What is Cloud Computing?
What is cloud computing? Everyone in the technology world is talking about it… and a lot of people in healthcare are asking the same question, “What is cloud computing, and what does it mean for my practice?”
Cloud computing platforms are growing in popularity, but why? What unique advantages does a cloud computing architecture offer to physicians in today’s economic climate? And what just what is cloud computing, anyway?” Let’s explore the cloud computing infrastructure and its impact on critically important areas of IT, like security, hardware investments, Electronic Health Records, and more.
Most physician practices are forced to spend a significant portion of their time on frustrating IT implementation, maintenance, and upgrade projects that too often don’t add significant value or productivity to the practice’s bottom line. Increasingly, physicians are turning to cloud computing technology to minimize the time spent on IT activities and allow them to focus on delivering outstanding patient care.
The fundamental cloud computing infrastructure has won over the CIOs of some of the world’s largest organizations—these once-skeptical executives never looked back after experiencing first-hand the host of benefits delivered by cloud computing technology.
Proven integration. By their very nature, cloud computing technology is much easier and quicker to integrate with your current workflow and software (both traditional software and cloud computing infrastructure-based), whether third-party or homegrown.
World-class service delivery. Cloud computing infrastructures offer much greater scalability, complete disaster recovery, and impressive uptime numbers.
No hardware or software to install: a 100% cloud computing infrastructure. The beauty of cloud computing technology is its simplicity… and in the fact that it requires significantly fewer capital expenditures to get up and running.
Faster and lower-risk deployment. You can get up and running in a fraction of the time with a cloud computing infrastructure. No more waiting months or years and spending thousands of dollars before anyone gets to log into your new solution. Your cloud computing technology is live in a matter of weeks or months, even with extensive customization or integration.
Support for deep customizations. Some physicians mistakenly think that cloud computing technology is difficult or impossible to customize and therefore is not a good choice for complex uses. The cloud computing infrastructure not only allows deep customization and application configuration, it preserves all those customizations even during upgrades. And even better, cloud computing technology is ideal for supporting your organization’s evolving needs.
Automatic upgrades that don’t impact IT resources. Cloud computing infrastructures put an end to a huge IT dilemma: If we upgrade to the latest-and-greatest version of hardware or software, we’ll be forced to spend time and resources (that we don’t have) to purchase and install all of it. Cloud computing technology doesn’t force you to decide between upgrading and saving money, because those upgrades and installations are automatically included when using the cloud.
Pre-built, pre-integrated apps for cloud computing technology. The Connect the Docs Cirrus Connect features multiple applications built for cloud computing infrastructure, pre-integrated with your system, and fully compatible with an EHR.
