The business of health care now requires a technological foundation, even in the smallest practices. It is always a balancing act to get the tech you need, protect health records, and keep costs down.
Here are some of the ways things have changed over the years and how medical offices are using technology to drive their business. The benefits can be great. All of it, however, depends on reliable business internet service.
Business Phone Service
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has come a long way in the past few years. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant options are now readily available. Business Voice from LOGIX uses the Transport Layer Security 1.2 protocol, which adds a layer of encryption to the data packets sent and received over the internet and prevents interception by unauthorized users.
VoIP business phone service also provides a wealth of benefits – a lower overall total cost of ownership, as well as:
- Cost savings. Lower monthly phone bills, no expensive hardware and no additional maintenance costs.
- Enhanced mobility. Calls can follow you wherever you are working.
- Advanced features. Advanced calling features you need at no additional cost.
- Scalability. Add or change phone lines or service rapidly when things change.
Electronic Medical Records
As the medical profession continues embracing electronic health records (EHRs) and electronic medical records (EMRs), more data is being gathered and stored electronically using secure Wi-Fi connections in the office. Slow internet and downtime can slow down your entire practice.
And with EHRs and EMRs increasingly stored in the cloud or shared between offices, the ability to work efficiently requires lightning-fast business internet. Business internet providers will give you synchronous speeds, which means you will have the same fast upload speeds that you get for downloading. Most cable companies and residential internet service providers throttle upload speeds. With the amount of data being pushed and pulled, you cannot afford slow upload speeds.
LOGIX Fiber Networks understands the unique needs of the health care industry. As Texas’ leading business internet provider, we know the importance of privacy when it comes to personally identifiable information, EHRs and EMRs. Our fiber network lets you encrypt data, control access to only authorized users, and create the audit trail you need to demonstrate compliance.
Patient Interactions
No-shows cost health care systems in the U.S. more than $150 billion annually. Individual physicians can see losses of $200 per hour when patients miss appointments. Besides telehealth, many health care facilities use technology to improve engagement and reduce no-shows. They take a multiplatform approach to patient communication, using calls, texts and emails to remind patients of appointments and follow-ups.
Many have launched self-help portals. Patients can track appointments and view results and treatments online. It is possible to automatically generate reminders and notices. Patients scheduling themselves into open times can also lessen the workload for the front desk.
Telehealth
During the pandemic, more patients and health care providers met through virtual visits than ever before. The Center for Disease Control estimates an increase of 154% in telehealth visits in the early days of COVID-19 and a 50% overall increase year over year.
With more insurance companies offering telehealth as a covered option, patients have more access to health care. Telehealth reduces no-shows for health care providers and supplements income streams.
Medical offices are also conducting more video calls with patients and other providers. It takes a robust, reliable and secure business internet to power telemedicine.
The Reliable Business Internet That Your Medical Practice Needs
When considering business internet providers, one thing you need to know is that there is a big difference.
If you work with one of the national internet providers, a cable company or a residential internet provider, there are significant limitations. These companies typically share internet connections with neighboring businesses (or even neighborhoods), which can slow down your service when others are online and even make your data more vulnerable.
Dedicated Fiber
What you need is a dedicated fiber connection – the most secure connection you can get. LOGIX has more than 300,000 fiber miles throughout Texas. With LOGIX, you get your own dedicated connection that you are not sharing with your neighbors. You are getting a dedicated, private and secure connection to the cloud.
Reliability
Fiber is simply more reliable. Residential carriers and national providers suffer from regular outages. If your service goes out, it can be difficult to get in touch with someone to fix things.
With LOGIX, you get unparalleled reliability and support. You will see 99.999% uptime, which equates to less than 6 minutes of downtime a year – guaranteed in writing. LOGIX has a Texas-based network operations center that monitors the network for performance and reliability.
Texas customer support and local technicians are nearby in case any problems arise. You will not have to call some support center halfway across the country and deal with subcontractors.
LOGIX Fiber Networks is Built for Business
LOGIX provides a variety of service levels from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps and higher, as well as robust VoIP solutions to power your practice.
If you are looking for the best business internet and business phone service, choose LOGIX Fiber Networks. Contact LOGIX today to request a quote.