From advances in virtual care to artificial intelligence-supported clinical decision-making, healthcare continues to see emerging technologies transform the industry. But for provider organizations that often rely on legacy systems, it’s a challenge to manage older equipment with expectations aligned to newer solutions.
Since rip-and-replace projects involving the entire infrastructure are prohibitively expensive and exceedingly rare, the journey toward modernization should start with a thorough assessment of the strengths and weakness of a healthcare organization’s existing technology, says IDC Senior Research Director Mutaz Shegewi. Then, tackle an upgrade of the weakest link first, he says.
The gains from modernization don’t come easily. Upgrading any major portion of the infrastructure requires a clear articulation of goals, engagement with all stakeholders, careful evaluation of potential technology purchases, and, crucially, a plan for risk management during the deployment, Shegewi says.
“In healthcare especially, these projects always involve a balancing act between progress toward the goal and ensuring minimal disruption of critical functions, especially those that touch patient care,” he adds.
Bolstered security is often a major goal of IT infrastructure modernization, Shegewi says: “In addition to the risks of malware attacks, healthcare deals with strict privacy and security compliance regulations that can be met more easily by upgraded technologies.”
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