As technology’s role in the healthcare industry becomes more prominent with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) software, digital patient databases and more, individual healthcare providers too need to keep up with the latest trends to deliver better patient care. This is why an increasing majority of healthcare organizations are turning to Managed IT Services: to lower costs, streamline business processes, and improve productivity. And while the idea of outsourcing your IT is a growing one, the services and level of support offered by IT vendors is not always the same.
As such, here are a few questions your healthcare organization should ask before partnering with an MSP:
Do they guarantee response times?
With that in mind, you should always ensure that your provider guarantees fast response times, and that you’re able to contact them round-the-clock.
Do they support a business continuity plan?
With data breaches in the healthcare sector on the rise, you risk putting your organization in jeopardy if your IT vendor cannot assist in recovery of valuable medical data from a major cyberattack or natural disaster. A business continuity plan, then, becomes an absolute must.
If your MSP does not have a state-of-the-art disaster recovery plan in place with your data being stored on multiple on-premise and off-premise servers, then it’s almost a guarantee they won’t be able to restore your data without extensive recovery costs, or major downtime.
Are they proactive?
A good Managed Services Provider acts as an extension of your business instead of just a partner. This means they should proactively manage your IT infrastructure to avoid daily technology troubles, minimize unpredictable break/fix costs, and eliminate downtime.
Being proactive also has other advantages for your healthcare organization. Since your IT will be handled by a team of certified technicians, it allows you to focus on your patients, meaning better care provided to them. You’ll also experience the joys of high network uptimes and ongoing protection from malicious cyberthreats.
Do they properly document work so that you have accurate and complete records?
As a healthcare organization, you already know the importance of documentation. Similar to this, in the tech world, appropriate documentation provides visibility into your relationship with the MSP and also ensures that you stay aware of the work that is being done for your organization.
You can also use reports to stay in control of your environment, gain insight on how your IT vendor is accessing your information, and trace any issues back to their original source if the need to do so arises.
Do they understand compliance regulations?
In the world of healthcare data security, aligning your practice with HIPAA compliance mandates is essential. Failing to meet regulations may result in huge fines, serious penalties, and even the withdrawal of your license to operate.
The ideal Managed Services Provider should offer core security services that include identity-based security and encryption, authorized privileges and access control, and data accountability and integrity. An easy way to ensure that your Managed Services Provider understands these regulations is to find one who has experience in working with healthcare organizations.
