Organizations across the globe are seeing rapid growth in the technologies they use every day. And while the healthcare industry has always been slow to adopt, they are quickly starting to benefit from the role new technologies play in enhancing patient care and operational efficiency. However, one major setback for healthcare SMBs when investing in advanced technology is working out how they are going to keep up with cybersecurity, performance, and management of these IT solutions. This is why many CIOs are starting to discover the strategic advantages of partnering with Managed IT Service Providers.

In this blog, I will uncover the importance of Managed IT Services for healthcare and guide your team through choosing the best provider for them.

The Importance of Managed IT Services for Healthcare

Healthcare teams already rely on managed services for most of their operational needs, like laundry services and waste management. This allows them to focus the bulk of their time, energy, and resources on their core function – improving patient care. So, why not apply the same principle to IT management? 

However, I want to emphasize that Managed IT Services offer more than just convenience, they are a strategic asset that enables care teams to deliver high-quality care. 

Healthcare providers face unique challenges, especially when it comes to cybersecurity, considering the rules and regulations that must be followed to safeguard patient data. And many independent care teams need more resources to maintain robust in-house IT and cybersecurity teams. By partnering with Managed IT Service Providers with specialized expertise in data protection, HIPAA compliance, and threat management, teams can ensure the confidentiality of patient data and mitigate the risk of cyber attacks.

Benefits of Managed IT Services for Healthcare

Reduced Costs – Investing in managed IT services provides healthcare teams with predictable and lower IT expenses and eliminates the need for costly in-house IT teams. By consolidating IT management under a single provider, organizations can efficiently utilize their resources and optimize their spending. 

Access to Specialized Expertise – Partnering with a managed IT provider gives organizations access to a team of skilled professionals who understand the specific needs and challenges of organizations in the healthcare sector. This specialized knowledge ensures compliance with regulations like HIPAA and offers advanced cybersecurity measures to ensure patient safety.

24/7 Support – With managed IT services, healthcare providers can receive round-the-clock support to maintain uptime and ensure the smooth operation of their critical health systems – which may not be the case with in-house IT teams, if they do not have the resources to staff 24/7. This ensures that issues are always resolved before they begin to impact patient care.

Scalability – Managed IT services offer the flexibility to scale IT solutions as your healthcare organization grows. Whether it’s expanding to accommodate more patients or investing in new and improved technologies, the managed IT provider can adapt to the changing demands. 

Choosing the Best Managed IT Service Provider (for You!)

There is no clear-cut answer when choosing a managed IT service provider. Healthcare teams must partner with a provider that aligns with their goals and empowers them to achieve successful outcomes. However, we do not always know where to begin with our search, so I have compiled a list of what you should consider when investing in a managed IT service provider for your healthcare team: 

Healthcare Experience – Look for a managed IT provider with proven experience in the healthcare industry. Considering healthcare organizations must adhere to specific regulatory needs, such as HIPAA, your IT vendor must understand these requirements.

Cybersecurity – Ensure that your vendor has a robust cybersecurity focus. They should offer security measures including encryption, proactive threat detection, and backups that will help ensure the safety of patient health information and comply with healthcare standards. 

Service Level Agreements – Review the provider’s Service Level Agreements to gain clarity on their response times and availability. In an industry where time is of the essence, quick response and minimized downtimes are essential for critical health system performance and patient safety. 

24/7 Support – In that same light, healthcare doesn’t stop when the clock hits 5:00 PM, so teams must be sure that they can receive IT support even after hours if a critical system fails or a breach is detected. Successful MSPs employ IT alerting and on-call management solutions, like OnPage, that deliver loud, distinguishable alerts right to their on-call team to ensure that they are mobilized immediately in the case of critical incidents. 

Flexibility – Not all companies have the same requirements for their IT providers, so you should make sure that your IT vendor can tailor their offerings to fit your organization’s specific needs. 

Conclusion

Partnering with a managed IT service provider that will support your healthcare team through digital transformation is crucial to ensuring optimal performance and robust security. But remember, before selecting a vendor, you must evaluate your team’s needs and invest in a partner that will help them achieve success.