Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is the technology that allows multiple users to access the same cloud-based virtual desktop via any internet-enabled device. The DaaS providers also maintain and upgrade the environment regularly.
Some of its benefits include:
- Increased accessibility: The central desktop is accessible from any remote location
- High Scalability: Cloud-based services are easy to scale. An organization will not have to sink costs into buying physical servers, desktops, and workspaces. Further, changes in the size of the workforce can be easily accommodated.
- Increased Security and Better Risk Management: All of the organization’s vital resources (data, applications, etc.) are hosted online, thus insulating them from the risk of physical theft, damage, and loss due to natural disasters. In the event of a contingency, recovery protocols are easy to plan and implement.
DaaS and the Healthcare Industry
Owing to its versatility, DaaS is a solution implemented in a plethora of industries. The healthcare industry has especially benefited from the application of DaaS.
Telemedicine:
According to the International Labour Organization, there is a large urban-rural gap when it comes to healthcare access. While half the world’s population lives in rural areas, only 24% of the physicians serve them. DaaS has helped healthcare professionals take a giant stride towards improved coverage.
It connects community clinics to specialists across the world. A patient’s history and vital reports – such as temperature, heart rate, and blood sugar levels are transmitted on a real-time basis, allowing physicians to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment.
Trial Data Management:
Clinical trial data is collected at sites of trial and stored in centralized servers. Data such as patient histories, drug dosage, and side effects play a vital role in determining the efficacy of a drug. Trials are expensive, and data gives the company an advantage over competitors.
Thus, the integrity and security of such data cannot be compromised. DaaS has proven its reliability in providing seamless access to stakeholders – from trial officials to drug approval authorities during the drug development phase. Subsequently, clinical trial data is maintained and licensed to manufacturers.
Improved Diagnosis:
Diagnosis and prognosis, especially in oncology, depend heavily on high-resolution medical imaging. Radiologists must know the exact location and size of malignant tissue in order to determine the strength and dosage of the administered radiation.
Images stored in a hospital’s Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) could earlier only be viewed through dedicated workstations with higher processing power.
DaaS virtualizes such workstations, enabling healthcare workers to access high-resolution images on their portable devices. Patients can now get a quick, reliable diagnosis, thus saving precious time and increasing their chances of survival multi-fold.
Efficient Patient Management:
Outpatients comprise a significant portion of the hospital business. However, registering a patient can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Front desk workers need to collect names, contact details, insurance details, patient history, and demographics, among other data.
DaaS creates a virtual front desk for public access – enabling patients to self-register with accurate details. It saves time, improves scheduling, and avoids unnecessary hassle to the patients.
Preventive Healthcare:
Healthcare data is stored and collected by multiple devices, both by the hospital and the patient. Such data can be analyzed to predict when people may need the next appointment, for how long they may be hospitalized, and what therapy they might require.
For instance, consider patients in the dialysis department of a hospital – they often visit and for fixed durations. This information allows efficient utilization of dialysis machines. DaaS helps by allowing data to be analyzed by experts without compromising on data security.
In conclusion
DaaS has tremendous potential for value addition in the healthcare environment. It raises productivity, reduces costs, and enables innovative solutions through collaboration. In years to come, it will be the sine qua non of the healthcare industry.