Health IT5 Reasons Why IT Support Is a Must-Have for Healthcare

By: Alena Nikuliak, Healthcare ITConsultant and Senior Business Analyst, ScienceSoft

Healthcare is a critical and ever-evolving industry that requires reliable and secure technology to provide high-quality care to patients. IT support services play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of healthcare systems, from electronic health records (EHRs) to IoT medical devices.

Without proper IT support, healthcare systems may face challenges including, but not limited to, interoperability issues, reduced competitiveness, regulatory compliance concerns, and heightened security risks. Here are five reasons why technical support is a must-have for healthcare.

1. Maintaining Compliance and Security

In the world of healthcare, patient privacy is of utmost importance. With sensitive health information being stored and managed on a daily basis, it’s crucial that this information remains protected from cyber threats and malicious attacks.

Enter IT support – the unsung heroes of healthcare technology.

Information technology support is a critical component that helps ensure all systems and networks are in compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and that robust security measures are in place to protect patient privacy. Organizations that fail to comply with healthcare regulations can face substantial fines and legal penalties, which can be extremely damaging to their reputation and financial stability.

From implementing encryption and firewalls to performing regular security updates and audits, technical support professionals act as the first and best defense to keep patient information secure. And in the event of a security threat, IT support responds quickly to mitigate any potential damage.

Investing in Information Technology (IT) support is an investment in the protection of patient privacy and security. With this support, healthcare organizations can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they’re not only shielding confidential public health information (PHI) from prying eyes but also going above and beyond to offer the best possible care to their patients.

2. Reducing System Outages

When system outages strike a healthcare system, they can trigger significant disruptions in patient care, depriving both patients and providers of access to the vital information they rely on.

60% of technical support professionals report that their organizations experience disruptive downtime that affects patient appointments and other care. These outages are also extremely costly, running between $5,300 and $9,000 per minute, which means an 8-hour outage affecting critical services can cost an organization between $2.5 and $4.3 million. IT support is vital in preventing these outages, ensuring that healthcare organizations can provide seamless and uninterrupted care to their patients and saving the organization significantly in lost revenue.

IT support can keep a constant watch on critical systems and networks, including cloud services, infrastructure, IoT devices, medical applications, and more, quickly identifying and fixing potential issues before they escalate into outages. Regular software and hardware updates, combined with backup and disaster recovery systems, can prevent outages from occurring, and IT support can have critical systems back online in no time in the event of an outage.

Investing in IT support means that healthcare organizations can keep the focus where it matters most: on providing exceptional care to their patients. With IT support, healthcare organizations can ensure that their systems are running smoothly and efficiently, reducing downtime and keeping patients at the forefront of their operations.

3. Streamlining Operations

Technology plays a critical role in enhancing efficiency in the fast-paced healthcare industry for everything from scheduling appointments to exchanging medical records across providers. To reduce the risk of errors and delays in patient care, IT professions can help ensure the optimal performance of these systems under all conditions.

Moreover, professional IT services can assist in the implementation of advanced technologies, including electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring, to streamline operations further. With the assistance of IT support, healthcare organizations can leverage technology to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and simplify convoluted processes like billing and insurance.

4. Enabling Telemedicine

Telemedicine is rapidly emerging as a viable mode of patient care and is expected to grow to a market value of $430 million by 2030. Telemedicine has revolutionized the delivery of medical care by providing patients the convenience of accessing care from their homes. However, as telemedicine usage grows, there is an increased need for experts who can ensure the reliability and security of telemedicine systems. This is where information technology (IT) support comes in.

IT support plays a critical role in maintaining the security, dependability, and user-friendliness of telemedicine systems, ensuring that patients have a smooth and hassle-free experience. With the assistance of IT support, telemedicine systems can be implemented and managed, ensuring their compatibility with current technology infrastructure and regulatory security and privacy requirements.

Furthermore, technical support can conduct regular monitoring of telemedicine systems for potential security threats, as well as perform maintenance and updates to keep them functioning optimally. With technology management and support, healthcare providers can provide dependable and accessible telemedicine services, enhancing patient satisfaction and health outcomes.

5. Supporting Staff Training

Healthcare organizations frequently leverage technology to support staff training and education, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and medical simulation software. IT support is crucial in ensuring that these systems are functioning optimally, so staff receives proper training to use and manage these complex systems.

Professional IT solutions hold the key to unlocking the full potential of training systems for healthcare staff. By keeping these systems up-to-date and user-friendly, they empower staff with the knowledge and skills they need to provide optimal care. What’s more, IT experts offer comprehensive training and support, leaving staff feeling confident and energized to leverage technology to enhance their performance. IT professionals offer continued support to medical providers through reactive IT support in the form of help desks and troubleshooting.

IT support can also assist in the integration of new training technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, to provide staff with cutting-edge training opportunities.

Stay ahead of the curve

In today’s healthcare industry, technology is advancing at a remarkable pace, making IT support more critical than ever. By investing in information technology support services, healthcare organizations can unlock a wide range of benefits, including increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved patient satisfaction and outcomes. Given the ever-changing technological landscape, IT support has become an indispensable asset for healthcare organizations that aim to stay ahead of the curve and offer high-quality care to their patients.