With cloud software on the increase in healthcare, patient expectations are changing. Recent growing demand for mobile healthcare, and for practitioners to enjoy a more flexible working life, has led more practices to move their medical software in Australia to the cloud. But is this move to the cloud just a passing trend or a sign of what’s to come?

Here are some of the signs that cloud-based medical software is here to stay.

Patient expectations are changing

Since the pandemic, patients have become used to having greater flexibility and more widespread remote technology in every area of their lives, from work to leisure. Many of these expectations are likely to linger on, especially when it comes to the ability to access telehealth consultations and book appointments online. With telehealth, patients can avoid the inconvenience of having to travel to an in-person appointment and are more able to arrange a consultation at a time that suits them. 

Cloud medical software in Australia is easily accessible from any device which means your practitioners are able to work from any location, outside the typical clinic hours, and offer a more flexible range of services to your patients. 

Privacy and data security are becoming more important

With cyber-attacks on the rise in Australia, it’s more important than ever to have software that’s safe and secure. One of the benefits of cloud software is that it’s hosted remotely with all servers housed in a secure data centre. Cloud software providers also tend to hire expert security professionals to monitor and respond to threats around the clock. This means you can enjoy state of the art security, along with immediate fixes whenever a potential vulnerability is detected and it’s all included in your initial cost.

It’s likely that healthcare providers are going to be looking for a more secure solution in the future. When it comes to security, cloud software is generally the better option. 

There’s a greater need for interoperability

Collaboration between providers is important for quality of care and the cloud makes it a lot easier to share data and information across different systems. Because patient information is stored in the cloud and not on your personal system, it’s easier to connect and share data across other platforms. As patient expectations change and more practitioners experience the benefits of interoperability, the need for cloud software will become greater.

Competition is increasing

Healthcare is a competitive industry and businesses that are going to survive and thrive need to be efficient and minimise costs as much as possible. With cloud software, businesses can work more efficiently and scale up or down as needed. Time-saving is another way the cloud can help healthcare businesses be more efficient. With more streamlined workflows and less time spent on updates and regular maintenance, businesses using the cloud will be able to spend more time working on their business and caring for patients and less time on routine admin. 

The cloud might be relatively new, but it’s not going away any time soon. When you consider the benefits, it’s highly likely that in the future we’ll see more and more practices move to cloud-based medical software in Australia.