In June 2020, Apple introduced iOS 14, the latest update. The update includes significant changes like design changes, interface modifications, app updates, and the addition of a few other features. Some of the updates are quite unique to Apple, including widget support, Smart Stack feature, and many new customizations. Let us see those updates in detail.

Know Everything about iOS 14 Updates

The first noticeable change in iOS 14 update is the App Library. This interface helps to add apps to the home screen or in the library. The Siri interface and phone call will no longer cover the entire screen. If you are a FaceTime user, you will love the Picture-in-Picture mode introduced.

App updates

Apps in iOS 14 come with new updates or even drastic changes. Some of the top changes to note are:

1. Siri comes with keyboard dictation and the ability to send your audio messages through the internet.
2. App Clips help to use apps’ features without the need for downloading the app to your device. For instance, by scanning the code, you can make a reservation or make any purchase without the app.
3. The Message App allows you to pin conversation to the top. You can also find a new feature, the inline replies. This feature helps you to reply to a singular message while in a group chat.
4. While talking about group chat, Apple has the @mention feature to mute a specific group and receive notifications only when your username appears in any of the messages.
5. Moreover, the group chat photo customization is possible with emoji or image.
6. The Memoji feature provides you new stickers, headwear, age options, face covering, and other facial structures.
7. Apple Watch now has support for Health Checklist and Sleep Tracking.
8. Weather App provides next-hour precipitation notification, extreme weather updates, and others.
9. Third-party accessories and product support is an additional add-on for your Find My App.
10. You can set a third-party browser or email app as your default setting.

• Maps

  Apple Maps now comes with additional iOS 14 update features allowing you to get directions, much easier. The app has cycling directions, suitable for cyclists and bikers. It shows the street’s elevation, presence of stairs in the route, and how busy the route is while providing the best direction. If you own an electric vehicle, you can benefit from the EV charging stop route options. You can customize it to show the EV charges suitable for your charger and vehicle model. You can also find red-light cameras and speed cameras along the route, and the app will notify when you come closer to speed or red-light camera.

  Curated Guides feature of the update allows you to have a list of new attractions and restaurants in the area. You can now start your car with your Apple Watch or your phone, thanks to the Digital car key feature. You can disable the car key via iCloud if you lose your phone. Next year, Apple plans to introduce a U1 chip, which allows you to unlock your car without your phone in hand.

  The new Map features of Apple released last year are now available in other countries like the UK, Canada, and Ireland. This advanced app provides detailed features like marinas, buildings, road details, airports, parks, etc. Congestion zone details are available in traffic-rich regions.

• Home App

  Home App becomes more automated with adaptive lighting, on-device face recognition, and others. The on-device face recognition connects with your HomeKit Secure Video Camera to let you know who is at your door. The control center allows you to have quick access to the features from the home page.

• Music

  The app now has a Listen Now tab to find new mixes, playlists, and artists. The feature has a self-learning technique to suggest what you like, over time. You can now search for music by mood, activity, genre, and others. The autoplay option allows the app to play similar music after the playlist ends.

• Translate

  The latest iOS update brings Translate App, which allows voice and text translation from and to eleven different languages. The On-Device Mode will enable you to download the translation you need for your device. The Conversation Mode allows your device to speak the language aloud. When activated, it allows your device to recognize the language and translate it into your chosen language.

• Camera app update

  The camera can now shoot 90% fast with four fps. The first shot takes 25% less time to shoot, and the Portrait mode shots are 15% faster. You can also choose the ‘Prioritize Faster Shooting feature’ to change the quality of the photo. You can also choose to take quick videos with the QuickTake option.

  The Video Mode Toggle allows you to alter the frame rate and video resolution while using the app. The Night Mode now has a guidance indicator, which helps you to have a steady hold on the camera while shooting a video. The Exposure Adjustment has Preserve Settings, which allow you to lock the exposure compensation value during the entire session. You can now use the volume button while in the camera app to choose a burst photo (volume up) and QuickTake video (volume down).

  The update makes the camera more efficient in reading QR codes. The Mirror Front Camera option allows you to click a mirrored selfie. You can also choose to have a standard selfie.

• Photos

  Now, you can add captions to your videos and photos and sync it with iCloud. The app now has better filtering, sorting, and navigation options. Memories option allows the app to pull videos and photos with relevancy. Revamped image picker enables you to choose media files to add to messages and mail. The zoom feature also has an in-depth update.

