• Health Tech

Why Epic EHR Customers Would Choose Microsoft for Cloud Solutions

March 27, 2023

• Microsoft has invested heavily in healthcare technology and offers highly scalable, reliable, and secure healthcare-specific tools and services, such as Azure API for FHIR.
• Microsoft has a strong reputation for security and compliance, complying with industry-specific regulations such as HIPAA and HITRUST, providing peace of mind to healthcare organizations.
• Microsoft’s cloud services offer significant cost savings compared to on-premises solutions and can be customized to meet the specific needs of healthcare organizations, providing flexibility and control.

Cloud computing has recently been a potent security tool in healthcare, particularly when maintaining electronic health records (EHRs). As a result, numerous EHR vendors now provide cloud-based EHR solutions through partnerships with significant cloud service providers. When choosing one of them to move their systems to the cloud, many Epic EHR customers frequently select Microsoft.

So, why are Epic EHR customers turning to Microsoft for their cloud needs? There are several reasons.

First, a March 21, 2023 report by KLAS Research has found that health systems are actively investigating and planning next to support their EHR environment in the cloud and interest in this approach is gaining momentum, particularly among Epic organizations.

Microsoft has invested significantly in cloud-based healthcare technology recently. As a result, healthcare organizations are considering the tech company because of the use of Microsoft in other areas of their business. These solutions can assist healthcare organizations in managing and securely exchanging health data in the cloud.

The healthcare sector prioritizes security and compliance, and Microsoft has a solid reputation in these areas. Microsoft has invested a lot in data privacy and security, and its cloud services abide by industry-specific rules like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and HITRUST (Health Information Trust Alliance). Healthcare organizations need to know that their data is secure and that their systems adhere to accepted industry standards as the cyberattacks on healthcare systems increase.

Additionally, Microsoft’s cloud services provide significant cost reductions over on-premises options. By switching to the cloud, healthcare organizations won’t have to spend money on costly servers and infrastructure, along with the maintenance, resources and upgrade expenses that go along with it. Alternatively, companies can pay for cloud services through a subscription, saving them much more money over time.

Last but not least, Microsoft’s cloud services offer a great degree of customization and may be adjusted to fit the unique requirements of healthcare businesses. Customers of Epic EHR, who frequently have complex requirements, should pay particular attention to this. The flexibility and control offered by Microsoft’s cloud services can be tailored to fit these needs.

Hence, it is not unexpected that many Epic EHR users utilize Microsoft for their cloud requirements. Microsoft is a secure option for healthcare organizations wishing to shift their EHR systems to the cloud due to their strong focus on healthcare technology, solid reputation for security and compliance, cost savings, and customizable solutions. Future cooperation between EHR suppliers and cloud providers might be anticipated as the healthcare sector adopts cloud computing.

Sources:
https://klasresearch.com/report/approaches-to-moving-epic-in-the-cloud-2023-which-public-cloud-providers-are-early-movers-considering/3124
Why health systems pick Microsoft for the cloud over Amazon and Google (beckershospitalreview.com)
Why Epic EHR customers are leaning toward Microsoft for the cloud (beckershospitalreview.com)