Providers of healthcare services are under increasing pressure to deliver more for less. Process control, automation and better MI are seen as critical components of case management software.
Only a few years ago, comprehensive customised case management and work-flow solutions were the preserve of large businesses willing to spend millions of pounds on projects that were measured in years.
Good news! There are some exciting developments which are leading to a paradigm shift towards nimble, low-cost technology solutions – let us look at some of the buzz words:
SaaS
Software as a Service (SaaS, typically pronounced ‘sass’) is a model where the software is rented rather than purchased. Instead of buying software and paying for periodic upgrades, SaaS is subscription based, and all upgrades are provided during the term of the subscription.
What is the benefit? Significantly lower upfront-cost and reduced project risk.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is considered by many to be the next great wave in the IT industry. It refers to applications accessed over the Internet. SaaS solutions are ideally suited for cloud computing over the Internet and Web browser-based applications. They can run on any desktop or mobile device, no matter the operating system. In this model, the applications and the data are maintained in the service provider’s datacentre.
What is the benefit? Zero investment in hardware/data centre; reduced people cost and system admin; and, lastly, benefits of scale in terms of investment in data security.
BPM Platform
A Business Process Management Platform is a software platform or system for rapid modeling and development of customised work-flow or BPM solutions. It typically includes Process/Work-Flow modeling and execution, Management Information and Analytics, Document Management and sophisticated Security and Access-Level Rules.
What is the benefit? Fantastically quick development of customised solutions (measured in weeks not quarters) and great flexibility as regards to adding functionality or modifying processes going forward.