• FaceTime

  Apart from the picture-in-picture option, FaceTime now comes with the Attention Correction feature, which allows you to have a natural eye contact instead of looking at the camera. The app now allows you to have high-quality calls with 1080p resolution (only in devices that enable such quality). If one of the participants in a group video call is using sign language or gestures, the tile gets more prominent.

Privacy settings

The Apple iOS update brings new privacy policies and regulations. The developers must receive permission to access a device via the local network. You can also opt for limited access by providing the app, just the approximate location of your device. The new privacy policy permits the app to track the user through websites only after seeking user permission. When an app uses the microphone or camera, it indicates the recording via new icons (a dot) on the home screen.

In the future, the App Store’s product pages will provide each developer’s privacy practices, presented in an easily readable format. The Safari offers privacy reports to let you know about the trackers blocked by the device. If you have a saved password, the Password Monitoring setting will indicate any data breach. You can enjoy the translation feature for websites via Safari.

While connected to a local network, you can use ‘Use Private Address’ to avoid tracking by the network operator. You can block an app from accessing your entire photo gallery. You can provide limited access, which allows the app to access only the photo you wish.

Soon, you need not provide access to any third-party app to access your contacts. The device allows you to type the name into the app and fill the other details. The Autofill feature will pull the contact, and you need not share the contacts unless there is a dire necessity.

Now, Apple requires the sites and apps to offer the ‘Sign in with Apple’ option. It allows you to enjoy upgraded privacy protection.

Audio – AirPods

The newest iOS update allows your device to alter between the AirPods and the device automatically. The AirPods Pro now has Spatial Audio Feature, which enables surround sound, dynamic head tracking, and others. You will have an additional notification to indicate if the battery in AirPods Pro or AirPods is dying.

The Spatial Audio helps to provide a customized sound field, even when your head moves. It uses the accelerometer and gyroscope to adjust the sound field following your head motion. As a result, you will enjoy a theatre styled sound effect with your AirPods. The battery charging feature optimization allows your pod to manage the charging so that it spends minimal time in charge. It charges up to 80% at normal speed and waits to finish the remaining before you need it, by monitoring your usage routine.

Home screen changes

As mentioned before, the update allows widget on the home screen. Some of the default widgets available are Stocks, Weather, Calendar, Apple News, Screen Time, and others. The Widget Gallery holds numerous options, including suggestions for new widgets. It is possible to stack ten widgets, one on top of another, and access every widget via swipe. You can hide the home screen pages out of your view, in this update. If you wish to hide any individual app, you can save them in the app library.

Siri changes

Now, Siri can answer complicated questions instead of just redirecting you to any web page. Apart from the before-mentioned voice message feature, Siri can share your ETA to your contact, provide directions, and so on. Siri now understands around 65 language pairs for translation and has a natural voice for a few languages like English, Spanish, French, Japanese, German, and others.

APFS encryption

You can connect an external drive to your device and access the password-protected files in the drive. The device is now capable of supporting devices with APFS encryption.

Apart from these, there are changes to Podcast, Remainder, Voice Memos, Weather, and others. Additional features updated are

1. Better augmented reality with A12 bionic chip
2. Body pose and hand detection features
3. On-device dictation
4. VoiceOver recognition
5. Sound recognition for detecting a crying baby, water, doorbell, and others

Is your iPhone getting an iOS 14 update or not?

According to Apple, this new update is available for iPhone 6s and recent models. This update will be available for compatible models for free. If your model is compatible with iOS 13, you can install iOS 14 on your device. You can receive iOS 14 if your model is any of the following.

1. iPhone 6s, 7, 8, 11
2. iPhone 6s Plus, 8 Plus, and 7 Plus
3. iPhone X, XS Max, XR, and XS
4. iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max
5. iPhone SE (2020 model)
6. iPhone SE (2016 model)
7. iPod touch (Seventh generation)

When will iOS 14 be released?

Are you psyched for the new update? The update received the first preview at WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) in June 2020. However, the official release to the users will be in September 2020. The beta version will be available for testing to a test group. The announcement regarding the test group will be in July 2020. The exact date of the test group and official release are not available as of now. If the new iPhone enters the market in September, the update might be a part of the new release too.

How can you download and install iOS 14?

If you are planning to download the beta version, it is best to have a backup of your phone. Use your Apple ID and other required information to download the beta file. Now, let’s go to ‘how to update iOS’.

1. After download, move to the Downloads folder and click on ‘Install Profile’.
2. Move to settings, go to General, and click Profile. Under Profile, select Profile Downloaded.
3. Now, move to Software Update in settings, and you will now have an option for iOS 14 download. The download size is 5GB. Plug to an outlet as it would take a considerable amount of time to complete.
4. After the update download, restart the phone.

