Nickolo Villanueva of VCPI, a technology service provider at the marcus evans LTC & Senior Living CXO Summit Spring 2015, on cloud technology in the healthcare space.
NEW YORK, NY, Feb 4, 2015 - (ACN Newswire) - Many long-term care (LTC) providers have considered using cloud technologies as part of their Information Technology (IT) delivery infrastructure, but the question is: do they have the strategic view, expertise and budget to manage and support it on their own? "A majority of the time, it is not cost-effective to service, support, maintain and manage clouds in-house, especially in the LTC industry where everyone is working within very tight margins," says Nickolo Villanueva, Director of Engineering, VCPI.
A leading technology solutions provider exclusively to the LTC industry, VCPI is taking part in the marcus evans LTC & Senior Living CXO Summit Spring 2015, in Los Angeles, California, February 9-10. At the Summit, Villanueva will be leading a discussion on the topic of cloud technology in this space.
- What concerns do healthcare providers have about implementing cloud technologies?
Their concerns, both real and perceived, are mostly around security and privacy. They have different notions of cloud computing, which can be an off-premise or on-premise centralized network of computers, storage and servers, or a hybrid of the two.
For healthcare providers, a private cloud offers a more secure environment. As with most types of cloud solutions, this minimizes the amount of data stored locally and provides flexibility on the types of devices caregivers use while leveraging an infrastructure that is closed to the public. This is a key component today, not only for data management but for audit purposes.
- Is this just about having the right IT infrastructure?
No. Simply having the servers, storage and network is not a solution in and of itself. You need the expertise to manage the design, the servers, security and devices, as well as the discipline and processes to keep your environment in compliance.
Keep in mind you also need the right portfolio of applications. With the varied amount of legacy and home grown applications, this lends to the complexity of the design. A cloud solution is simply part of the answer.
- In the healthcare sector, should clouds be managed in-house? What is the most cost-effective solution?
First and foremost, LTC providers live with a large amount of uncertainty in the applications they use. The introduction of EMR, telemedicine and new applications often changes the number of users and the types of devices those users use to deliver care or document their work.
In most cases, it is not cost-effective to do this in-house. LTC providers cannot have all the technical support and service maintenance experts needed to maintain it properly. They are working on very tight margins to do that! One of the reasons why we are successful is because we operate on a shared-cost model where large capital investments are not required of providers.
Besides managing the cloud, the in-house experts would also need to consider what the next six to 18 months hold and what changes they will need to make. Very few providers have the budget to do that on their own.
This is more than just about the technology or use of applications, but about securing data, best practices for provisioning and audits. Most operators do not have the experience and tool set needed to actually govern these.
- How does this infrastructure impact reimbursement?
While it can be argued that a cloud infrastructure directly impact reimbursements, there are some components of it that can certainly help. First, a cloud allows for greater device diversity including tablets, COWS, kiosks, laptops and traditional workstations. The right device type means better adoption rates leading to higher reimbursements for ADLs. Second, cloud scalability means you are never waiting for capacity. Newly acquired facilities can be on boarded much more quickly and EMR implementation projects completed quicker because you are not constrained by in-house IT infrastructure.
A consistent application stack delivered through a cloud helps drive organizational efficiencies and consistent processes. A well-defined workflow is key to maximizing ADLs.
About the LTC & Senior Living CXO Summit Spring 2015
The 8th Long-Term Care & Senior Living CXO Summit is the premium forum bringing senior level executives and solution providers together. The Summit offers an intimate environment for a focused discussion of key new drivers shaping the long-term care industry. Taking place at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, California, February 9-10, 2015, the Summit includes presentations on improving efficiency and profit margins, reimbursement management and strategy, catering for the baby boomers and reducing readmissions.
For more information please send an email to press@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website at www.longtermcaresummit.com/NickoloVillanuevaInterview1
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About VCPI
Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, VCPI's customized IT solutions solve business challenges inherent in the long-term and post-acute health care (LTPAC) industry and enable clients to focus on taking care of patients and residents. Our nationwide client base relies on VCPI experts to deliver innovative and LTPAC-exclusive solutions. Founded in 2000, VCPI (Virtual Care Provider(SM)) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Extendicare, Inc. www.vcpi.com.
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