Cloud technology has been widely integrated – and widely used – for many years now. Even healthcare organizations have begun to leverage cloud technology for data storage at significant levels. As this technology becomes more secure and widespread, organizations are increasingly turning to cloud-hosted applications over on-premise counterparts due to the many benefits offered.

While there are benefits to both options, cloud-based applications offer a smaller footprint, quicker deployment time and a less expensive investment to implement, all of which are attractive benefits for an enterprise that is looking to provide cutting-edge clinical technology without overwhelming an already strained budget.

Cloud-based applications are clearly becoming an important investment for healthcare organizations. Duplocloud’s Cloud Computing Adoption in the Healthcare Industry survey states 70% of IT professionals in the healthcare industry have migrated to a cloud-based computing and storage infrastructure to store and update patient records, manage care plans, and provide more comprehensive access to data for both patients and providers.

Primarily, hospitals are leveraging this technology for data storage, or cloud-hosted apps like for the EHR and clinical communication and collaboration.

Deploying Cloud-Hosted Communication

Cloud-hosted communication and collaboration solutions create a unique opportunity for healthcare organizations to align employees across all departments and facilities. With a leaner infrastructure, quicker time to rollout and wider accessibility, cloud-based communication and collaboration solutions are becoming a more attractive option for not only the clinical team, but those teams within the hospital that support from IT and Administration to Environmental Services.

First, the flexibility of hosting the software on a remote datacenter versus installing it within the organizational infrastructure is a significant draw. Facilities and organizations with older infrastructures run into problems installing new, on-premises technology. There can be compatibility issues, or the newer technology can overwhelm the existing infrastructure. Even for newer servers and networks, a net-new technology implementation can cause unforeseen issues unless the installation team is highly experienced.

When this technology is hosted on the cloud, however, it gets remotely installed onto devices using a web connection, so there’s no concern about overwhelming the facility’s technological infrastructure. This also means that users can begin using the new communication technology as soon as their device receives it from the cloud—they do not need to bring their device to IT to have the program installed.

This mass, remote roll-out is ideal for encouraging users to interact with the communication solution right away. Everyone can use the same platform without worrying whether the colleague they’re trying to reach has access to the platform.

Bringing Cloud Technology to the Ambulatory Arena

The ease, value and accessibility of cloud-hosted collaborative technology does not begin and end with large acute care facilities. Ambulatory and specialty care facilities, especially those operating within a larger healthcare system, see a massive benefit from deploying a cloud-hosted collaborative platform like Banyan™ – Mobile Heartbeat’s latest clinical communication and collaboration offering leveraging cloud technology. For the same reasons the cloud infrastructure provides flexibility, satellite facilities and outpatient centers experience a similar flexibility and ease of use. Additionally, aligning ambulatory facilities to the same platform the larger acute care hospital employs provides a more cohesive and unified experience for both staff and patients.

As cloud technology continues to appeal to healthcare organizations for its agility and reduced startup investment, we expect to see this value ripple out toward smaller community facilities. For more information on how Banyan™ and our partnership with Microsoft® are advancing the clinical technology experience, contact us.