Healthcare is in the midst of several big transformations, all happening at once. And it’s perhaps more obvious here in Florida than anywhere else in the country.
In 2020, as public health concerns put unprecedented strain on healthcare infrastructure, clinical leaders were forced to adapt quickly. Now, we are seeing the results: A full-scale re-imagining of what healthcare looks like. One that has amazing potential to revolutionize how Americans go to the doctor.
And at the center of this new world is high speed internet.
High Speed Internet Will Help Differentiate Quality Care In Coming Years
Telehealth was already growing as a trend before it became a safety precaution. Now, it has evolved even further: As a robust and reliable way to expand healthcare access. Positive effects are being felt in both urban and rural communities, and under-served Central Florida towns stand to benefit greatly.
Implemented correctly, telehealth can put more power in patients’ hands:
- Patients no longer need to undertake long, crowded commutes to see a doctor
- They have the opportunity to review their recorded session when they need it
- From the comfort of their own home, they may find it easier to communicate
- Fewer in-person visits make scheduling procedures and getting referrals easier
In a few months, there may be no more need for telehealth as a safety protocol. But that does not mean it is going away, soon or ever. To the contrary, the genie is out of the bottle – and everyone can see the advantages.
Doctors and patients alike are united in feeling that there’s simply not enough time in their visits to deliver the best quality of care. The doctor-patient relationship that was once central to effective healthcare is falling by the wayside, with just 11% of patients and 14% of doctors feeling that current time allotments are sufficient.
High speed internet may be the easiest solution to the time crunch both sides find themselves in.
Reliable High Speed Internet Saves Time For Both Patients And Doctors
Over the last several years, doctors have found themselves responsible for more data entry and record-keeping. These requirements are now part and parcel of important healthcare certifications and insurer relationships. Now that they are here, such demands are unlikely to go away any time soon.
Patients, too, have felt pressed: Finding less time to go to the doctor and feeling more frustrated when they must spend 30 minutes or more in a crowded waiting room. Patients who need regular appointments, such as those who get frequent medication updates, often find themselves rushing to get it all done.
Backed by high speed internet, telehealth offers a true meeting of the minds.
Patients no longer need to clear off a whole day to talk to their physician. They’ll find it far easier to prepare questions in advance, ask for clarification, and achieve more, even if the amount of time spent doesn’t increase.
Doctors, on the other hand, can enjoy a more granular and less intensive schedule. With high speed internet comes greater patient self-service opportunities, so it is easier for doctors to foresee and prepare for each visit.
In the long run, every visit is more valuable, and both parties are satisfied.
From Hospitals To Clinics, High Speed Internet Is Essential To Safeguard PHI
Protected Healthcare Information is the lifeblood of today’s care landscape.
If PHI is lost, misused, or stolen on even one occasion, it can mean serious disruption for a provider:
- You may face legal action from the affected patients and in some cases, their insurer
- Your facility might be required to uphold stricter industry certification standards
- You could be expected to allow auditing or investigation from a number of bodies
- Your brand’s reputation could be adversely affected for many years into the future
- If you hold data breach insurance, your premiums may become more expensive
Providers who find themselves in a hacker’s crosshairs can discover the cost of doing business – especially regulatory compliance – goes up overnight. On top of that, it may be necessary to invest more in marketing, advertising, and public relations so the fallout of an incident doesn’t cost you valued patients.
High speed internet provides another layer of defense against these outcomes.
Whether you’re a big hospital with inflexible budget commitments or a small clinic that needs to stretch every dollar, high speed internet is the key to cost-effective data security. Using business-class broadband, you can opt for managed IT services instead of hiring a pricey in-house team for security and support.
High speed internet enables flawless delivery of services from remote experts.
Managed IT Is The Next Evolution In Your PHI Security Plan
Just what is managed IT?
With managed IT, security needs are handled by a dedicated team of specialists who monitor your network remotely. Using sophisticated software, your remote task force can intervene quickly in data theft attempts. An instant response makes a tremendous difference in your ability to manage the situation.
Research shows it takes nearly 200 days to contain the average data breach.
Through managed IT backed by high speed internet, it may take less than a day.
The amount of damage that a cybercriminal could do in nearly seven months is impossible to measure. On the other hand, closing and reporting a breach soon after it happens demonstrates you are dedicated to shielding sensitive data. And in today’s world, that is becoming a differentiator the average person looks for.
All kinds of medical equipment has been subject to attack over the last several years. Well-regarded hospital systems have fallen prey to ransomware strikes costing millions of dollars. And huge caches of data have been exposed without any meaningful protection, including to foreign governments.
Managed IT gives you the capacity to be proactive and stand out for security excellence.
For example, managed data backup services defend your enterprise against many of these risks. The most disruptive kind of cybercrime, ransomware, loses its power when you have the ability to restore data and bring systems back online at any time. That means continuity of care and peace of mind for those who rely on you.
From High Speed Internet To Managed Services And Beyond, Choose Central Florida’s IT Leader
When healthcare institutions adopt high speed internet or any other strategic technology initiative, they have lots of factors to balance. One of the most crucial is whether new systems can be rolled out with no disruption to the broader care environment.
Our structured cabling expertise enables us to accelerate your internet and expand your network capabilities. With decades of experience, we craft the blended wireless and wired network you need to get the right mix of performance and security. We will work with you to ensure systems remain operational throughout the work.
When it comes to your patients, you don’t leave anything up to chance. The same philosophy will serve you well in your high speed internet investment. Atlantic Communications Team will get you there.
To find out more or get started, contact us.