Month: May 2023

“The glory of medicine is that it is constantly moving forward.”
– Dr. William J. Mayo

Healthcare is constantly changing. Medical professionals are always updating their knowledge and skills to provide the best possible care for their patients. They also have an array of tech tools and devices to help them, though some healthcare practices are often burdened with IT-related issues.

Managed IT Service Providers (MSPs) can play a crucial role in how medical practitioners do their work. An MSP’s expertise can help solve problems like:

• “How can the tech tools I use work together smoothly?”
• “How can I make sure that patient information is safe?”
• “Are there IT platforms that are easier for me to use?”
• “What kind of IT training is best for our team?”
• “Where can we get support for IT issues?”
• “How can we minimise disruptions?” 
• “How can we reduce time spent on technical IT stuff?”

With comprehensive IT support, cutting-edge solutions, and expert guidance, an IT services provider can empower a healthcare expert to focus on what truly matters: delivering outstanding patient care.

How can Healthcare IT Services Help Medical Professionals?

The transformative impact of suitable IT support on healthcare can be summarised in these five ways:

• Enhance Patient Care with IT Support
• Protect Patient Data with Solid Cyber Security
• Streamline Healthcare Operations by Getting on the Cloud
• Reduce Your Risks with Reliable Disaster Recovery Solutions
• Get More Efficient with IT Consultancy Services

1. Enhance Patient Care with IT Support

With an IT support team keeping their tech infrastructure running smoothly, doctors, nurses, and medical staff can focus their time and energy on providing high-quality care to patients.

You can have streamlined workflows and optimised patient outcomes with expert IT in the background. They can help you with stuff like managing electronic health records (EHR) and troubleshooting medical devices.

Timely and effective troubleshooting for medical equipment and software is extremely needful. Technical disruptions to immediate care are unwelcome. You need swift resolutions to IT-related issues, especially during critical moments. You would want to minimise slowdowns, maximise patient safety, and seamlessly do your important duties.

In a hospital with a complex interconnection medical devices and software systems, one malfunctioning component or a software vulnerability could easily impact other patient care areas. A tech support team can provide proactive monitoring and regular updates to pre-emptively address potential issues before they escalate.

2. Protect Patient Data with Solid Cyber Security

Data protection is a huge deal in the healthcare field. As cyber criminals get craftier, you must become smarter in protecting your systems from data breaches and ransomware attacks. If things go wrong, your patients’ privacy could be at risk, the practice could lose money, and its reputation could take a hit.

That’s where an IT consultant can be your best friend, ready to help with healthcare cybersecurity solutions and measures. They’re always clued in on the latest security trends and rules, which means they can help shield your practice from cyber threats.

An IT team can set up firewalls, vigilant intrusion detection systems, and solid endpoint protection, as well as other powerful security tools. They will even teach your team how to stay cyber safe.

On top of that, an MSP can help you follow industry-specific regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, and Australia’s Privacy Act. They can make sure your practice is adequately updated with risk assessments, safeguards, and staff training on data protection.

When your systems and data are in good hands, you can focus on giving your patients the best possible care.

3. Streamline Healthcare Operations by Getting on the Cloud

Cloud computing has transformed the way healthcare practices operate. You can save money by eliminating the need for expensive on-premises infrastructure and hardware upgrades. Cloud computing can permit access to powerful IT resources and software on a pay-as-you-go basis, helping you to reduce costs.

Scalability is another key advantage of cloud computing for healthcare providers. As patient demands fluctuate, the cloud can allow you to easily adjust your resources based on your needs. You can utilise this this flexibility when expanding EHR storage or accommodating increased traffic to a telehealth platform.

Storing data in the cloud also ensures secure protection, with advanced encryption and access controls in place. Safeguard patient data from hardware failures, natural disasters, and cyberattacks by doing cloud backups. Backups provide peace of mind and can enable efficient disaster recovery and business continuity measures.

Transitioning to the cloud can seem daunting, but the right IT providers can assist you throughout the process. They can ensure a smooth transition while addressing potential challenges such as data migration, application compatibility, and compliance requirements.

4. Reduce Your Risks with Reliable Disaster Recovery Solutions

The consequences of an IT disaster for healthcare practices can be a nightmare. You don’t want to lose critical patient data due to a system failure or a malicious cyberattack. It can compromise patient privacy and confidentiality, disrupt your daily operations, and lead to costly downtime.

