How Cloud Computing is Transforming the Healthcare Industry

The impact of technology across multiple industries in today’s time is undeniably huge. Even the healthcare sector rapidly continues to evolve and improve its existing patient care techniques with the advent of new and advanced technologies. 

One prominent and transformative change that is rapidly seen in the healthcare sector is opting for cloud computing. Did you know that as per a report by GlobeNewsWire, almost 70% of healthcare organizations have already migrated to the cloud to revolutionize the way the healthcare sector functions?

In this blog, we will discuss the impact of cloud computing on the healthcare sector. We will examine its pros and cons while exploring some of the latest trends and future developments. So, let’s get started! 

What is Cloud Computing in Healthcare

Cloud computing in healthcare refers to delivering computing services such as servers, storage, databases, software, and networking to healthcare organizations via the Internet. This allows healthcare providers to utilize these resources on demand, eliminating the need for substantial initial investments in hardware or infrastructure.

Additionally, through virtualization, healthcare providers can operate several virtual machines on one physical server, maximizing hardware usage and lowering operational expenses. Let’s also understand the reasons for enhanced cloud adoption in the healthcare industry

Reason for Increased Awareness of Cloud Technology in Healthcare

Rising awareness of health among people all over the world has also impacted the rise of cloud in the healthcare industry. Furthermore, the world has recently been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, there were lockdowns and zero mobility across the globe. Therein accessing crucial patient information and providing optimal care became a very big challenge for organizations worldwide. This is where this technology stepped in and acted as a bridge between care providers and patients globally defying the boundaries of geography.

Moving ahead let us take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing in healthcare;

Benefits of Cloud Computing in Healthcare 

There are multiple benefits of cloud for the healthcare sector. We have highlighted some of the most important advantages below;

1. Data Management

Cloud solutions for the healthcare sector ensure that the designated practitioners get real-time information and access to all patient records. As all sensitive and critical data gets stored in the clouds rather than physical infrastructures decluttering the silos. So because of this they successfully manage the patient’s EHRs and improve their decision-making capabilities, especially during emergencies.

2. Innovation of Telehealth Services

Did you know that in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when the entire world was under lockdown there was a significant rise in the number of telehealth services in the U.S? So that it saw a surge of up to 766% rise in services, all supported by cloud computing infrastructures. (National Institutes of Health) 

Telehealth services or telemedicine services via cloud help the healthcare providers get secure access to patient’s data for providing patient care remotely. This has become increasingly vital in expanding healthcare access, especially in the post-pandemic era. 

To understand telemedicine better let’s consider this example. There’s a diabetic patient who resides in an area with limited access to resources. This patient needs to consult a specialist doctor (endocrinologist) for his condition. If there is a good setup of the telemedicine management system present the patient can systematically schedule a doctor’s appointment through a secured platform. And establish a connection with the help of smartphones or computers. 

Then once the appointment is scheduled the patient can update the regular glucose-monitored readings and data on the cloud-based health platform. The doctors could then do real-time data review and provide prescriptions based on the updated readings. Lastly, the doctors can also keep track of patient’s glucose readings on their platform and send timely follow-up care without needing the patient to physically/ in-person visit the doctor.

3. More Personalized Patient Care 

The patients can get more personalized care and attention from the healthcare providers to enhance the patient care. In terms of giving hyper-personalized treatment plans based on patient’s real-time updates. For instance, if there’s a patient who is suffering from heart disease the doctor can advise him to get wearable medical devices like wristbands for monitoring and fitness. Based on the real-time readings of the device the doctor can monitor the sleep score, steps, and heart rate, thus recommending proper plans for recovery of the patient.

4. Enhanced Interoperability and Cooperation

The cloud enables healthcare providers to effortlessly share patient medical records, facilitating collaboration among them and allowing specialists to view comprehensive patient histories for better coordination of treatments and enhanced patient care. Additionally, efforts such as the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard are crucial in outlining how healthcare information can be transmitted between systems, which fosters increased efficiency and teamwork.

5. Cost Benefits

Migrating to the cloud minimizes need for expensive on-premises infrastructure for the healthcare sector. As per Technology Advice, companies can reduce their overall IT expenses by an average of 15% by transitioning to the cloud. Therein the organizations here can save on hardware acquisition and maintenance costs, allowing funds to be redirected towards the most important aspect of healthcare i.e. patient care. Furthermore, the cloud providers also offer different subscription models and pay-as-you-go payment models that can significantly reduce the cost burden on the organization.  

6. Offers Scalability 

It helps healthcare organizations adjust their IT resources easily based on demand, without needing large investments. This flexibility is important for meeting changing healthcare needs, like needing more storage for more patients, which can be done quickly.

7. Disaster Recovery and Heightened Security

Cloud solutions automatically back up and recover important patient data. This protects the data from being lost due to disasters or system failures, which is vital for providing continuous patient care. Additionally, cloud security is a vital aspect from the user and provider’s perspective, these solutions help keep sensitive patient information safe from breaches and ensure compliance with regulations like HIPAA.

