Data protection is vital in healthcare, but statistics show that despite all the new technology we have, data breaches continue to present a challenge. Healthcare companies are not protected from malware or ransomware attacks, phishing attempts, or insider threats. As such, it’s vital to have a sturdy IT support system in place.
Below, we go over the top 10 reasons to employ healthcare IT support services in addition to your in-house team.
Why Healthcare IT Support Services Have Become Essential
No industry is safe from data breaches, and healthcare is not the exception. According to the OCR, there were 1,112 healthcare data breaches in 2024. Statistics show that healthcare providers were most susceptible to breaches in 2024, followed by business associates, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses.
This shows that no HIPAA-covered entities are safe from data leaks, and healthcare IT support should be implemented all across the board. But this is one reason for tighter IT security – let’s look at 10 more reasons:
10 Reasons to Use Healthcare IT Support Services
Besides protection from data breaches, healthcare IT support services can also provide:
1. Improved Patient Care
Improved patient care is the top reason to integrate healthcare IT support into your medical system. Having a unified IT system will ensure that medical records are updated quickly and easily and that communication between medical teams is efficient. Furthermore, patients having the option to contact their primary care provider can be a huge benefit, especially if their free time is limited, they can’t travel, or they are immobile.
2. Medical Record Management
Electronic health records are widely used by healthcare providers because they give a historical overview of a patient’s health. Any information concerning the patient is included here, such as their conditions, doctor visits, examinations, and prescriptions. By using electronic records, the chances of mistakes are minimal, if not non-existent. Any information, such as test results, are sent directly to the patient, minimizing the waiting time, which is especially important if the condition is critical.
3. Remote Monitoring
Having real-time access to your patient’s condition is a must in cases where they have a chronic or complicated condition that needs constant monitoring. Instead of keeping the patient in the hospital, the healthcare provider can give them a wearable device they can take home to alert them of a change of condition or emergency. These devices can track so much information, including heart rate, blood pressure, and even fall detection.
With healthcare IT support, setting up these devices will be done for you, not to mention these devices are protected under HIPAA so it’s vital to have secure data transmission.
4. Patient Safety
Patient safety is a priority in healthcare, and having this information get out can be disastrous. Protected health information violations are common and may include impermissible uses and disclosure of this data. However, these violations can also be accidental, which is why healthcare IT support is important. An IT specialist can change access controls, implement user authentication and data encryption, and perform regular security checks to prevent violations, accidental or not.
5. Backup and Disaster Recovery
Data loss is a significant issue for HIPAA-compliant entities, so it’s important that all aspects of data protection are covered, including system failures and natural disasters. The backup part refers to the replication and storage of existing files at a separate location for protection, and disaster recovery means these files can be restored and used if anything happens with the originals.
6. Cost Reduction
This one’s simple – the more efficient your systems are working, the less you have to spend on fixes. Having the latest software updates and implementing the latest IT healthcare best practices can make all the difference in your workflow. Not only will your speed increase, but you’ll also get benefits like automatic data entry, appointment calendars, digital billing systems, and more.
7. Compliance
Healthcare IT support services ensure that your organization’s practices align with HIPAA rules and regulations. You’ll diligently follow the national standards to protect patients’ records and avoid HIPAA violations, which can be detrimental to your business.
IT support will ensure that you have an incident response plan in case of a data breach and even provide HIPAA-compliant staff training to prevent employee errors. This also includes compliance documentation, which serves as proof that your organization follows all HIPAA rules.
8. 24/7 Tech Support
Tech support round the clock means that you can provide uninterrupted patient care while a dedicated IT healthcare team deals with any issues that arise. Furthermore, if you have a problem understanding a policy or using a system, the IT specialists can show you the ropes.
9. Digital Revenue Cycle Management
Having good revenue cycle management means you have a clear understanding of all incoming payments, how and to who they’re billed, and whether they’re completed. However, errors here can happen as well, especially if you work with manual entry. It’s better to have healthcare IT support to automate this process for you and save you the headaches.
10. Inventory and Supply Chain Management
If you own a pharmacy or do specialty medical practice, you need an ongoing overview of your medical inventory or supply chain management. IT support can help you automate this process and get updates in real time to avoid shortages or uneven distribution of supplies.
Frontline: Managed IT Healthcare Support Services
At Frontline, we oversee all your IT healthcare needs and ensure that your operations follow all HIPAA regulations. We offer managed IT services that include:
- IT system optimization
- Specialized support that exceeds in-house team expertise
- Regular healthcare IT updates
- 24/7 IT support, and more.
All our IT technicians are U.S.-based and can also come to your location to help with any moves or setups. Schedule a meeting and find out all about how our IT support services could help your oranization.