The impact can blow up further. You could face reputational damage, suffer loss of trust, and get billed with regulatory penalties. It’s a recipe for a major headache – but not if you have an MSP.

A good IT services company will have the expertise in disaster recovery solutions. They can help you develop and implement comprehensive plans to minimise downtime and safeguard critical data. They should work closely with you to assess vulnerabilities, identify potential risks, and design tailored strategies to ensure business continuity.

A dependable IT support team can help you create data backups, implement failover systems, and establish offsite data storage – to help you in case of hardware failures, natural disasters, or cyber threats.

Partnering with an IT solutions provider can give you peace of mind, knowing you are ready for such unfortunate events. Their swift response and recovery measures will ensure you can keep providing quality care without skipping a beat.

5. Get More Efficient with IT Consultancy Services

Healthcare IT support services are pivotal in identifying inefficiencies. Your IT consultant can bring a fresh perspective and deep industry knowledge to the table and work closely with you to analyse your existing IT systems, processes, and workflows.

By conducting a comprehensive audit, an MSP can identify areas for improvement and develop tailored strategies to streamline operations and maximise efficiency. Typical scenarios could look like this:

Scenario 1

An IT consultancy team worked closely with a hospital to optimise their EHR system. By conducting user interviews, observing workflows, and analysing data, the consultants identified bottlenecks and areas where the EHR was not fully utilised. They then proposed customised training programs to enhance staff proficiency and recommended software modifications to improve usability. As a result, the hospital experienced faster documentation, reduced errors, and increased staff satisfaction, ultimately leading to improved patient care.

Scenario 2

A healthcare IT consulting services firm partnered with a multi-location clinic to centralise their IT infrastructure. The consultants conducted a thorough assessment of the clinic’s network, hardware, and software systems. They identified redundant and outdated equipment, as well as inconsistent software versions across locations. Based on their findings, the consultants developed a roadmap for standardising the IT environment, implementing cloud-based solutions, and establishing secure remote access. This consolidation and modernisation effort resulted in improved data sharing, enhanced collaboration among healthcare providers, and reduced IT maintenance costs.

Medical practice IT solutions can bring valuable insights and expertise to healthcare organisations. By partnering with IT consultants, healthcare practices can unlock efficiency gains, improve patient care, and stay ahead in today’s technology-driven healthcare landscape.

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Relieve the Pain of Your IT with an “IT Care Team”

Healthcare professionals face various tech challenges that can hinder their delivery of quality patient care. An MSP can come to your rescue with IT solutions that will empower your healthcare practice to thrive – by managing complex IT infrastructures, ensuring data security, and providing proactive support.

Partnering with the right IT solutions provider can revolutionise the way you operate. With experts caring for your IT, you can also focus on caring for their patients.

If you want to find help for your IT needs, talk to a friendly technical specialist today or call 1300 361 984 to enquire. Whether you’re in Brisbane, Townsville, or elsewhere, we’re here to assist!

Life in a professional services business might seem constant to an outsider. However, like life in the quiet suburban neighbourhood at Ramsay Street in Neighbours, unpredictable things are bound to happen.

Just when you think everything is running well, a technical glitch or cyber incident can bring your business to a screeching halt. While drama keeps the long-running soap running, it’s what you want to avoid in business.

That’s why we’ve put together strategies to handle the unexpected, such as a data breach, so you can minimise downtime and ensure business continuity in your professional services business.

Included in this article:

• Industry snapshot of Professional Services in Australia
• “Downtime” and “business continuity” defined
• Unplanned downtime in a Professional Services setting
• The consequences of unplanned downtime
• Strategies for downtime reduction in your business
• How to create a Business Continuity Plan for a Professional Services firm

Industry snapshot of Professional Services in Australia

The Professional, Scientific, Technical Services industry includes 269,115 businesses that employ more than 1.2 million people. Most of them work in IT, accounting, legal services, and architectural engineering and technical services.

Between 2018 and 2023, Australian professional services revenue has grown to above $263 billion. Over 75% of this came from Engineering Consulting, Management Consulting, Legal Services and Accounting Services.

While things look good overall, the professional services industry is a “potentially valuable target” for cyber criminals, according to Consultancy.com.au. One report found that certain prolific adversaries are known to target professional services firms, causing unwanted downtime.

