The Importance of Managed IT in Healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic has been forcing many parts of the world to take compulsory quarantines and community lockdowns. At the same time, it presents a concrete example of how vital information technology is, not only to businesses but also to the healthcare industry. As healthcare facilities get overwhelmed by the increased number of patients, it becomes more important than ever to have a secure and dependable IT infrastructure.

Managed IT in the healthcare setting

Hospitals and other medical facilities need to focus their resources on their most pressing concern – patients. As such, it’s counterintuitive to focus attention on things other than actual healthcare. The IT element of running an organisation should not be disregarded though. It’s essential to determine the integrity of the software, data, web services and cybersecurity of a medical facility.

Managed IT solutions such as the integrated services offered by MMR IT, for example, allows establishments to outsource their IT needs. Instead of having a dedicated IT department complete with well-trained staff and the right equipment, an organisation can delegate its information technology functions to a third party. This option is not only convenient; it is also generally more cost-efficient.

Organisations reduce their capital expenditures and operating expenses when they outsource their IT needs as they no longer have to acquire the IT equipment or allocate space for them. Additionally, they no longer have to hire, train or pay for the salaries and benefits of their in-house IT professionals. The organisation can focus on providing healthcare and allocate all of their building space to operations which are directly related to their core services.

Addressing cyber threats

Healthcare facilities are not only faced with biological challenges. They also have to deal with a potential attack threat from cybercriminals. In fact, the medical industry has been the top target of security breaches for a number of years. Around 4 out of 10 security incidents in the past year were aimed at the healthcare sector.

It only makes sense for the managers or operators of hospitals, clinics and other medical establishments and institutions to have the proper protection for all elements of the IT infrastructure. If they can’t have their competent information technology departments, the recommended solution is to outsource it or to engage managed IT solutions. 

Healthcare management can’t risk potential access to patient information by hackers as it can result in lawsuits and penalties. Compromised patient data can be used for fraud or other criminal activity. Likewise, organisations can’t afford to have their IT backbone disrupted by malicious intent, as it can mean interruptions in the day-to-day operation with serious consequence. 

Managed IT is vital in the modern healthcare setting for organisations that are unable to maintain their own reliable information technology teams. Foregoing it will not only result in inefficiencies; it can also lead to critical problems that include data theft, disorganisation and operational interruption. With the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, medical institutions should be focusing their resources on helping patients, not in dealing with IT problems. Managed IT services are the logical go-to solution for hospitals, clinics and government bureaus involve in healthcare that encounters IT difficulties.