Shift to Cloud Key Strategy in Healthcare, But Challenges Persist

A report published late last month by Forrester outlines some of the challenges that healthcare organizations face, including security and compliance issues, and provides best practices when implementing technologies such as cloud platforms, artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), and Software-as-a-Service.

As healthcare organizations pursue data-driven patient care, adopting technologies to enable digital engagement, data management, and workflow optimization is critical. Cloud platforms, along with data analytics and AI, can help organizations achieve these goals while also focusing on patient care and security.

The COVID-19 pandemic, rising patient demand, and the unique opportunities presented by cloud technology are driving its adoption in healthcare, an industry that has traditionally been resistant to technological modernization. The pandemic required health systems and hospitals to pivot quickly to address overwhelming patient volumes, including adopting new methods of contactless communication and switching to telehealth visits. Health systems without cloud strategies had to migrate to them or risk not being able to serve their patients during the crisis.

Digital transformation in other industries is also creating expectations among patients for more technology-and data-savvy medical care. Clinical data analytics have had a major impact on faster care delivery and more accurate diagnoses, and patients are now demanding more predictive care.

Cloud technology also presents further opportunities for healthcare organizations. Virtual data centers have the potential to help health systems address various issues, such as reducing infrastructure replacement costs and integrating disparate systems between departments.

However, despite the potential value of cloud technology for organizations, multiple challenges currently hinder its adoption. Because of the high-stakes nature of the services healthcare organizations provide, they are subject to additional regulations surrounding data insecurity regulatory compliance, data integration issues, and data privacy for patients.

For example, US organizations must be HIPAA compliant, so many cloud vendors assert that their services are 'HIPAA ready.' But 'HIPAA ready' does not necessarily mean that these services can automate HIPAA compliance, but that customers can achieve HIPAA compliance using the service. This can open organizations up to data breaches and HIPAA violation penalties if they don’t fully understand a particular service’s definition of 'HIPAA ready.' Since healthcare organizations are liable for data breaches or HIPAA violations, many hesitate to adopt cloud platforms.

To address some of these issues, the report outlined multiple strategies. The first is to partner with a cloud provider that is both healthcare- and technology-savvy. A partner with this experience can help address skill gaps and help ease fears around data compliance. Organizations that take this route should choose a cloud provider with a robust track record and verify the execution of the provider’s promises using audits and data.

To make cloud adoption easier, the report also recommends that organizations invest in a culture of transformation around cloud skills and innovations. By building excitement around its cloud initiative, an organization can foster long-term skill development and add value across its network. The report states that drawing in a wide range of stakeholders to build early support, consensus, and a sense of ownership for cloud programs is a strategy that has had success in the past.

Similar approaches around data more broadly have been highly successful for healthcare organizations. In a recent interview with HealthITAnalytics, Brendan Watkins, chief analytics officer at Stanford Children's Health, discussed how creating a data culture is essential for health systems to efficiently navigate the new digital healthcare landscape. Creating a data culture in which healthcare organizations highlight the value of data and analytics may be a crucial first step to implementing cloud technology.