4 Reasons Healthcare Companies are Going Google

Significant changes in the healthcare industry have made adoption of information technology more critical than ever. The government has implemented Meaningful Use, which offers providers financial incentives for integrating Electronic Health Records (EHR) into their programs. In addition, the HIPAA Acts mandate standards for the security and privacy of individual health information, with hefty penalties attached to infractions, intentional or not.

It's no surprise, then, that providers have been quick to embrace Google Apps for Healthcare Companies. Timeliness and accuracy with medical records can literally become a life-or-death matter, so it's vital that doctors and support personnel have effective software solutions that are easily accessible, yet secure enough to safeguard sensitive data.

Here are four compelling reasons why providers are going all in with Google Apps for Healthcare Companies.

1. Strong support for HIPAA compliance

Maintaining HIPAA compliance with a provider's EHR can quickly tax the IT department and local infrastructure. Google Apps for Healthcare Companies operate on a cloud platform, which features liberal storage for all records along with state-of-the-art security certifications such as ISO 27001 for maximum safety.

Google's HIPAA-compliant coverage encompasses Gmail, Vault, Sites, Calendar and Google Drive, including Docs, Sheets, Slides and Forms. The required Business Associate Agreement documents the terms of coverage for using Google Apps for Healthcare Companies with Protected Health Records (PHR). Google has also published a HIPAA Implementation Guide to assist administrators and other key personnel with PHI data organization.

2. RingCentral and message encryption

Electronic Health Records are not the only data covered by HIPAA regulations. Customer calls and messages are also required to be protected from unauthorized access. With RingCentral, Google's cloud-based PBX (private branch exchange), all calls and messages are encrypted both in transit and at rest. RingCentral also integrates with Google Apps for Healthcare Companies. A mobile app, available for iPhone and Android, extends service to smart phones, tablets and Chromebooks.

3. Extensibility by integration

Worried about your other apps playing nice with Google? Hundreds of HIPAA business apps integrate seamlessly with Google Apps for Healthcare Companies. In addition, Google's cloud framework allows for unlimited extensibility thanks to a robust Application Programming Interface.

4. Superior archiving with Google Vault

Today's reliance on electronic communication means that a company's emails and chats are essential back-up and even potential evidence in legal actions. For a healthcare company with hundreds or thousands of employees, maintaining this documentation in a workable fashion can become a nightmare. Google Vault lets you set retention rules, place legal holds on user content, and quickly search on a wide variety of criteria, including date, keyword and organizational unit.

Have you been looking for an effective software solution to accommodate your growing needs? Your search ends with Google Apps for Healthcare Companies and its flexible adaptability to your security and storage needs.