“Downtime” and “business continuity” defined

“Downtime” is the time when a machine or device (such as a computer) is “not in operation, especially as the result of a malfunction,” or when a network or cloud-based resource is not available or inaccessible. In general, downtime can include all non-productive time, due to any cause.

“Business continuity” refers to the ability of a business or organisation to continue operating and servicing its customers in the event of disruptions or unexpected events that could potentially impact its normal operations, such as a power outage, IT malfunction or major disaster. When business continuity measures are implemented, downtime is minimised.

Unplanned downtime in a Professional Services setting

Businesses in the professional services industry can be significantly affected by downtime caused by:

• Technical issues – server crashes, network failures, software glitches, or hardware malfunctions.
• Cyberattacks – cyber security threats such as malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, or data breaches.
• Human error – accidentally deleting files, mishandling equipment, or misconfiguring systems.
• Natural disasters – floods, fires, earthquakes, or severe weather.

Any of these can cause downtime and affect normal business operations.

The consequences of unplanned downtime

Natural disasters can cause physical damage, disrupt power supply, and affect communication networks. On the other hand, technical issues and cyber incidents can cause major disruptions because professional services rely heavily on technology.

Whatever the cause of work stoppage or slowdown, the business will be affected. The consequences can be severe, depending on the extent and duration of the downtime, and may include:

• Loss of revenue
• Decreased productivity
• Damage to reputation
• Security risks
• Increased costs
• Legal and regulatory compliance risks

These effects can be far-reaching, so it is important to take steps to prevent downtime and to prepare contingency plans.

Strategies for downtime reduction in your business

To minimise the negative impacts of unplanned downtime, your professional services firm can undertake the following strategies.

Implement preventive maintenance

Regular maintenance of equipment and systems, including computer hardware and software, can help prevent unplanned downtime due to equipment failure or malfunction.

Preventive maintenance includes installing software updates and patches, replacing old or outdated hardware, and proactively addressing any issues. A bonus side effect of preventive maintenance is it can help extend the lifespan of IT equipment and systems, improve performance, and reduce repair and replacement costs.

Conduct risk assessments

Regular risk assessments of your IT infrastructure can identify vulnerabilities and strategies to mitigate risks. When you are aware of those, you can prepare for updating hardware and software, implementing stronger security protocols, and prioritising areas for improvement.

Aside from minimising downtime, this can also protect your business’ systems and data, and ensure continuity while complying with industry regulations.

Invest in backup systems

It is wise to have redundant data storage such as cloud-based storage or off-site backups. They can help ensure data can be quickly restored in case of a system failure or data loss. Make sure you take regular backups of critical data, then regularly test and update these backup systems to ensure that they are functioning as intended.

Monitor systems and processes

Regular monitoring of systems and processes can help detect potential IT issues before they escalate into major problems.

There is a range of IT management tools and solutions you can consider, such as network monitoring software and performance analytics tools. These can provide real-time monitoring and alerts on system health, identifying potential issues before they result in downtime or service disruptions.

Provide staff training

Providing staff with regular training can help you minimise the likelihood of unplanned downtime due to human error. You can develop training programs about cyber security awareness, proper use of equipment, safety procedures, and emergency protocols.

Depending on your objectives, you can utilise a number of training methods such as in-person sessions, online learning platforms, or one-on-one coaching sessions with more experienced staff members.

Keep training relevant by regularly reviewing and updating them so they remain effective in addressing emerging threats and technologies.

Develop a business continuity plan

This is one of the most important best practices to reduce downtime and/or its impact on your business. Create a business continuity plan that outlines strategies for responding to and recovering from unplanned downtime.

How to create a Business Continuity Plan for a Professional Services firm

Unplanned downtime is a huge challenge that can be costly and disruptive, so it is essential to create a business continuity plan. Here are some things to consider when creating one:

1. Identify critical components.

Start with identifying the elements that are crucial to your business. This includes the essential systems, processes, and people.

After identifying these critical components, create a plan to maintain or restore them in the event of unplanned downtime. This could include backup systems, redundant servers, or alternative work arrangements for employees.

2. Test your plan regularly.

This is like conducting emergency drills. Emergency systems, facilities, and equipment are not useful if they do not work in real situations. It is therefore crucial to ensure that your business continuity plan works effectively.

Schedule regular tests and simulations to identify any weaknesses in your plan and make any necessary adjustments. Doing so can help you avoid costly surprises during an actual emergency.

