The Importance of 24/7 IT Support in Healthcare Industry

24/7 IT support in healthcare is a critical component many medical facilities consider indispensable. A report by Grand View Research even suggests the global healthcare IT market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% through 2030. This shows how much healthcare relies on technology these days. However, many healthcare providers still struggle to maintain constant tech support. This is because healthcare IT services are complex and need round-the-clock attention. Things like electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine support, and medical devices all need continuous monitoring. That’s why understanding the importance of 24/7 IT support is so vital.

Top 6 Reasons Why 24/7 IT Support is Crucial in Healthcare

Let’s explore the six key reasons why 24/7 IT support is indispensable in the healthcare industry.

#1 Taking care of patients anytime

Healthcare works all day and night. So do problems with computers and networks sometimes. If the systems go down, it can really affect how doctors and nurses take care of patients.

That’s why hospitals need a clinical IT support team ready to help 24/7. Day or night, doctors and nurses use computers to see patient records, update test results and make important decisions.

Imagine if the computer systems had issues in the middle of the night. The IT team fixes problems right away so care won’t be slowed down. They make sure doctors and nurses always have the latest patient information, no matter what time it is.

Having support on call all the time helps treatment stay smooth throughout the day and night. The patients remain the top priority, whether it’s morning, evening, or late at night. 

#2 Safeguarding medical data security

Australian law requires healthcare organisations to handle sensitive patient medical information cautiously. But nowadays, hackers are always trying to steal private records. That’s why hospitals have to be very careful.

The IT support team works hard to keep everything secure. They watch the computers and networks around the clock in case anything tries to break in. This way they can quickly fix any issues before any records are taken.

They also make sure to update security programs as soon as new patches come out. This keeps holes in the protections sealed up so hackers can’t sneak through.

#3 Being ready for emergencies

In healthcare, you never know when something urgent will happen. It could be a big storm, a car crash with lots of hurt people, or even an outbreak. When emergencies strike, good communication is super important.

That’s where technology helps hospitals a lot. Computers and networks let doctors, nurses and staff stay in touch to work as a team during busy times. But what if the systems have problems just then?

Luckily, the IT support team is ready to jump in 24/7. If something happens to the networks or computers during an emergency, they fix it quickly. This allows the healthcare workers to focus on treating patients, not troubleshooting.

Also, having IT support available 24/7 means hospitals can use their technology tools whenever needed. So, doctors can coordinate easily during big emergencies because the systems stay up and running.

#4 Keeping things running smoothly

Doctors and nurses have to work very quickly to help patients. Any time wasted is time a person may need care. That’s why hospitals try to be very efficient.

And technology helps them stay organised. However, computer problems can slow everything down, especially during critical processes like patient admission. When creating a new patient ticket, slow systems or failures to link with the server can cause significant delays. 

This ripple effect can result in long wait times, creating a backlog of patients and potentially impacting the hospital’s reputation. For instance, if the admission system is sluggish or unresponsive, it can lead to:

• Longer queues in the reception area
• Increased stress for both patients and staff
• Delays in starting treatments or procedures
• Potential errors in patient information due to rushed data entry
• An overall decrease in patient satisfaction 

With 24/7 IT support on call, these issues get fixed right away. This means the admission process, doctor’s offices, operating rooms, and other areas don’t have to stop working. Things can keep moving efficiently with consistent system uptime.

The IT team also does regular checkups at night or on weekends. That way, computers stay updated and run smoothly during the day when it’s busiest. They can proactively identify potential bottlenecks in the system and address them before they cause disruptions during peak hours.

#5 Supporting remote healthcare

Approximately 28% of Australians face significant healthcare access challenges in rural and remote areas. And many rely on telehealth services to bridge the gap.

This is why some healthcare is done from far away using technology nowadays. Doctors check on patients through video calls from home. And machines remotely track people’s health between visits.

For these things to work properly, the networks and devices have to work perfectly, too. That’s why 24/7 IT support is even more important now.

