The healthcare world is reliant on infrastructure and technology, both for patient care and documentation purposes. Depending on the practice, this hardware can be straightforward and practical. PCs to schedule appointments, devices to transcribe encounter documentation, and places to store visit data, physical or otherwise.
The thing is, some practices get stuck in a comfort zone. It’s all working, why fix it? This is true, of course, and knowledge of legacy hardware keeps things running smoothly. Familiarity is necessary with medical treatments. However, there are certain points where legacy infrastructure runs into hurdles. Processing time and security, for example, are two serious concerns as time goes on.
For example, legacy systems are increasingly vulnerable to cybercrime and cybersecurity breaches. Older operating systems, apps, and programs do not have the same security updates as their newer counterparts, and in a breach event, serious fallout and loss of protected health information (PHI) are possible. Though, this isn’t to suggest you have to swerve directions and buy a bunch of new expensive technology and software. In fact, much like holding on to aging infrastructure, rapidly changing too fast is equally as problematic.
There’s a learning curve to every new system and process. Adopt it too quickly and you add confusion into the mix, plus the complications of learning new systems. Where does the data go at that time? How are services affected during the transition? It’s important to find a middle ground.
Just as well, however, sticking to the “old” because it’s familiar can have long-term consequences, too. So how can you jumpstart upgrades to legacy infrastructure without compromising your medical services?
Reasons to consider updating legacy infrastructure
Businesses and networks of all sizes upgrade their IT-based infrastructure for different reasons. In the medical sector, it’s a little different since patient data is extremely important to protect. Beyond the need for better defense and security, other considerations should be taken when seeking replacements for legacy systems.
- Increasing network and service agility, since legacy hardware and software are prone to slowdown and system failures
- Legislative and regulatory requirements, such as cybersecurity, HIPAA, and IT laws will require certain procedures for data which may require an update to legacy infrastructure
- Improvements to customer service, since older hardware (like phones) can create lags in response time and potentially impact brand strength
- Need for enhanced patient care devices, software, and hardware
- More accessibility and interaction with modern technology, such as access to greater wireless speeds, cloud storage, and file sharing
- Legacy hardware continuously raises the risk of failure
And those are just a handful, too. Today is all about speed, mobility, and accessibility.
Dragon Medical One and infrastructure
While the “old ways” of doing things can feel comfortable, eventually, some techniques in a medical environment give out. Healthcare professionals need every advantage they can get, and shouldn’t be slowed down by dated infrastructure.
Every practice and business is unique, so not every update path will work the same way. But, there is something you can do now to improve your current performance and stay ahead of the medical demand curve. Dragon Medical One is a medical dictation software, and that’s invaluable to a medical practice, small or large.
That’s the key advantage of Dragon One, specifically as dictation software. It addresses various problems of legacy infrastructure, bringing your practice up to speed without the need for abrupt switches in hardware or software. How’s that possible? Primarily, by expediting the record-keeping process during and after patient visits.
Dictation software, specifically Dragon Medical One, offers precision accuracy. During appointments, this is a massive benefit, since healthcare professionals are burdened by paperwork demands, often cutting into their ability to provide the best care possible. Spending time away from work and on a form bleeds into issues like stress and burnout, so taking control with tools and resources proves useful.
But how does that update legacy infrastructure? While it’s not as direct as say replacing the main computer in a front office, it deals with many processes that involve recording, data, and patient info, all of which fall under legacy infrastructure.
While total overhauls to current hardware and operations aren’t necessary, it is important to routinely update. Doing so avoids security hurdles and interruptions with patient care.
For more on Dragon One dictation capabilities, give us a call at 833-341-1411, or start your Dragon Medical One free trial now!
