Cloud technology in healthcare: A transformative solution for patients and providers

• Cloud computing is a transformative healthcare solution that enhances data security, improves operational efficiencies, and supports the ongoing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
• Healthcare providers can benefit from cloud-based solutions through the technology’s ability to increase scalability, improve cost efficiency, enhance collaboration, and enable a more patient-centric approach
• As cloud technology in healthcare continues to evolve, it will help to shape a safer and more connected healthcare system

Among the many technological advances that have transformed healthcare in recent years, cloud technology in healthcare has emerged as one of the most revolutionary, reshaping the healthcare landscape through its ability to assist in the creation, consumption, storage, and sharing of medical data.¹

Cloud technology in healthcare has grown rapidly, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon. In fact, according to McKinsey, cloud-based healthcare solutions are estimated to generate between $100–170 billion USD in value within the next six years.² But why is cloud computing now seen as so important within the world of healthcare? And what benefits does it offer to providers and patients? 

Cloud-based healthcare refers to the application of cloud computing technology in managing and processing healthcare data. It offers a flexible solution that can offer patients and healthcare providers secure access to a huge amount of data anywhere, at any time.^3,4

For providers specifically, long gone are the days of needing to store medical records in paper form or old-fashioned, clunky devices like USB sticks or compact discs.⁵ Cloud computing offers access to various digital services and applications through the internet, helping to create an open ecosystem within healthcare.

By leveraging cloud solutions, healthcare organizations can streamline their operations, improve patient care, enhance collaboration across multiple locations, and become better organized.⁴

Cloud-based solutions provide healthcare organizations with the ability to scale infrastructure and services easily, enabling artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to be deployed on vast datasets from various locations. This can offer a wide variety of benefits, including the ability to identify population-level patterns and trends, monitor patients remotely, improve risk management, and identify valuable individual patient insights.⁷

The use of cloud technology in healthcare has already started to revolutionize the industry, allowing companies to innovate, digitalize, and hone their strategic objectives more effectively.^1,4 Cloud computing is delivering providers and patients a whole host of benefits. 

One of the most important benefits of cloud technology in healthcare is its ability to offer robust data security while also ensuring compliance with strict regulatory standards.⁶ Since healthcare data is highly sensitive, protection is a top priority for providers. However, this also makes it attractive to malicious attackers, increasing the risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks.^4,8 

Fortunately, cloud-based solutions offer advanced security features, such as encryption, access control, and regular audits, to help safeguard patient data from breaches and unauthorized access.⁸ They are also specifically designed to comply with regulatory standards, allowing healthcare providers to maintain full data integrity while fulfilling their legal obligations.^4,8

With four in ten providers saying that “going digital” is a top priority for accelerating healthcare facilities, cloud computing offers a way of doing exactly that — helping to support digital transformation while offering various scalability opportunities at the same time.⁹

Whether dealing with a surge in patient data during a public health crisis or adjusting resources during quieter periods, cloud technology in healthcare provides the flexibility providers need to scale their resources if and whenever they need to.¹ Having this ability also allows healthcare organizations to manage their operations more efficiently, reduce and identify any unnecessary expenses, and maintain adequate levels of productivity.¹

Adopting a patient-centric approach is increasingly critical to remaining competitive in the healthcare industry, with many patients wanting to become more involved in their own care journey.^1,9 Cloud-based healthcare helps encourage this transition to happen.^1,9 

By centralizing patient data in a cloud-based system, all types of healthcare players can access and update patient records in real-time, leading to more informed decision-making and improved levels of patient care.^10,11 

At the same time, the flexibility of cloud computing enables patients to view their own medical records, test results, and treatment plans whenever they want, encouraging them to take greater ownership of their healthcare.^7,10 This helps to eliminate any potential geographical barriers, moving towards a world where all patients have access to the same quality of care regardless of their location.

While digital transformation can be an expensive process for healthcare providers to go through, cloud technology can actually help save money in the long run.^1,4,5,8 By reducing the need for expensive on-premises hardware, for instance, cloud computing can offer a more economical solution to manage healthcare data.¹ 

Since many cloud services typically operate on a pay-as-you-go model and don’t require any upfront charges, healthcare providers can find tailored solutions where they only pay for the resources they actually need or use.^1,4 This cost-effective approach allows savings to be reinvested into other critical areas, such as patient care, research, and development. 

During the time when paper medical records predominated, there was a much higher risk of records becoming lost, stolen, or destroyed, jeopardizing patient safety, privacy, and confidentiality.⁷

When electronic medical records started to be used more frequently, this risk was reduced, but not eliminated. Electronic medical records systems also brought an increased need for healthcare providers to source expert IT professionals to ensure patient records stayed suitably protected.⁷ 

The transition towards cloud-based healthcare has revolutionized this area for the better.⁷ Being able to outsource data storage to cloud storage solutions has not only helped to improve security but also provided more robust disaster recovery solutions.⁹ This allows patient data to be backed up and restored swiftly, minimizing any downtime required and helping to ensure continuous care can be delivered in a way that meets strict patient privacy requirements.⁹

The huge amounts of data that the healthcare industry generates can be overwhelming, but cloud technology in healthcare makes it easier for providers to harness this data into more meaningful insights^.8,11 

By using cloud-based analytics tools, healthcare organizations can evaluate large datasets quickly and efficiently, uncovering trends and patterns that can inform clinical decisions, workplace efficiencies, risk management strategies, and enhance patient care.¹¹

Moving forward, cloud technology in healthcare will play a key role in creating a more open healthcare environment, facilitating the sharing and accessibility of data. 

Since technologies like AI and machine learning rely on using large datasets to identify complex patterns and relationships, having greater access to data is crucial for fueling advances and gathering meaningful data-led insights.^6,7 These insights can then help healthcare providers make more informed decisions, improve patient care, and drive innovation opportunities within the wider healthcare landscape.^1,8,11

While clouds are often associated with silver linings, cloud-based healthcare offers a golden opportunity. 

Cloud technology in healthcare is currently enhancing patient care, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring providers meet data security regulatory standards.^1,4 By embracing cloud computing, healthcare providers can not only meet the demands of modern healthcare, but also offer better, more personalized care to patients.^1,4,5,8,11 
What’s more, as cloud technology continues to evolve, its role in shaping the future of healthcare will only become more important, especially as AI and machine learning-based processes gradually integrate into its systems.^4,6-8