3. Communicate your plan.

Your business continuity plan is only effective if everyone knows what to do during an emergency. Make sure that your employees are aware of the plan and their roles in it.

Inform your suppliers and customers of any changes to your operations during downtime to help them adjust their plans and minimise any impact on their business. Provide your customers with timely and accurate information about delays or disruptions to your products or services.

Keeping all your stakeholders informed and updated can also help to maintain trust.

Implement a Disaster Recovery Solution & Business Continuity Plan Today

While TV shows intentionally integrate unexpected events into the plot, your goal should be to avoid unplanned downtimes from happening. Now, a disaster recovery solution can’t eliminate downtime as some of the causes may be out of your hands, but with a plan in place, it can help minimise the effects to your business.

Imagine getting an email saying you no longer have access to your client files and financial data. Worse, the cyber criminals are asking you for money and they will release the data back to you once you pay.

Maybe you’re thinking, “We’re just a small non-profit – hackers won’t bother with us.”

But that’s exactly what happened to a small non-profit called Little Red Door. They did not pay the ransom, though, thinking they had no sensitive information anyway. However, it took them months to rebuild their client data.

But what can you do if your resources and IT knowledge are limited? How can you reduce the risk of a data breach or any similar cyber-attack?

If you haven’t got a cyber security solution in place just yet, here are some cyber security best practices that you can implement today to help protect your organisation.

Cybersecurity Tip #1: Use a Password Management App

Yes, you’ve heard it before (and probably multiple times) that maybe you’re tuning out this advice. Still, the simplest thing you can do immediately is to require everyone in your organisation to use complex passwords. That means no more using your pet’s name and your date of birth ??‍♂️

But with complex passwords comes the challenge of recalling them. That’s where a password management app can help with storing and even generating passwords.

Cybersecurity Tip #2: Use multi-factor authentication

Adding a step just to log into your own account can be annoying. However, the few seconds it takes you to do this is worth extra layer of protection against unauthorised log-ins.

The process to set it up is also simple as well, so you might as well make this part of your security policy for all devices that your staff use for work.

Cybersecurity Tip #3: Update your software routinely

Failing to update software regularly can leave security holes that cybercriminals can exploit. Keeping software up-to-date should be a standard rule in your business. It can be automated in many cases, so it may not require significant effort from staff and can reduce the risk of human error.

Cybersecurity Tip #4: Train staff regularly

Just as cyber criminals are getting better at what they do, you should help your team get better at recognising cyber threats. You can do this by providing online security training to staff on a regular basis.

This does not have to be a one-time thing. You can create a training plan to ensure that all staff get updated about cyber security every few weeks or so.

Cybersecurity Tip #5: Restrict admin privileges

Limiting administrative privileges is one of the most important cyber security measures. Yet, we often find many businesses with users that have unnecessary elevated privileges. The more users with admin access, the greater the security risk to your business. So, unless it is critical to their role (i.e. they can’t work without it), users should not have admin access.

Start by auditing who has access and evaluating whether they require access. If you’re unsure, talk to your Managed IT Services provider, they can help you identify who really needs the keys to your kingdom.

Cybersecurity Tip #6: Conduct vendor due diligence

Review the security and maintenance practices of third-party vendors. You may do this annually via due diligence coordination meetings with vendors. This can help you to monitor and audit vendor compliance with your requirements.

It’s also important that you review contracts with third-party vendors and ensure they include clear cybersecurity requirements and protocols. This can protect you from potential vulnerabilities or breaches originating from third-party vendors.

Cybersecurity Tip #7: Develop a risk mindset

Encourage your staff to question unusual events and quickly investigate potential fraud. It may require some training and ongoing education to reinforce such mindset, but it will be well worth the time and effort you put into it.

By developing a risk mindset within your organisation, you will be empowering your staff to be the first line of defence against cyber threats. This will help to create a culture of security awareness.

Cybersecurity Tip #8: Don’t wait – you can fortify your security right now

Don’t let the “cyber” in “cyber threats” deceive you into thinking that they only happen in cyberspace, or that they can only happen to others. Cyber threats are real, and they can affect businesses as well as our everyday lives.

Because the impact of cyber incidents can be costly and damaging in more ways than one (as Little Red Door had probably realised), the measures advised in this article should be done right now, if possible.

Talk to our friendly team today of cyber security experts – we’re only a message or call 1300 361 984 away! Whether you’re in Brisbane, Townsville, or beyond, we’re here to help!