Also, problems may arise at times with the telemedicine videos or network monitoring equipment. But the support team can jump in to fix it right away. Their quick help means patients won’t have care interruptions no matter where they are or what time it is.

#6 Incorporating new technologies seamlessly

Healthcare is always finding better ways to use technology. But switching over systems needs to be done right. That’s where the experienced IT support team helps a lot. 

When hospitals want to try new software or network setups, these experts know how to install everything flawlessly. They take new programs and easily add them to what’s already in place. 

This “integration” ensures everything keeps working together without issues. Doctors, nurses and staff won’t notice any interruptions either. Besides, the support team also helps decide which upgrades make the most sense for all. 

How Medical IT Support Can Improve Healthcare

In healthcare, IT support helps make things more efficient, improves patient care, and leads to better overall results. But how exactly does it do that? Here’s a brief breakdown:

Electronic Health Records (EHR) management

Hospitals don’t have to deal with stacking huge piles of paper anymore. Now, they safely store all patient information electronically.

IT support helps switch everything over to digital records called EHRs. These records make it easy for doctors and nurses to find what they need about a patient.

Electronic records can also be safely shared between providers treating the same person. This allows different doctors to have the full story of a patient, leading to better-coordinated care.

Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring

In recent times, especially during COVID, more healthcare is done from a distance. Doctors are able to check on patients through video calls or messages. Wearable tech also lets hospitals remotely monitor people between visits.

The IT team helps get these telemedicine tools up and running. They set up safe video meeting services for virtual doctor appointments. Monitoring devices and networks to keep tabs on patients from afar also need support.

Now people in rural areas that are far from hospitals can still easily see a provider. And those managing ongoing conditions can have symptoms watched continuously.

Integrating AI-powered diagnostics

Artificial intelligence is making work easier in many fields these days. Healthcare is one of them. With AI technology, the IT support team can give doctors new computerised tools. These use past cases and patient info to help spot illnesses faster. 

AI can assist with checking medical scans and reports from multiple health information systems. This helps healthcare providers diagnose issues more precisely and quicker than before. 

Bringing AI and human expertise together in healthcare is a powerful match. It has the potential to hugely improve how accurate and fast illnesses are identified. 

Precise treatments for each person

New ways of treating illness look at each person’s unique health details. Doctors want to use what works best for someone’s own body and situation.

For this “precision medicine” to happen, technology plays a big role behind the scenes. IT support helps analyse the huge amounts of data involved, like genes, lifestyle and full medical stories.

They make it easier for doctors to study each patient thoroughly on an individual level. Then, care plans can be customised for each person’s exact needs.

Predictive analytics

With the help of IT, hospitals can now spot future problems and changes ahead of time. By studying big amounts of past data, they can see patterns and what things lead to.

The IT team helps healthcare places analyse all their records to find these kinds of clues. It helps foresee issues like disease spreads, how many patients may visit, and what support is needed when.

Because of these “predictive analytics,” providers can better prepare for what might happen next. It’s no wonder that 68% of Australian healthcare leaders are using it in clinical settings today.

Administrative activities

Healthcare often needs lots of admin work. This could be scheduling appointments, tracking supplies, and filing insurance claims. But paperwork can take workers away from patients.

The IT team uses technology to automate many of these behind-the-scenes tasks. Things like assigning visit times, counting inventory, and billing are now done digitally. Computerising also reduces human mistakes since the tech doesn’t make mistakes. 

Final Words

With ItTechbox as your IT support partner, you can rest assured your healthcare organisation’s technology is in reliable hands. By outsourcing to us, you can free yourself from hiring in-office staff, paying monthly leases, or buying extra equipment. Our team takes care of it all for you. We bring extensive experience implementing secure, seamless solutions that maximise efficiency. Whether upgrading systems, protecting data or enabling new services – Ittechbox ensures top-tier health technology management 24/7. This allows your staff to focus fully on exceptional patient care. Partner with Ittechbox to take the stresses of management off your plate!