How Managed IT Services for Healthcare Helps Health Organizations Succeed

Healthcare providers increasingly outsource IT services to managed care providers. The global managed IT services healthcare market was worth $39.4 billion last year but is expected to grow to nearly $90 billion by 2027. These numbers encompass managed IT services for healthcare and software as a service (SaaS). HealthTech magazine says, “Whether the effort is large or small, a trusted partner can oversee critical functions that support care delivery — and help save money too.”

The Role of Managed IT Services for Healthcare

Managed IT services for healthcare involve outsourcing the management of an organization’s IT infrastructure and systems to a specialized third-party provider. This approach offers several benefits tailored to the unique needs and challenges of the healthcare industry.

• Enhanced data security and compliance: Healthcare organizations handle and must protect sensitive patient data to comply with strict regulatory standards, such as HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Managed IT services providers have expertise in maintaining robust security measures, implementing encryption protocols and conducting regular security audits to ensure compliance and safeguard patient information.
• Efficient data management: The vast amounts of medical data generated and utilized by healthcare institutions require efficient management and storage solutions. Managed IT services for healthcare assists in implementing electronic health record (EHR) systems, data backup strategies and data archiving, ensuring that critical information is readily accessible when needed.
• 24/7 monitoring and support: Health organizations need their IT systems to be operational around the clock. Managed IT services offer continuous monitoring, rapid issue detection and proactive problem resolution, reducing downtime and ensuring uninterrupted patient care.
• Cost-efficiency: Building and maintaining an in-house IT team can be cost-prohibitive for many healthcare organizations. Managed IT services provide a cost-effective alternative by offering a predictable monthly fee for comprehensive IT support, eliminating the need for extensive capital investments.
• Scalability and flexibility: As healthcare organizations grow or experience fluctuations in demand, their IT needs change accordingly. Managed IT services offer scalability, allowing healthcare institutions to expand or contract their tech resources as required quickly.
• Technology expertise: Managed IT services providers specialize in healthcare technology, keeping up with the latest advancements and best practices. This expertise ensures that health organizations leverage cutting-edge solutions to streamline operations and improve patient care.

How Could Managed IT Services for Healthcare Help Your Hospital?

The benefits of managed IT services for healthcare providers are high.

For example, a regional hospital may struggle with outdated IT infrastructure, frequent system outages and security vulnerabilities. CSO says, “Ransomware has emerged to become the worst nightmare in healthcare.” Running outdated Windows servers or open-source software can create network outages or cause cybersecurity issues. Studies show approximately 83% of hospitals in the U.S. have obsolete software.

After partnering with a managed IT services provider, a hospital can experience a significant transformation. A managed service provider can conduct a comprehensive assessment, followed by a roadmap for IT modernization. Significantly, these improvements can include stringent security protocols to make the facility less of a cyberthreat target. Ultimately, the hospital can experience reduced downtime, improved patient data security and streamlined workflows. The IT staff, now free from day-to-day maintenance tasks, can focus on training or other key initiatives to improve operations, increase staff satisfaction and drive better patient care.

Six Critical Benefits of Managed IT Services for Healthcare

Partnering with an IT managed service provider is a big undertaking, but it can yield six core benefits for the typical healthcare organization.

1. Increase focus on patient care: By entrusting IT management to outsourced experts, healthcare providers can shift their focus back to delivering excellent patient care. This reallocation of resources leads to improved patient satisfaction and outcomes.
2. Reduced downtime: Healthcare managed IT services firms proactively monitor systems, minimizing downtime and preventing potential disruptions that could impact patient care or administrative tasks.
3. Streamlined workflows: Well-implemented IT systems optimize administrative processes, from appointment scheduling to billing, enabling staff to work more efficiently.
4. Data-driven decision-making: Managed IT services can help by capturing, analyzing and presenting data meaningfully, empowering health organizations to make informed decisions that enhance their operations and competitive strategies.
5. Innovation adoption: The push to modernize IT architectures begins with a managed service consulting partnership. Healthcare IT is rapidly evolving, with innovations like telemedicine and AI-driven diagnostics integral to modern care. Managed IT services facilitate the adoption of these innovations, keeping health organizations at the forefront of technology.
6. Mitigated risks: Data breaches and cyberattacks are serious threats to healthcare institutions. Managed IT services providers implement robust security measures and disaster recovery plans to minimize risks.
7. Disaster recovery planning: Having a robust, up-to-date disaster recovery plan is vital for hospital operations and patient care and is necessary for HIPAA compliance. Security magazine says only 54% of organizations across every industry have disaster recovery plans. A managed IT services provider can assist in developing and updating these plans, along with creating virtual infrastructures for full redundancy in the event of a crisis.

Wondering how to find healthcare IT support services? You’ve come to the right place. Red River is the leading provider of managed IT for healthcare organizations, from full technology consulting impacting the design and deployment of new architectures to a la carte management of cybersecurity, desktop and more.

Contact us to learn how Red River can support your healthcare IT team.

Q&A

Why would a hospital need managed IT support?
A hospital would require managed IT support to ensure seamless operations for complex technology demands. From safeguarding sensitive patient data to maintaining critical systems, managed IT support offers 24/7 monitoring, proactive issue resolution and expertise in compliance standards. This service reduces downtime, enhances data security and allows hospital staff to focus on patient care while leaving IT complexities to skilled professionals.

What is the #1 benefit of managed IT services for healthcare organizations?
The top benefit of managed IT services for healthcare organizations is uninterrupted patient care. Hospitals can ensure systems are operational around the clock by entrusting IT management to external experts. This seamless operation minimizes downtime, maximizes efficiency and empowers medical staff to focus entirely on delivering high-quality patient care without technology disruptions.