Healthcare delivery is poised to undergo a paradigm shift as a result of the convergence of cloud computing and Healthcare 5.0, which promises to revolutionize patient care. In order to enable Healthcare 5.0, a patient-centric strategy that combines cutting-edge technologies and data-driven insights to customize healthcare experiences, this chapter serves as an introduction to the transformative potential of cloud computing. Beginning with a thorough explanation of cloud computing's fundamental principles, architecture, and distinguishing features, the chapter moves on to its main points. Introduced is the idea of healthcare 5.0, emphasizing its emphasis on patient empowerment, personalized medicine, and the harmonious fusion of medical knowledge and technology. By utilizing telemedicine, cloud-based data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), Healthcare 5.0 seeks to go beyond the conventional one-size-fits-all method of providing healthcare services.
Top1. Introduction
A Hospital Information System (HIS) comprises a multitude of intricate software applications that play a pivotal role in managing health-related information. These software applications prove invaluable in efficiently orchestrating various operational, legal, and financial aspects within a healthcare organization(R. Kavitha, and V. Hariram,2023). Within the HIS framework, crucial activities such as patient scheduling, admissions, discharges, and health record management take center stage. Furthermore, functional modules encompassing human resources, payroll, as well as accounts receivables and payables are integral components of the HIS, enhancing the healthcare organization's ability to streamline day-to-day operations.
Notably, the healthcare sector is transitioning from traditional paper-based processes to paperless transactions, driven by compliance requirements such as HIPAA. Remarkably, only a mere 1.8 percent of hospitals in the United States have fully embraced electronic medical records (EMR) systems, largely due to budgetary constraints. Healthcare institutions aspire to augment service quality through the adoption of information technology, but financial limitations are a pressing concern(S. Archana Shreee, G. Jeevitha Sai, 2023).
Tata Consulting Service (TCS) conducted a global survey to assess cloud adoption across various industries in the USA. Interestingly, the healthcare sector emerges as the slowest adopter among all segments, primarily attributed to a shortage of skilled resources for deploying cloud computing solutions(M. Kranthi, and R. C. Tanguturi,2023). The integration of cloud computing is poised to enhance administrative efficiency and curtail IT infrastructure expenses within healthcare organizations. With Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems seamlessly implemented via cloud technology, patient records become accessible from anywhere, facilitating communication between doctors and patients on health-related matters.
The intrinsic characteristics of cloud computing, including agility, scalability, pay-as-you-go pricing models, and cost-effectiveness, are poised to empower hospital administrations, significantly reducing capital investments and implementation timelines for cutting-edge IT solutions(R. C. Tanguturi, L. and V. C. H, 2023).
Cloud computing leverages the internet to offer shared access to software, hardware, infrastructure, storage, and development platforms. It encompasses various services, such as Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). In the cloud computing landscape, different deployment models exist, including public, private, and hybrid setups(R. V. Mailapur and M. K, 2023). This innovative technology caters to clients' needs on-demand via the internet, operating on a pay-as-you-use model. Its adoption leads to cost savings on software and infrastructure, with the added benefit of reducing the need for in-house IT personnel, as cloud vendors manage IT operations.
Within the healthcare sector, characterized by data-intensive operations involving patient records, medical histories, staff details, and inter-departmental records for audit purposes, cloud computing proves invaluable. Often, discrepancies arise in patient medical histories across departments due to the absence of effective information-sharing systems(R. Kishore Kumar, Senthil Kamalesh, 2023). Cloud computing can bridge these gaps by facilitating inter-departmental data sharing in healthcare, thereby enhancing operational efficiency while curbing operational costs.