Outsourcing healthcare data to SaaS providers
The outsourcing of healthcare data management is a growing trend in the industry and it can be a great advantage, but medical professionals must make sure that the Software-as-a-Service provider they select offers adequate legal protection.
Healthcare providers have an additional issue to consider when looking to outsource their data management. They must make absolutely sure that they are complying with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its sister regulations concerning the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH).
The laws work to accelerate the process of digitized electronic health records while maintaining patient privacy, walking the fine line between innovation and regulation.
To avoid legal ramifications that can result in sizable fines and countless hits to a healthcare business's reputation, data management must be handled with extreme care.
Aside from the risks, SaaS has its advantages. According to Online CRM, SaaS offers a low cost of data entry and a more powerful and secure information technology infrastructure because vendors help streamline processes and offer large security investments.
The website Datamation adds that outsourcing to a SaaS provider can harness the "collective intelligence through collaborative solutions."