Top Considerations for Healthcare Businesses

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) designates security rule compliance and patient data safety. HIPAA advocates the finest practices in technical, physical and administrative security.

HIPAA adheres to the best ways to protect public health. But it can be a challenge. Joe Oesterling, Chief Technology Officer at Liquid Web, says, “It’s not uncommon for healthcare businesses to have a lot of questions when it comes to HIPAA workloads, whether that’s email, back-office applications, backups, or any other systems that access patient data.”

In that regard, here are five top security and infrastructure considerations for healthcare businesses in the digital age.

1. Using Tech to Upgrade Payment Systems

Payment collection is a major concern for medical practices. Insurance options have gone well beyond traditional HMOs. There’s high deductible, self pay and health savings account patients. Each requires unique management. Continuous monitoring and upgrading of payment technology can transform your business.

2. Governance Structure Review

Governance structure review analyzes board processes and organizational infrastructure. It provides support to senior staff and the board, allowing action recommendations. The review defines performance regime and highlights ways to fund the organization in the short and long term. You’ll better determine the role, structure and responsibilities of governing bodies. Most of all, it will help develop ways for better reaching out to the communities you serve.

3. VMware Hosting

VMware hosting is a solution that lets businesses operate multiple system workloads on a single server. This improves resource management via a virtual production. VMWare hosting also allows each production to run in its own window. There’s also the opportunity for installation and testing of software. The benefit is this can be done without impacting production.

4. Streamlining Operations

Rising costs, evolving regulations and lowered reimbursements force practices to design more efficient means for higher revenue. Web based portals are becoming more common. They’re speeding referral time, prescription refills, scheduling and more. The pandemic encouraged avoidance of the medical profession. It’s also shown healthcare ways to streamline and improve interaction. This can’t end. Healthcare needs to continue strategizing on how to best reorganize staff duties and use vital resources.

5. New Patient Influx

Patient influx has changed dynamically. People who never had insurance now have access to some kind of healthcare. This has created an increasing demand for healthcare services. According to a survey of 5,000 U.S. physicians by the Carolinas Healthcare System, half the participants’ practices didn’t have the resources to manage a greater volume of patients. Growth of incoming patients could stress systems.

A major step to attack patient influx is preparing staff. On the administrative side, it’s ramping up customer service to deal with calls from incoming patients. Train admins to work with patients that may not understand their insurance plans and policies. On the clinical side, consider adding more caregivers, especially mid-level professionals. to treat a variety of patients. Assistants and nurse practitioners will be invaluable for alleviating physician workloads.

By focusing on top healthcare business considerations like web portals and VMware hosting, organizations are in a better position to address patient needs. And they can do this alongside managing growth amidst a transforming landscape.