You want your providers to be able to access eClinicalWorks and other vital systems securely and reliably—wherever they are working—whether it is at another clinic, on the road, or at home. The increase of interconnected technology in healthcare and the fact that remote work has become commonplace over the past few years, has lead businesses of all kinds and sizes to find safe, sustainable, and affordable ways to conduct business from anywhere. One strategy that has proliferated across industries is implementing cloud-based desktops.

Cloud-based desktops are particularly valuable for healthcare organizations that depend heavily on security measures and data safety. Since 2016, the cloud-based desktop market has grown 178%, recently crossing the $10 billion mark. In this blog post, we’ll walk through the basics and specific benefits of cloud-based desktop technology for healthcare provider groups.

Cloud-based Desktops for Healthcare: The Basics

What are cloud-based desktops?

Cloud-based desktops (or hosted desktops) empower employees to access the data and tools they need to perform critical daily tasks— quickly, securely, from anywhere. Cloud desktops are an approach to end-user computing where virtual desktops and applications are hosted on cloud-based resources rather than in on-promises data centers.

In practice, deploying cloud-based desktops means your providers and staff can securely access multiple applications and data in one cloud desktop wherever they are through a single sign-on.

How are providers using cloud-based desktop technology?

Hosted desktops in healthcare environments are not just useful—they’re transformational to how the entire system works. Providing secure, reliable access to patient records and necessary programs, this technology empowers care coordination and clear communication between clinicians and staff. One key feature makes cloud-based hosted desktops particularly well-suited to use in the clinical setting: cloud-based data storage. That means patient health information is stored off user devices and in the cloud instead. This is extremely helpful in centralizing security monitoring to protect your practice from cyber security threats and maintaining HIPAA compliance.  In the event of a hardware failure or a security breach, the desktop is backed up on a geo diverse cloud and all vital data and systems can be restored within minutes.

How do you implement cloud desktop technology?

Setting up virtual desktops to access eClinicalWorks and other systems is a straightforward, easily replicable process:

1. Work closely with your IT partner to establish the necessary hardware and capabilities on each physical workstation
2. Show providers and staff how to use single sign-on to access the cloud desktop
3. Teach appropriate safety procedures for remotely viewing data and running applications
4. Monitor provider utilization patterns and technology reliability

Cloud-based Desktops for Healthcare: The Benefits

The ability to work remotely without missing a beat is an obvious draw of hosted desktop technology for healthcare practices. Still, there are more advantages to implementing virtual access to eClinicalWorks. Consider these four primary benefits as you evaluate your path forward with cloud-based desktops:

1. Reduced cost: Since processing is done in the cloud (not on premises), staff and clinicians can access their desktop securely from any internet-connected device. Your IT partner can leverage your existing hardware or provide a thin client to minimize costly hardware-refresh expenditures. Additionally, centralized management and maintenance allows your IT partner to streamline desktop updates and enhance security controls. This can lower deployment costs by 75% and reduce total cost of ownership by endpoint by 66%.
2. Improved security: As mentioned earlier, a cloud-based desktop environment is an asset to HIPAA compliance efforts because it ensures that data is living on a controlled, secure server rather than on numerous, scattered end devices. In addition, it strengthens defenses against cyberattacks, minimizing the risk of vulnerability if an end device is lost, and enabling granular access control. Organizations with hosted desktop technology experience over 60% fewer security issues than those using traditional methods.
3. Increased system reliability: Everyone has experienced the frustration of technological glitches. With cloud-based desktops, lost productivity from unplanned outages and loss of critical information are no longer concerns. Every user can reliably access the systems and data they need when they need them without worrying about costly down time or lagging systems. After deploying cloud-based desktop technology, organizations typically see 64% less downtime and outage experiences—and a related 70% improvement in business continuity.
4. Boosted clinical and operational efficiency: Hosted desktops simplify workflow for healthcare providers and staff, reducing staff time spent troubleshooting technology. Cloud-based technology also allows teams to collaborate seamlessly, enables clinicians to safely monitor patient progress from anywhere, and ensures that all staff work from the same unified data set. These capabilities increase bandwidth and support data-driven decision-making—both of which are essential for groups seeking to scale their practice sustainably and provide seamless, modern patient care.

Implement cloud-based desktops to access eClinicalWorks from anywhere.

Utilizing cloud-based desktop technology will help your practice reduce costs, improve security, increase system reliability, and boost clinical and operational efficiency. Chat with our experts to learn more about how hosted desktops can help your organization enable secure, centralized access to eClinicalWorks and other critical systems from anywhere, anytime.