Do you fear that your crucial patient data is always at risk? Does your healthcare facility find it challenging to implement regulatory changes? These are some common pain points that the healthcare industry faces these days. VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) addresses all these pain points with its offerings.
Virtual desktops are now steadily replacing desktop setup. With VDI, you have a hardware-independent desktop access, better data security, easy IT maintenance, and much more.
47% of healthcare facilities were using VDI in 2019. Thus, the healthcare industry is now familiar with virtual desktops. Apart from the mainstream healthcare needs like improving care provider workflow, VDI also finds demand for medical coders, telemedicine, and medical transcriptionists.
Here are the top reasons why you need VDI for your healthcare organization:
1. Access Patient Data from Anywhere, Anytime
VDI opens up new dimensions for medical and non-medical operations within a healthcare facility. Instead of waiting to reach the hospital, the physicians can access the patients’ files and medical records from anywhere.
This way, they can inform you about any specific drug that might need time to procure. They can even guide you to make preparations and keep things ready for a procedure. Hence, it improves the patient healthcare cycle and gives them a better experience.
VDI in healthcare is also important for non-medical processes like billing, invoicing, etc. Your staff can remotely access the necessary files and data. This way, you can minimize the contact of non-medical staff with the patient; they can work from their homes.
2. The Flexibility to Access Medical Records from any Device
Depending on your network range, you can access a virtual desktop from any device. It enables your healthcare workers to access their files without depending upon any particular physical desktop. This helps in mitigating both insider and external threats.
With Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, if someone breaks into your healthcare facility, they cannot pinpoint or target the desktop of any key personnel. Neither someone within your organization can access your clients’ medical records illicitly.
All you need to do is focus on protecting your centralized database. For that, you can either deploy armed guards, constant CCTV surveillance, or get a Managed VDI solution. Premises of reputed providers are secured by advanced physical security measures that ensure no one accesses your clients’ medical records.
3. Improving Your Healthcare Security Infrastructure
In a traditional desktop environment, you have to implement security measures on each desktop. This complicates the entire security framework. Any lapse and you could see a desktop compromising your healthcare system.
But, VDI in healthcare offers a simplistic approach to managing your security system. You can create a single golden image, load it up with top-rated security tools, and replicate it across your healthcare organization.
This way, you can secure your employees’ access to their desktops. Another way to secure your Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is to select a reputable service provider. For instance, ACE has years of experience in handling the security of virtual desktops.
A renowned VDI solution provider implements high & quality security tools like an IDP system, multiple firewalls, network filtering, and bank-grade encryption. Furthermore, they have the latest antivirus and anti-malware protection.
4. The Need To Adhere To HIPAA Compliance
A healthcare facility must follow HIPAA regulations. Without it, they cannot operate. Implementing a VDI solution within your organization helps you follow the necessary regulations. Since virtual desktops are device-independent, there is no particular device that an individual may target for accessing essential information.
Also, the VDI setup involves a centralized database which is comparatively easier to protect. Furthermore, you can track individual activity within your organization and trace it back when needed. This way, VDI helps you implement the required security measures essential for HIPAA and ensures you follow mandated practices.
5. Increased Protection From Patient Data Leaks
Whenever healthcare organizations face a data breach, they have to face the consequences. In the worst-case scenario, their license may get permanently canceled. VDI helps you implement robust security measures which ultimately prevent illicit data leaks. This way, your organization can avoid any leak-associated cost liabilities from debilitating them. VDI also presents other cost benefits for your healthcare facility. You can quickly scale up or scale down depending on your employees’ needs.
Suggested Reading: Top Security Features To Look For In A Hosted VDI Provider
You don’t have to provide a separate physical desktop for them or let your resources waste away when you don’t need them. Furthermore, a thin-client device is comparatively less expensive and offers more life than a traditional thick-client device. You can easily subscribe to a VDI solution every month from a service provider, further reducing your overall cost burden.
6. The Ease To Upgrade Hardware
Suppose your healthcare organization is running out of disk space. To counter that, you must purchase additional resources. So, in a conventional desktop environment, you must physically visit each workstation to upgrade their disk space manually. This is both tedious and time-consuming. The visiting IT technicians may accidentally transmit diseases or contaminate an aseptic area. Also, what about the inconvenience caused to your patients if a to be upgraded desktop is in a bustling room?
VDI in healthcare offers a comprehensive solution to hardware upgrades. It has a centralized database. Any changes made can be reflected across your entire VDI. You can deploy it in a separate dedicated room in another block or floor of your healthcare premises. This way, your IT personnel can quickly upgrade your system without having to visit every single desktop in your organization. This is comparatively faster, with minimized point-of-contact of external personnel within your organization.
7. Better Economic Benefits
Implementing VDI in healthcare makes things cost-effective for any organization. Since access to the virtual desktops is device-independent, your facility workers can bring their own devices to work. This way, you can save up on procuring end-point devices and preserve your financial resources.
The centralized IT framework has another cost benefit. Since it is centralized, it can be easily managed and carries lower maintenance costs. For IT personnel, repairing a single server is way easier than manually managing a hundred desktops! Also, if you are not keen on setting up a VDI, you can avail of a third-party VDI solution from a reputed service provider. They come with a monthly subscription fee based on user requirements and include all the expenses like IT maintenance, repairs, infrastructure setup, etc.
Conclusion
With almost every industry adopting VDI, it is time for the healthcare industry to recognize its use cases. VDI helps them ensure data security along with many more offerings.
Also, if you wish to get the full benefits of VDI without going through the IT hassle—VDI from a service provider or cloud VDI is your go-to solution. Want to know how cloud VDI can help your healthcare facility?
Talk to our Solutions Consultants by clicking the chat button below.
Search
