Cloud-based solutions amplifying healthcare for patients
In the face of the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems have turned to cloud solutions to streamline operations, improve data access, and manage resources more effectively.
One such system, Providence, partnered with Microsoft in mid-2019 to modernise its IT infrastructure with Azure cloud services. During the pandemic, Providence utilised cloud-based data analytics platforms and interactive dashboards to manage resources effectively. These tools provided real-time data visualisation on critical metrics such as infection rates and bed availability, helping hospital leaders allocate resources promptly and control patient demand [1].
The dashboards enabled quick access to current data without the need for lengthy reports, facilitating rapid decision-making crucial for timely patient care [1]. They also improved communication and coordination among multiple departments (doctors, finance, operations, IT) by offering a shared platform with updated, consistent data [1]. Furthermore, these tools identified bottlenecks and resource allocation challenges, such as overcrowded emergency rooms or delayed discharges, allowing dynamic adjustment of staff and equipment [1].
Similarly, UC San Diego Health has leveraged telehealth and virtual assistant technologies to reach patients beyond hospital walls, expanding care access and supporting population health management during COVID-19 and subsequent challenges [3]. While not explicitly detailed, professional CIOs in healthcare institutions have driven digital resilience through infrastructure modernisation and enterprise AI, implying similar leadership roles at organisations like Providence and UC San Diego Health during the pandemic [2].
The adoption of cloud solutions in healthcare is increasing, with more than 50 percent of health IT workloads currently deployed in the cloud [4]. The industry is developing more compelling and reliable options in software, infrastructure, and platform as a service, reducing risk and increasing value [4]. Luminis Health, in Maryland, is adopting a hybrid cloud approach, operating a private cloud and using public cloud services where strategic [5].
Luminis Health is also deploying a cloud-based image archiving solution from a provider that will store images in Google Cloud Platform. Additionally, Luminis Health has migrated its Oracle enterprise resource planning software to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure [6]. During the pandemic, Providence used Azure to build a data lake and data warehouse, moving away from in-house data warehouse due to capacity constraints [7]. Providence uses Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 for storage, Azure Databricks for analytics and machine learning, and Power BI to produce real-time reports on dashboards [7].
Moreover, an AI algorithm developed by UC San Diego Health for analysing chest X-rays is now running on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This algorithm, which overlays X-rays with colour-coded maps showing the probability of pneumonia, has analysed approximately 50,000 X-rays since its deployment on AWS [8].
The percentage of healthcare providers willing to adopt a cloud-based data analytics solution is 63% [9]. With more cloud companies making their services more feature-rich and secure, Luminis Health, like many other organisations, is becoming more open to the cloud [10]. The hybrid cloud approach allows Luminis Health to simplify IT management and save money, such as with Microsoft 365 and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure [5].
In summary, healthcare systems like Providence, UC San Diego Health, and Luminis Health have utilised cloud-hosted interactive dashboards and analytic tools during COVID-19 to monitor hospital capacity, infection trends, and resource needs, enabling timely, data-driven decisions that optimised patient care and operational efficiency [1][3]. The trend towards cloud adoption in healthcare is expected to continue as the industry seeks to modernise and improve its response to future crises.
References: [1] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/providence-health-system-uses-azure-fight-covid-19 [2] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/medstar-health-ceo-talks-digital-resilience-during-covid-19 [3] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/ucsd-health-deploys-telehealth-platform-amid-covid-19 [4] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/50-healthcare-it-workloads-already-cloud [5] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/luminis-health-embraces-hybrid-cloud-strategy [6] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/luminis-health-migrates-oracle-cloud-infrastructure [7] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/providence-health-system-builds-data-lake-azure [8] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/ucsd-health-deploys-ai-algorithm-aws-analyze-covid-19-x-rays [9] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/63-healthcare-providers-willing-adopt-cloud-based-data-analytics-solution [10] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/cloud-companies-are-making-their-services-more-feature-rich-and-secure
Science and technology have played a vital role in the health-and-wellness sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, with healthcare systems like Providence and UC San Diego Health adopting cloud solutions to streamline operations, improve data access, and manage resources more effectively. These advancements in technology enabled the creation of interactive dashboards that offer real-time data visualisation on critical metrics, aiding hospital leaders in prompt resource allocation and controlling patient demand.
