The world of healthcare has seen some dramatic shifts in recent years. Most notably, the introduction of more “smart” devices into the marketplace has brought aging hospital equipment into the 21st century. More and more healthcare devices are now being connected to either manufacturer clouds for data storage or to a hospital-wide network that makes patient files easily shareable. So what comes next according to companies offering I.T. support in Tulsa?
Building a Better Cloud
With the way the cloud has come to proliferation, it may seem shocking to say that it isn’t quite good enough yet to meet all of our healthcare needs. For many people, the cloud is the most useful tool we’ve ever seen for managing data. However, when it comes to healthcare, there are simply too many regulations, interested parties, and data sources for the current cloud system.
What the New Cloud Really Needs
In order for healthcare-related IoT to function the way it should, it needs to be supported by an immense investment in cloud infrastructure by an I.T. support provider in Tulsa. First, it needs to be able to handle incoming data from a wide range of in-house medical equipment as well as at-home monitoring equipment. Since all of this equipment is made by different manufacturers, there needs to be standardization of how that data is transmitted to a central cloud and how it is stored for later reference.
Next, there needs to be a means for controlling access to patient files via permissions and personalized portals. Patients, healthcare providers, insurance agents, regulatory boards, and researchers all have an interest in the data that is being gathered, but should not all have the same level of access to patient records.
Finally, the healthcare cloud of the future needs to be able to handle the vast sums of data that will be coming to it from every direction. From simple heart rate monitoring to sleep monitoring, medication tracking and more the current cloud is not prepared for the exponential rate at which this data will be created.
Maintaining a Cloud of This Magnitude
Currently, there are ways to connect cloud resources from far ranging geographical locations to achieve greater storage capacity and accessibility. However, for the purposes of keeping data safe and secure, especially in the event of a disaster, the data recovery mechanisms for such a cloud also need to meet higher standards than anything we have in place today. If healthcare providers are relying on fully digitized patient files to provide them with real time data, there is no room for data loss in the equation. Naturally, local and federal regulators will find this the most objectionable point when it comes to moving healthcare to the cloud anyway.
As the cloud continues to improve with time, there is plenty of room for further advancement. Currently, there are a handful of mainstream devices using the IoT philosophy to better connect patients and their doctors. In the future, we expect to see this technology to become far more prevalent in healthcare centers. What happens next will depend entirely upon the cloud systems set up by I.T. support providers in Tulsa. At JMARK Business Solutions, we are one such provider of I.T. support and solutions to businesses. To learn more about our company and cloud solutions, contact us today.
