Is the Cloud Secure Enough for Health IT?

Health IT has become a complex landscape. Healthcare organizations often have a hodgepodge of IT systems that don’t always meet the organizations’ needs and don’t integrate well with other systems.

Many healthcare organizations are looking to the cloud for an integrated solution. But is the cloud secure enough and ready for the task?

Isolated IT systems are prevalent and problematic

In a Covisint-sponsored study conducted by Porter Research, 50 senior-level executives were interviewed in-depth about their healthcare organizations’ IT needs and key pain points. The study revealed that the organizations’ health information systems (HISs) and electronic health record (EHR) systems are often isolated, which is resulting in the use of inefficient manual communication systems to coordinate care.

“Despite the 12 billion dollars spent on Meaningful Use incentives, EHR and HIS systems often do not talk to each other in a meaningful way for day-to-day work,” the study finds. “Further, technology adoption varies across organizations. As such, manual fax, phone, and direct mail remain the predominant communication methods within the clinical and administrative workflow.”

Not surprisingly, the executives revealed a strong desire for integrated systems and better accessibility to data — both of which can be achieved with cloud computing.

What is more surprising is that many of the executives had high confidence in using cloud computing to access information from different locations. On a 1-to-5 scale (where 5 is the highest confidence level), 60% of the executives rated their confidence level as a 4 or 5.

Changing perceptions about the cloud

The Covisint study findings are indicative of the changing perceptions about cloud computing. When the cloud started to enter the IT picture, concerns about data security were prevalent. In response, many cloud service providers have been implementing advanced security measures.

For example, FireHost specifically designed its HealthData Repository to secure highly sensitive healthcare data, including EHRs and Electronic Personal Health Information. The repository’s Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) certified cloud infrastructure provides an isolated environment for each health organization’s sensitive healthcare data and the applications used to gather and access it. The repository also has multiple layers of protection against hackers and other external threats.These kinds of features go a long way in resolving any concerns about security and allow health organizations to trust the cloud.

Besides using the cloud to store regulated data such as EHRs and Electronic Personal Health Information, healthcare organizations might eventually use cloud applications to store data from other systems, such as pharmacy, laboratory, and accounting systems. By integrating these systems, healthcare organizations can dramatically improve not only their efficiency and bottom line, but also patient safety.

Further advantages of moving to the cloud

According to the Healthcare IT News article “Why Cloud is Good for Patient Safety,” there are many ways that a health IT infrastructure based in cloud technology can improve the level of care and safety provided to patients. By using the cloud to integrate systems, healthcare organizations can improve several areas that affect patient safety:

• Patient history — With the cloud, a healthcare provider can get instant access to a patient’s medical history to find out pertinent information, such as drug allergies.
• Communication processes — When medical information needs to be shared (e.g., a patient’s medical records needs to be sent to a specialist), using manual communication systems could prove problematic if a form is lost or pertinent information isn’t included. With the cloud, healthcare providers can access the same information from the same database.
• Structured processes — Cloud-based healthcare applications are typically designed so that healthcare providers enter information in a standardized format or complete a task following a standardized approach. This can prevent problems such as illegible prescriptions or filling out an order for a test incorrectly.
• Monitoring — By automating repetitive monitoring procedures (e.g., checking whether patients are refilling their prescriptions), healthcare providers can mitigate the risk of human error in the process.
• Emergency response — Sometimes, undiagnosed problems can cause serious issues and all the healthcare provider can do is try to correct the problem as quickly as possible. The cloud can offer immediate access to applications and information, making a more rapid response possible.

Although healthcare organizations have traditionally been slow to implement new health IT technologies, they can no longer afford to wait. The cloud offers a viable and attractive solution.

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