Can Cloud Computing Fix Healthcare? Salesforce Says Maybe.
Cloud computing has become an interesting topic of discussion in recent months as the developments made towards this virtual enterprise option has enabled a variety of businesses and services to flourish. But can it help fix healthcare in the US? Salesforce might think so.
The enterprise and cloud computing company that deals with CRM and a growing number of other business-related initiatives has invested an undisclosed amount in Practice Fusion.
Practice Fusion is a web-based service for electronic medical records (EMR), with other options for physicians and administrators to manage their practice, schedule patients, etc. The EMR provided by Practice Fusion is quite reliant on cloud computing, as it aims to be a virtual filing service for medical practices around the country. Practice Fusion is free, and maintains the privacy of the patient’s heath records.
As part of the new relationship between Practice Fusion and Salesforce, Practice Fusion will be launching its health record service on Force.com, Salesforce’s enterprise cloud computing platform. With the added tools supported by Force.com, Practice Fusion will be able to add a few more business-oriented features to its clients.
Our Angle: What’s the End Game?
But what is Salesforce’s true motive here? Getting into the virtual medical records space can be dangerous territory, given the potential for privacy breaches, among other issues. But the improvements made to web-based platforms along with shifting attitudes towards online services dealing with highly private matters has opened a window of opportunity for companies like Practice Fusion to improve an entire industry.
Other companies have already made their entrance into the web-based medical service on various levels, from WebMD to RevolutionHealth to Google. Now Google in particular has already made the world aware of its own plans for web-based medical records, presenting the option to individuals as part of the larger Google Apps suite. And for Salesforce and Practice Fusion in particular, the ability to work with the regulations of the current Stimulus Package collection process is an initiative for moving things forward. As the Obama administration pushes major changes in the healthcare industry, companies like Practice Fusion and Salesforce are looking to be at the forefront of a major revolution being spurred by the president himself.
Will it work, and is cloud-computing really the best way to go? Time will tell, but it certainly is a necessary consideration given the ability for web-based services to really improve on a system that’s in dire need of an overhaul. What do you think of cloud-computing…can it help the country fix healthcare?
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