In 2018, technology plays a crucial role in virtually every industry, and healthcare is no exception.

Innovation in medical technologies has revolutionized patient care, diagnosis, and treatment.  Keeping on top of the very best technologies gives both doctor and patient increased information and flexibility.

However,  the dependence on these technologies also creates some vulnerability and danger of breaches in cybersecurity.

 

From new ways to treat patients to new struggles to keep patient records secure, here are some of the top technology priorities for medical practices and doctor’s offices.

    • Malware & Cyber Security: With data breaches happening frequently, cybersecurity is one of the top technology priorities.  System security must be in place to assure compliance with regulatory requirements. Security and privacy are also necessary to engender patient confidence and provide the best customer experience, enabling growth of the business.
    • Compliance & Governance: Healthcare data governance requires managing health information throughout its lifecycle.  Documentation of treatment, payment records, medical research, outcomes improvement, and government reporting all require strict automated procedures, improving patient experiences while minimizing healthcare costs.
    • Smartphones & Mobile Apps:  Smartphones offer ease of use, mobility, connectivity and accessibility – all of which are perfectly designed to implement remote patient care and patient autonomy.  For example, patients can video chat with a doctor, upload their EKG information, or send glucose readings without having to come to the office. These apps save time, money, and make tracking information easy.  Challenges include transmission over unsecured networks and concerns over HIPAA compliance.
    • Wearable Devices:  As Americans become more accustomed to devices which track fitness activities and calories, they can expect to see similar technologies to track diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sleep disorders. These devices allow doctors to monitor patients and track progress, and include such revolutionary advances as smart contact lenses and smart medical apparel.  In 2016, a major U.S. insurer announced that the Apple Watch would be used to encourage healthier lifestyles – and to individualize premiums based upon them.
    • Moving EHR to the Cloud:  More and more of a medical practice’s budget is being allocated to cloud-based solutions which can drive EHR optimization and more secure record keeping processes. As storage needs for client records grow, the cloud provides the capacity and flexibility doctor’s offices will need.

From new ways to store and transmit data, to devices which put healthcare into the patient’s hands – technology is changing the way we stay healthy and manage our healthcare. Those in the medical profession can expect to see more and more opportunities to streamline processes, expedite care, and store records. How these new technology priorities align with current regulations and compliance issues remains to be seen.

If you are a doctor’s office or medical center looking for advice as to how to implement IT systems, manage and store data or protect yourself from cyber threats, call the experts at Alliance IT.

Our team of dedicated professionals is happy to help you keep up with the trends to ensure that both your productivity and your patient satisfaction is maximized.