Guide to examples of cloud computing in healthcare

Editor's note

Cloud computing in healthcare has long been viewed with skepticism, with providers especially cautious of entrusting protected health information (PHI) to outside entities. But with several other industries moving to the cloud, many in healthcare started to come around to the idea that, just maybe, this technology could benefit them as well. The fact that cloud service providers can often afford to make larger investments in critical areas like security served to sweeten the pot.

Despite the initial wariness toward cloud computing in healthcare, many CIOs and other decision-makers are dipping a toe into the water by moving non-critical systems to the cloud. There is still much potential to be discovered, with one of the most promising use cases as a possible solution to the lack of nationwide interoperability. However, healthcare organizations should be sure to evaluate their needs before moving partially or fully into the cloud.