The cloud would usually be associated with either storage or computing in today’s technological cycle. But the cloud spans a much bigger circle and can be utilized in so many different ways, especially by enterprises.  One sector exploring the immense potential of the cloud is healthcare.  Medical IT has become a commonly used term to account for the use of technology diagnosis of diseases, data analysis and the safekeeping of patients’ information.  The growing interest around this sector has encouraged companies to develop apps and cloud systems for the healthcare realm. WellNet Healthcare Group and Healthcare Interactive’s partnership to manage and deliver medical benefits to hundreds of former’s clients is an example of businesses transitioning to cloud-based environment.

In an interview following the successful 100% enrolment in cloud technology of all of its employees, Keith Lemer, President of Wellnet, noted: “Cloud-based technology is revolutionizing the health benefits space by allowing unprecedented levels of collaboration among employees, employers and healthcare providers. WellNet is leading the way in the adoption of this technology and is proving that operating health plans through the cloud is a money-saver.”

Lemer also enumerated advantages of having transitioned to cloud systems. “Through the cloud, we’re able to deliver in-depth analysis of our employer clients’ healthcare data without compromising patients’ privacy — and then implement proven solutions to help them slash their health expenses. Employers are quickly seeing that cloud-based analytics are far more cost-effective than conventional site-based approaches.”

Big players are also magnetized to the game.  IBM has been one of the most aggressive big brands to realize the promise of healthcare and open curtains of the medical IT era.  Their famous human-like thinker, Watson turns into a medical consultant following victories over Jeopardy champions.  Verizon, together with Duke University, geared up to tackle healthcare issues by means of data analysis and security around cloud computing infrastructures. The introduction of the mobile app that bridges the 401K gap between employers, workers and investment service providers is a big push supporting enterprises’ progressive goal to marshal their traditional approaches towards more accessible cloud systems.

Healthcare inspires cloud innovation

Seeking advancement in early detection, cures and care of patients with autism, several groups have explored the use of technology for a ray of hope and future possibilities. Those with weight problems have been targeted by mobile apps that bring physical fitness into smartphones and ways of shedding fat in more ways than one.

Recent advancements suggest that enterprises will continue flourish within the healthcare cloud region. Medical imaging has just gotten a free ride, as Informationweek reports. Merge Healthcare has launched a free access to image-sharing network in partnership with Dell—which has 4 billion medical images and related studies. Early in October, Cleveland Clinic unveiled an innovation they called “Harnessing BIG DATA.” Explorys, is the one which will be responsible for providing a sophisticated structure in medical data collection, analysis and aggregation for the institution in the upcoming Hadoop World convention. In Canada, healthcare spending has been an untiring issue. This inspired PreAxia Healthcare Payment Systems Inc. to create an automated system for healthcare spending for Canadians that will follow a 3-year developmental plan.

Traditional healthcare technologies have anchored the industry for the longest time. But the gleaming demands to improve on things like data analysis, diagnosis and treatment call for modern intervention, and today’s cloud is being tapped.  However, the dogma surrounding cloud computing is challenged with various principles from orthodox practitioners.  As for the medical industry, the hyper-sensitivity of data is arguably raising the highest concern.

It’s a long road we face, but the promise of technology and the power of the cloud will continue to address privacy and security issues moving forward.  That’s why the enterprise can play such an important role in influencing healthcare IT, inspiring ways in which data accessibility and data protection work in tandem for a smarter future.