED FLEXIBILITY AND IMMEDIATE SCALABILITY

With cloud, facilities can instantly scale up their resources to meet increasing demands for data, or scale down during periods of low activity. The cloud ultimately allows facilities to quickly adapt their environments to meet their changing workloads.
“Scalability in cloud refers to the capacity of cloud computing systems to easily adjust their resources, including computing power, storage and network capacity, in response to changing demands,” according to Bacancy. “This adaptation maintains optimal performance levels, allowing the system to manage its resources effectively.”

​By contrast, on-premises systems require additional hardware to scale, which can take weeks or months and involve a detailed procurement process. Cloud providers allow facilities to scale in seconds.  
 
“Scalability is one of the hallmarks of the cloud and the primary driver of its exploding popularity with businesses,” explains Broadcom. “Data storage capacity, processing power and networking can all be scaled using existing cloud computing infrastructure. Better yet, scaling can be done quickly and easily, typically with little to no disruption or down time.” 

3. EASILY ACCESS AND SHARE DATA IN THE CLOUD

The cloud offers real-time data collection and fast data accessibility. It also gives facilities the ability to efficiently store and retrieve electronic medical records including large files, such as digital imaging and other critical data.
 
“Cloud computing in healthcare makes medical record-sharing easier and safer, automates backend operations and even facilitates the creation and maintenance of telehealth apps,” according to Built In. “Utilizing the cloud increases the efficiency of the healthcare industry, while also decreasing costs.”
 
Another benefit is that the cloud supports digital transformations and digital tools, which can improve operational efficiency at facilities. Cloud environments can also improve collaboration across healthcare providers.
 
“Cloud computing enables real-time data sharing and communication between providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care,” explains Cloudficient. “This is particularly important in complex cases where multiple specialists are involved in a patient’s treatment plan.”

4. MODERN DISASTER RECOVERY OPTIONS

Disaster recovery (DR) capabilities in the cloud ensure that patient data and facility operations are protected and can be quickly restored in the event of system failures or natural disasters. This minimizes downtime and protects patient care through automated data backups and remote recovery options.
 
A cloud-based DR strategy uses an offsite cloud infrastructure to back up and, in the event of a system failure, quickly restore critical systems and data. This allows facilities to ensure business continuity during outages or disasters, giving them access to critical patient information when delivering care. DR in cloud environments generally provides faster recovery times and cost efficiency compared to traditional on-premises approaches.
 
“This [DR] solution leverages cloud computing resources and infrastructure to provide offsite backups, data replication and failover mechanisms that can be quickly activated in the event of a system outage, natural disaster or cyber-attack,” according to Nettology. 

5. ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH HEALTHCARE REGULATIONS

The cloud can help facilities meet requirements for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other regulations while offering flexibility to meet new or changing compliance needs. That’s because cloud providers offer security protocols, provide data encryption and perform regular audits to ensure compliance.
 
In addition, cloud providers offer healthcare compliant services and customizable controls to meet industry-specific requirements for safeguarding patient data. They also offer compliance documentation and audit support.
 
For example, major cloud service providers can help organizations improve their security posture and compliance. “Healthcare organizations are increasingly turning to the cloud—it’s an appealing option for HIPAA-compliant applications, storage, and networking options as it provides a low-cost way to develop the complex infrastructure required to support a variety of critical organizational activities,” according to Cloud Security Alliance. 

TALK TO A GPO TO SWITCH TO THE CLOUD

Facilities that aren’t ready to move fully to the cloud can take advantage of a hybrid solution. This allows organizations to optimize their on-premises systems and technologies, while also taking advantage of the unique benefits of the cloud. 
 
Whether facilities want to migrate some or all of their data and workloads to the cloud, their group purchasing organization (GPO) can help. GPOs offer contracts with IT companies that can help clients connect to a secure IT cloud environment. For example, GPO vendors can work with providers to move their enterprise resource planning system to the cloud without interrupting business or clinical operations. By partnering with a GPO, healthcare facilities can make smart, strategic shifts to the cloud to meet their specific IT needs.