Now let us move ahead and see the probable disadvantages of cloud  

Challenges of Cloud Computing in the Healthcare Industry

While we discussed the advantages of cloud computing offers numerous, it also presents several disadvantages for the healthcare industry.

1. Data Security and Privacy Risks

Like all the prominent industries, the healthcare industry is one of the main targets of cyberattacks and cloud security threats. Lately, there have been so many instances where organizations have faced data breaches due to compromised access controls. This vulnerability can also put sensitive patient information at risk and lead to severe financial and reputational damage for the organization. Along with that cloud services can experience outages or downtime, which may disrupt access to critical patient information and services. That can impact operational efficiency and hinder patient care. 

2. Compliance Challenges

Healthcare organizations must adhere to strict regulations, such as HIPAA, which focuses on protecting patient data. Ensuring compliance in a cloud environment can be complex because of shared resources and the differing security standards among cloud service providers.

3. Having Limited Control Over Data

When healthcare organizations use cloud services, they often give up some control over how they manage their data. This can raise concerns about who owns the data and how quickly they can access it in emergencies. Organizations must depend on third-party providers for data security and management. This can be a problem if those providers do not meet the required standards. Plus, sometimes it can be difficult to understand and implement cloud providers’ shared responsibility model.

4. Integration Issues with Legacy Systems

Transitioning from legacy systems to cloud solutions, including cloud application development can be challenging due to compatibility issues. Many healthcare organizations still depend on outdated technologies that may not integrate smoothly with modern cloud applications. This can result in operational inefficiencies and higher costs during the transition phase.

5. Scarcity of Trusted Experts

This risk is heightened by a lack of adequate training on cloud security protocols and a lack of assurance by trusted experts. That is where consulting companies like Cyntexa come in the bigger picture, with their cloud consulting services. They ensure that your cloud journey is smooth sailing and without any hurdles. They have been practicing for quite some time now and have good experience in handling and assisting healthcare providers in their transformation.

Let’s see Pfizer’s journey and understand cloud computing for the healthcare sector more thoroughly. 

Real-World Example: Pfizer’s Adoption of Cloud Computing  

Pfizer is a global pharmaceutical leader and has adopted cloud computing to enhance its drug development processes, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate the delivery of new therapies.

There were multiple reasons why they wanted to switch to the cloud some of which were;

• The a need for faster innovation in drug discovery and development processes especially after the pandemic.
• Wanting the ability to handle vast amounts of data efficiently, as it is crucial to sustain in the pharma industry.
• Lastly, to enhance seamless collaboration among researchers that can result in effective communication.  

To adopt, Pfizer partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to utilize its extensive cloud capabilities. This collaboration was later named the Pfizer Amazon Collaboration Team (PACT).

Here are some of the results of this collaboration;

Using AWS machine learning services like Amazon Lookout for Equipment helps identify unusual behavior in manufacturing processes, reducing downtime. Prototypes created with AWS technology automate the extraction of important insights from old documents related to drug development, improving research efficiency. This enables Pfizer to quickly adapt to changes in drug development, which is essential for meeting urgent healthcare needs. By relying less on on-premises infrastructure, Pfizer can allocate resources more effectively to research initiatives.

Future Trends

According to MarketsandMarkets, the global healthcare cloud computing market is projected to grow from $39.4 billion in 2022 to $89.4 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.8%. With this said the future of cloud computing in healthcare is set for rapid growth and change. It is essential for healthcare organizations, as it will increasingly enable advanced analytics and AI, leading to personalized medicine and better clinical decisions. 

Emerging Technologies in Cloud Computing Healthcare:

• AI and ML (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning): These technologies allow healthcare providers to efficiently analyze large volumes of data, resulting in improved diagnostic accuracy and personalized treatment plans. For instance, AI-powered predictive analytics can identify patients at risk of hospitalization by examining patterns in their medical history and lifestyle.
• Blockchain Technology: Revered for its enhanced security benefits, this technology is going to change the way people imagine securing sensitive healthcare information.
• IoT (Internet of Things): This is another significant trend driving cloud computing in healthcare. IoT devices, such as wearable health monitors and smart medical equipment, generate real-time data that can be processed and analyzed in the cloud.
• Real-Time Data Monitoring: This technological trend improves decision-making and enhances care coordination among various providers. For instance, during emergencies or surgeries, having immediate access to a patient’s complete medical history can greatly influence treatment decisions.

Integrating Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices will allow for real-time patient monitoring, and significantly improve remote care and chronic disease management. Trends like AI agents, cloud-based medical devices, and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) will further transform the industry in the coming years.

End Note

Cloud computing has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry by improving patient care, streamlining operations, and enhancing efficiency. By understanding the benefits, challenges, and best practices, healthcare organizations can leverage it to achieve their goals and deliver better care to their patients. However, if you find yourself stuck in any step in your cloud computing services you can connect with the team of experts at Cyntexa for exceptional cloud computing consulting services. With some genuine expertise by your side, you could tap new possibilities for transforming your healthcare services.