A new cloud computing platform gives users access to information they need to improve the overall quality of healthcare without the need to invest in expensive new infrastructure.
The new solution, unveiled by IBM, employs advanced analytics software by which information from multiple sources can be gathered to create a detailed patient record. Delivered through a cloud computing platform, the IBM approach combines information from electronic medical records, claims, medication and lab data with a health plan decision support system to produce more complete and accurate intelligence about patient care.
The cloud solution not only helps doctors collect, connect, analyze and act on all their information to improve a patient’s health, but it can help reduce spending on ineffective treatments and unnecessary tests. It can also help provide better insight for treating patients with chronic conditions such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and diabetes, which account for 80 percent of healthcare costs.
With all the healthcare data and IT resources managed in a cloud environment (rather than in-house) the system enables the coordination of patient care among teams, so doctors, nurses, therapists and pharmacists can easily access, share and address information about patients from a single source.
Through the cloud, users have access to all the tools without having to make significant upfront investments—avoiding the challenge of updating systems when guidelines or reporting requirements change.
Additionally, the solution provides advanced analytics that help physicians or employers measure performance against national quality standards.
“The healthcare industry is under tremendous pressure to reduce costs while improving quality of care,” said Robert Merkel, vice president healthcare industry leader, IBM Global Business Services. “[This solution] assists in achieving these goals by providing advanced clinical services that complement EMRs and removing the infrastructure costs by delivering these services through cloud computing.”
IBM is a member of the HPM Institute Advisory Board, a research and education entity formed by WellNet Healthcare and Healthcare Interactive (www.hpminstitute.org)
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Published in WellNet Source: http://www.wellnet.com/Cloud-Computing-Helps-Improve-Healthcare-Quality
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