Healthcare technology and healthcare IT are evolving in many ways, including:
- Remote care – Telehealth and other remote care technologies allow patients to access care from home or isolated areas, and can also reduce transportation emissions. Wearable devices and sensors can also help medical professionals monitor patient health remotely.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) – AI and machine learning (ML) can help healthcare organizations meet patient needs and improve analytics for decision-making. Generative AI is also becoming more popular in the health industry.
- Sustainability – Consumers are increasingly demanding that healthcare be sustainable, so more healthcare companies are committing to decarbonization and reducing waste. Green procurement is also becoming more common across the healthcare value chain.
- Surgical robots – Surgical robots are becoming more widely used in operating rooms around the world.
- Digital twins – Digital twins can virtually recreate patients’ bodies, organs, or health systems to mimic real-world medical situations and predict outcomes.
- Wearable technology – From personal health trackers on patients to doctors connecting to the medical network on their smartwatch devices, wearable technology is transforming communication within the industry.
Other healthcare IT trends include extended reality, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), Cloud computing, and Big data and analytics. However, digital health can face challenges, such as privacy controls, data governance issues, and ethical concerns.
The Role and Risks of Big Data in Healthcare IT
Big data analytics aims to extract meaningful insights and patterns from large and complex datasets. In addition to business, education, social media, and science, big data analytics can be applied to the healthcare industry. The vast amount of data generated by electronic health records, medical imaging, wearable devices, genomic sequencing, or clinical trials can be leveraged with big data analytics in healthcare.
One of the most prevalent issues in big data within healthcare IT is the quality and integration of data which is meant to follow the patient through their journey. When medical records from various facilities do not adhere to standardized formats, it becomes challenging to combine information from different sources. As a result, patient health can be incomplete or inaccurate. Moreover, incorrect or absent data within medical records can greatly affect the data analysis and the trustworthiness of conclusions or prognoses.
Another major problem with big data in the medical field is data security and legal compliance. With such a vast amount of data about millions of patients, healthcare data is a big target for cybercriminals. This naturally creates a subset of risks because the job of managing and safeguarding the data is a massive undertaking for any IT department. Billions of dollars — and every patient’s privacy — are at risk. It’s important to understand what happens when there is a security breach so that the correct protections can be put into place.
Solutions for Compliance and Security
Healthcare organizations must develop strict policies for collecting and maintaining patient information, adhering to standards like HIPAA in the US. There are many things your organization should be doing to stay ahead of the risks:
- Regular risk assessments via security and compliance audits help identify system weaknesses and guide preventive measures, such as software upgrades and strengthened firewalls, ensuring third-party vendors comply with data protection standards.
- Employee training is crucial since healthcare staff handle sensitive information. Training must stay current with evolving threats.
- Technical defenses are vital, as well. This includes things like data encryption, access controls, and robust authentication methods.
- Organizations should have comprehensive incident response plans for disaster recovery. This can minimize impacts and quickly restore operations in case of data breaches, ransomware, or data loss.
- Monitoring systems for abnormal activity and using intrusion detection systems and regular audits are essential. Devices should be secured to allow data wiping if stolen or lost.
Overall, maintaining high-quality healthcare IT involves a mix of policies, training, technological controls, and ongoing vigilance to protect patient information. Regardless of the size and caliber of the IT department, healthcare businesses will always benefit from the insights provided by 3rd party experts.
Commprise rides on the cutting edge of emerging cybersecurity and data management. Connect with us to get started with a security and compliance audit today or click here to learn more about our specialized healthcare IT services.