With lives literally on the line, there's no room for inefficiencies and frustrations in healthcare workflows. Fortunately, staff and medical experts don't have to deal with these issues alone. Managed services providers can adapt to healthcare needs and improve working environments in more ways than one. Here's what that looks like and how to choose a provider who keeps their promises.
What Do Managed Services Providers Do?
Managed services providers can take a lot of roles and wear even more hats, but above all else, they're supposed to be a partner for your company. That means they do a few key things:
- Learn your industry: A managed services provider may not be a healthcare expert, but they'll become one to work more effectively with your organization. They'll ask questions and brush up on your company to be the best possible partner.
- Study your needs: It's not always easy to reflect on your own organization, so a managed services provider comes in to help. They study your workflows, budgets, tech, and more to determine what you need to succeed.
- Identify your challenges: Where are you struggling? What's at the core of your workflow issues or patient frustrations? Managed services providers have experience and insight they can use to trace problems back to the source.
- Choose targeted solutions: Once they have all the right information, your provider can recommend the best solutions for your unique healthcare operation. You can choose what you want and dismiss anything you don't think will be a good fit.
- Implement new tools and processes: Managed services providers don't just point out the next steps; they help you take those steps by implementing the solutions you chose together.
Top Managed Services for Healthcare
Although every healthcare organization is different, there are two managed services that really stand out across the industry. These are:
Managed IT Services
Managed IT is a way to help your staff and medical experts focus on what they know and leave the tech to someone else. A managed services provider with IT experience can improve security, troubleshoot network connections, improve tech speed, and even help you manage patient data according to all relevant privacy laws.
Managed Print Services
Even if most of your documents are digital these days, there's still a need for managed print services in healthcare. This solution helps you take control of your print fleet, manage supply orders and storage, utilize digital data-sharing solutions, and more. That means you'll always know when and how to print in ways that protect your budget and limit your impact on the environment.
Choosing Your Managed Services Provider
Healthcare teams rely on each other to better serve patients. Ideally, a managed services provider should become just another part of this team--but that only happens with the right partner.
Here's how to choose a managed services provider that will click with your healthcare organization:
#1: Look for Expertise
Nothing beats experience. Make sure you choose a managed services provider who has expertise in a variety of tech and efficiency fields--and recommendations or reviews should be easy to come by, too.
#2: Have Conversations
Gauge how well the provider can answer questions, return phone calls, and address concerns. This is a good indication of how they'll be as a long-term partner. Remember that you want any managed services solution to be a two-way street--so if they won't listen to you or respect your input, they aren't going to be a great provider for the fast-paced, expert-driven world of healthcare.
#3: Review Offerings
Some providers only offer certain services or solutions. They might tell you that they can adapt as necessary, and while that's great to hear, it's equally important to ensure that they actually know how to do everything you need. If they act like they'll be "learning on the fly," you may not want to put your healthcare workflows--and, indirectly, your patients' loyalty--on the line. Instead, look for providers who offer the most important services and work with you to decide the best fit.
In conclusion, managed services solutions are ideal for healthcare because they support many parts of your workflow. The only thing you need to do is ensure you end up with the best provider--and the best partner.
Looking for managed services for your healthcare organization? Contact us today to learn about managed IT, managed print, and more!