In our prior article, we introduced a technology platform that is starting to gain traction in the healthcare industry: Platform-as-a-Service. We shared several interesting use cases where this technology offers advantages over traditional IT strategies. But how can this technology translate into giving better patient care? What can be done to create greater accessibility while scaling precious resources to serve an increasing population?
The power of a Platform-as-a-Service or “PaaS” lies in its ability to streamline healthcare delivery and facilitate innovation. With the platform in place, healthcare providers can implement advanced services like virtual consultations, remote monitoring, and data analytics supporting decision-making to improve patient care, accessibility, and outcomes. Let’s take a closer look to explore these scenarios.
Three New Scalable Outcomes Made Possible by Healthcare PaaS
Once a Healthcare PaaS infrastructure is in place, healthcare organizations can unlock new capabilities for delivering patient care as explained below.
1. Virtual Consultations
Virtual consultations, also known as telemedicine, have become a cornerstone of modern healthcare. With the ability to host secure video calls and share medical data in real-time, healthcare providers can treat patients from the comfort of their homes.
Healthcare PaaS makes these consultations possible by providing the necessary infrastructure to handle video streaming, patient data exchange, and secure communication. The cloud-based nature of PaaS ensures that these services are available at scale, even in remote areas where traditional healthcare access may be limited.
Benefits:
- Greater accessibility to healthcare services
- Reduced patient travel and wait times
- Enhanced patient-provider communication
2. Remote Monitoring
Remote monitoring enables healthcare providers to track patients’ health data in real-time, even when the patient is not physically present at a facility. Devices like wearables or home monitoring kits can continuously send data such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels to healthcare professionals.
Healthcare PaaS provides the secure infrastructure needed to collect, store, and analyze this data. With remote monitoring, healthcare providers can intervene earlier when they detect abnormalities, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced hospital readmissions.
Benefits:
- Continuous patient monitoring
- Early intervention in case of health issues
- Reduced hospitalizations and emergency visits
3. Enhanced Data Analytics and Decision-Making
A Platform-as-a-Service designed for the healthcare industry enables advanced data analytics. This is accomplished by providing the necessary infrastructure to store, process, and analyze large volumes of health data. Data can then be captured from various sources such as electronic health records (EHRs), diagnostic tools, and wearable devices. Healthcare providers can use PaaS to run sophisticated analytics. Further, it is possible to gain deeper insights into patient care, clinical outcomes, and operational efficiency.
The scalable nature of Healthcare PaaS allows healthcare organizations to implement AI-driven tools and predictive analytics that can help in identifying trends, improving diagnoses, and optimizing treatment plans. It also supports real-time decision-making by providing instant access to up-to-date patient data, which can enhance the quality of care and streamline medical workflows.
Benefits:
- Better insights into patient outcomes and treatment efficacy
- Enhanced ability to predict and prevent health complications
- Real-time data analytics for improved clinical decision-making
By leveraging advanced data analytics through Healthcare PaaS, healthcare providers can make more informed decisions, enhance patient care, and ultimately improve the overall healthcare delivery process.
How to Get Started?
While the benefits of Platform-as-a-Service are clear, implementing such a platform can be complex. Healthcare organizations may lack the in-house expertise to navigate the intricacies of cloud-based infrastructure. This is where a third-party partner that specializes in PaaS deployments becomes essential.
Expertise in Healthcare Regulations
Third-party partners bring expertise in navigating the regulatory landscape of healthcare IT. Implementing PaaS in healthcare involves meeting strict regulations, including data privacy laws like HIPAA or the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). A specialized partner ensures that the platform adheres to all necessary standards and minimizes the risk of non-compliance.
Customization for Specific Needs
Healthcare organizations have different needs depending on their size, location, and specialty. A third-party partner can customize the Healthcare PaaS solution to meet the specific requirements of the organization. This can include tailoring data storage options, integrating electronic health record (EHR) systems, or adding specialized cybersecurity features.
Faster Time-to-Value
Third-party partners bring years of experience deploying cloud platforms in healthcare settings. By working with these experts, healthcare organizations can reduce the time it takes to implement and start using the PaaS infrastructure. Faster deployment means quicker access to the new capabilities and cost savings for the organization.
Ongoing Support and Training
After the Platform-as-a-Service deployment, third-party partners continue to offer support, ensuring that the infrastructure remains up-to-date and secure. This ongoing support can include troubleshooting, software updates, and security audits. They also provide training to healthcare staff to ensure that the platform is used effectively, maximizing the return on investment.
Building a Solution That Can Better Scale Over Time
Whether due to an increase in patient volume, geographic expansion, or the introduction of new services, the need for scalable healthcare solutions is critical. A third-party partner specializing in Healthcare PaaS ensures that the platform is designed with scalability in mind from the outset. These partners have the expertise to build flexible, modular architectures that can adapt as demands change. They can also implement features that allow for seamless scaling without disrupting daily operations. This approach ensures that as the healthcare organization grows, its infrastructure grows with it—whether that means expanding storage capacity, increasing cybersecurity measures, or integrating more advanced analytics tools.
Healthcare Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is revolutionizing the way healthcare services are delivered. By providing scalable server space, robust cybersecurity, and medical-grade cloud infrastructure, PaaS enables healthcare organizations to operate more efficiently. It also opens up new possibilities for patient care, such as virtual consultations and remote monitoring.
Working with a third-party partner to implement Healthcare PaaS ensures that the platform meets regulatory standards and is tailored to the specific needs of the organization. As healthcare becomes increasingly digitized, the role of PaaS in shaping modern healthcare practices will only continue to grow.
With this infrastructure in place, healthcare organizations are better positioned to meet the evolving needs of patients, improve accessibility, and deliver care at a scale never seen before.