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How cloud technology can transform healthcare practices for the better

Technology is continuing to influence how healthcare is delivered and how practices are managed. However, this does not need to be to the detriment of the level of personal care provided. In fact, it can help to improve it.

iPads, smartphones, apps, electronic medical records (EMRs), telehealth services, remote monitoring devices and cloud-based computing are all examples of technological advances that have been of significant benefit to both practitioners and patients.

Advances in medical technologies have connected patients and doctors who are geographically thousands of miles apart, through telecommunications. Patients can now hold video conferences with physicians to save themselves the time and money associated with travelling to a physical appointment.

Meanwhile, physicians can conveniently access any information they require – from the latest medical research, to drugs, to patient history – within seconds, and at the touch of a button.

Like every other industry, healthcare is employing technology to improve its products and services. For healthcare specifically, technology can help create better patient outcomes through automating critical processes, improving record keeping, reducing medical errors, e-health initiatives, decreasing documentation time and improving cost efficiencies, allowing for investment in other areas.

While some harbour fears that technology might ultimately make medical practice more impersonal, it is important to remember that each new technology is merely a tool. It’s how and why we choose to use that tool that really matters.

If utilised correctly, technology can help make sure every patient gets the best evidence-based care, at the right time, in the most convenient location.

Practitioners must ensure organisational outcomes are considered first, with the technology itself being a secondary consideration. The result is the important thing, rather than the tools utilised to achieve that result.

As an example, mi-Support was an early adopter of cloud computing. Information Technology is, of course, not our core business – but in considering ways to help clients improve patient outcomes we were drawn towards cloud computing as our tool of choice.

It was attractive to us as a means of supporting the growth of our business and its ability to handle the relevant processes, as well as its scalability, security and flexibility.

Our mi-Bookings service utilises the cloud to keep a live, personalised appointment diary on behalf of each client. In each case, we set up a calendar that is continually accessible to both the mi-Bookings team and the consultant. It is an up-to-the-second document, so clients are continually and absolutely aware of how their diaries are looking at any given moment.

Our mi-Transcriptions service harnesses cloud technology to allow for the fast and secure transfer of information. Practitioners can upload and save their recordings to their own secure portal page, meaning large audio files can be transferred easily, without using email. Clients can also retrieve, review and refine their existing documents via this portal.

At mi-Support, we are committed to ensuring the security of our client’s sensitive information, and thus have worked to make sure our security measures meet the highest international standards. As a result, we are now ISO accredited, having been awarded ISO27001 certification in Information Security.

Essentially, technology in health care is not something to be afraid of. When employed for a clear purpose, and as a means of reaching a desired and defined outcome, technology has boundless potential to improve patient outcomes.

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