4 Myths about Cloud Medical Software in Australia

We’re hearing a lot about cloud-based medical software in Australia, but how much of it is actually true? If you don’t have a deep understanding of technology, it can be difficult to know what to believe, especially if you’re trying to choose the best practice management software for your healthcare organisation. 

While cloud technology has been around for a while, there are a number of myths and misunderstandings that can make practices reluctant to switch from their existing on-premise software. The cloud is not going to be right for everyone, but if you have accurate information you can make an informed decision that’s right for your practice.

Here are four things you might have heard about cloud-based medical software in Australia that aren’t actually true.

1. Cloud is expensive. While there are initial setup costs and yearly subscription costs, in many cases the cloud can save you money. To start with, you need less infrastructure with the cloud – there’s no server to buy and maintain, and because the cloud can be accessed from any device, you can get away with less hardware. Cloud can also potentially help save money in other ways by improving efficiency and giving your staff a more flexible way to work which can help with staff retention and improve productivity. Again, this can help reduce your recruitment and hiring costs, saving you money over the long term. 

2. Cloud is not very secure. A reputable cloud platform can be more secure than on-premise software. Cloud providers hire security experts to manage their data security, identify potential threats and take swift action if a vulnerability is detected. In contrast, most on premise servers are managed by the practice or a third party IT provider, who may not have the expertise and resources to implement the same level of security. 

The cloud is complicated to use. In many cases the cloud can simplify your business processes. Most cloud software is designed to be intuitive and easy to use so your staff can perform their regular tasks in the most efficient way. With other benefits like automated updates, fuss free backups and access from anywhere, many practices find the cloud is easier to use than their previous on premise software.

1. It’s hard to scale using the cloud. In reality, cloud software is highly scalable. With minimum requirements for infrastructure, scaling up is as easy as adding new users to your account. Once employees leave, you can just delete them to remove their access to your systems. Because cloud software doesn’t require an on premise server you don’t need to worry about upgrading your server or infrastructure to keep up with the added load when you scale up. It’s easy to scale up and down, making cloud software is the ideal solution for practices that need a flexible software solution.

Whether you’re starting a new practice, or you’re considering upgrading from on-premise to cloud medical software in Australia, it’s important to do your research. Once you understand how the different options work you can find the right solution for your practice.