While some companies are returning to in-person work, virtual and remote work remains relevant in many medical groups, according to a Medical Group Management Association poll. Healthcare systems may also seek to expand patient access through telehealth, mobile health monitoring, and virtual care—creating opportunities for positions that can be served by remote staff.
From the IT perspective, supporting remote or hybrid employees requires specific considerations to help enhance patient reach and continuity of care. This article shares how a Managed Services Provider (MSP) recognizes the unique needs of the healthcare environment and how to enable today’s remote workers.
- Assessing remote workers’ needs and network requirements
For healthcare organizations looking to start or expand their remote healthcare workforce, Pixel Health first evaluates needs and develops a plan that details all remote devices and their software requirements. As part of this assessment, the team evaluates the healthcare technology infrastructure to ensure it can support remote devices and scale with future demands.
For example, Pixel Health recently supported Boston Children’s Hospital’s mobile workforce as they expanded their telehealth and home-based care capabilities. Recognizing that the hospital’s existing Wi-Fi system and network infrastructure wouldn’t fully support a growing number of devices and advanced technologies, Pixel Health partnered with T-Mobile to launch a unique hybrid cellular 5G network. Read more in our case study.
- Providing user education
While the MSP sets up a device before shipment to the remote worker, user education materials also assist the onboarding process. For workers who may need adaptive technology or disability accommodations, in-home set-up visits can be scheduled.
- Connecting remote workers
Secure connections for remote devices are essential to follow standard practices and protect personal health information (PHI). An MSP can set up location-based connection points through a VPN or other secure connection technology to grant workers access to network drives and file servers on the cloud, as needed.
- Servicing remote devices
An MSP remotely services remote workers’ devices across the country to handle software updates or any user-reported issues. Per the MSP service agreement, a remote worker would file a ticket with the help desk and the MSP provides support just as it would for an on-site worker.
- Decommissioning remote devices
The Pixel Health MSP team follows a seamless off-boarding process when a remote worker leaves an organization or needs to replace an existing device. This process involves remote wiping and isolation of the device, along with instructions on returning the decommissioned equipment.
Delivering comprehensive support for healthcare practices
“As an MSP, we play an integral role in meeting the unique and often time-critical needs of the clinical environment,” said Jennifer Brown, Vice President, Client Relationship Management. “As healthcare organizations, both large and small, are filling remote positions, we’re tailoring our technology solutions to help them expand remote care and enhance patient reach.”
Our team at Pixel Health is here to help you develop seamless IT solutions for your hybrid and remote workforce. Get in touch to learn more.
