Nearly half of all independent physicians who participated in the 2015 Independent Physician Outlook Survey stated that they are likely to sell their practices to a large healthcare provider and leave the industry within the next decade. The ACA (Affordable Care Act), also known as “Obamacare” has created a very uncertain future for independent physicians across the country. This highly autonomous group of medical professionals now faces several new pressures that, when combined, create a scenario in which remaining independent seems like an unattainable goal.
The two most pressing issues currently facing independent practitioners, according to the survey, are rising costs combined with decreasing pressure on the practice’s reimbursement rates. While the picture looks bleak on the surface, the reality is that costs can be managed effectively with careful spending on technology. Careful consideration of the need to acquire newer technology to meet the electronic medical records / electronic medical records (EHR / EMR) mandates under the ACA can be part of the solution.
While some healthcare providers see EHR / EHR as an implementation headache and additional expense, many clinicians do not realize that digitally stored patient data is one of the most valuable assets to physicians. they have access because this data helps improve decisions that can have a positive impact on the bottom line of their practices. Similarly, EHR / EMR is truly changing the healthcare industry in a positive way, working as a catalyst for digital transformation within healthcare organizations of all sizes.
As digital migration continues, new opportunities are being created for the delivery of innovative healthcare products and services in the process, all made possible by the availability of web services in the private and secure cloud environments where information from Patient health can also be shared with Authorized Parties and entities for collaborative care.
The biggest barrier to adoption comes from clinicians lacking in-house IT support and not knowing what their technology options are. In their rush, many turn to well-known brands in hopes of finding the solutions and service they need to be successful. Unfortunately, these options can leave a lot to be desired if problems arise or staff training is needed. The obvious choice is to partner with a smaller technology vendor that offers the same secure and reliable data management solutions without a formidable price tag and, in most cases, a better and more personalized support team than you do. large providers can offer.
Clinicians can harness the power of cloud computing in their own practices to run a more efficient and profitable organization by incorporating products like our customizable hosted network-attached storage (NAS) solutions into their office management platform. . Migration to the cloud for healthcare providers is one of the fastest growing segments of our business these days and we are committed to providing all the technology independent physicians need not only to survive, but to thrive in these challenging conditions. and those that will come in the future. .