Apple’s other announcements

In WWDC, after the preview of iOS 14, Apple gave a peek at what you can expect in the upcoming years.

1. Apple Silicon Mac – Mac-based developer Transition Kit with A12Z SoC processor and macOS Big Sur. It comes with 16 GB memory and 512 GB SSD.
2. The transition from Intel to Apple Silicon might take two years.
3. WatchOS 7 allows you to watch your handwashing routine.
4. MacOS 7 would look more like iOS and iPad OS.       
5. Private forums, code support, transition help, and others are now available for developers.
6. Digital Car Key application is a unique element in the update. It can work for five hours, even after your phone battery dies.

With these new features, Apple promises that iOS 14 will make the Apple experience more personal and helpful. The features focus on making users feel secure, optimize the usage, and find beneficial notifications beyond imagination. 

iOS for Enterprise App Development

With this ever-evolving market of iOS operating systems and amazing updates launched every year, businesses, especially iOS app development companies can definitely benefit their clients by helping them create highly-secure and robust applications as per their business requirements. Mostly tech-savvy audiences or users prefer iPhone devices and enjoy the intuitive interface of iOS apps. Thus, enterprises of all sizes can take advantage of the great business opportunity that iOS has to offer. Do you want to develop iOS apps for multiple devices? Then get in touch with our team and build amazing iOS apps. You can also take advantage of our team augmentation service for your development project on a contract basis and achieve business goals.

Author's Bio

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have transformed the mobile app development landscape. The mobile app developer relies on cognitive technology like ML to write powerful algorithms to create intelligent apps that can understand human behavior, assist users, and entertain them. Today we are going to explore such technology used in mobile app development. 

All About Mobile Apps and Market Trends

Mobile app developers create informative, productive, and entertaining apps for popular handheld devices like smartphones, wearable devices, personal and enterprise digital assistants. They also use the latest technologies and tools such as Java, Kotlin, Swift, PhoneGap, ReactJS, Xamarin, Flutter, etc. to build user-friendly mobile apps. 

Social media platforms and digital services are experiencing geometric progression in recent years. The smartphone’s power, productivity, and value must exceed the buyer’s expectation to be a successful product. Certainly, this trend paves the way for a need for more advanced mobile apps, which can provide heightened performance without requiring too much space or power.

With this in mind, the following state-of-the-art features will become standard in the next decade:

• Market-friendly accelerated mobile pages.
• Augmented and Virtual Reality apps for entertainment apps and games.
• AI apps for advanced analytics and user assistance.
• ML techniques to create complex, cognitive interfaces.
• Cloud-driven apps for superior storage and connectivity.
• Enterprise applications to connect productive teams.
• Wearable devices for health and fitness benefits.
• Intuitive m-commerce apps for shopping ease.
• The confluence of smartphones and IoT devices.

The market potential of these mobile apps spans multiple sectors. By 2020, VR and AR apps growth hit an $18.8 billion market value. There has been a 300% increase in AI and ML investments. The big players in this sector include Google, eBay, Microsoft, Intel, Yahoo, IBM, Facebook, and AOL. 

Another key point, after 2019, more than 66% of business owners increased their investment in enterprise mobile apps. These apps’ market value will peak to the US $430 billion in 2021. The future of mobile development heavily focuses on security features too.

Growth Prospects

The growth opportunities across various industries are very positive. Integrated, location-based apps will become popular. Notably, Wi-Fi will go beyond traditional hotspots, and customized chatbots will also rise. Google and Apple Pay will overpower debit/credit card transactions for mCommerce. Around 65% of the media time spent accounts for mobile app usage.

1. The market for mobile apps will surpass US$ 407 billion by 2026.
2. The estimated CAGR for the next 5 years is at 18.4%.
3. The focus will be on Healthcare, Engineering, Real Estate, and Retail sectors.
4. Apps for Sports, Gaming, Military, and Education will gain traction.
5. By 2021, the number of connected devices will exceed 25 billion
6. Further, by 2022, IoT investments will rise to more than US$ 22 billion.
7. Advertising, cloud, and non-cloud services will propel growth.
8. Apps ensure faster access, compelling graphics, and HDD displays.

Technology and Mobile App Development: Two Sides of the Same Coin

• AR and VR are major elements for app development. Millions of people used AR and VR for games and eCommerce apps. By 2024, the growth expectation is $191 billion. The manufacturing sector and health sector are the major areas where AR and VR powered mobile apps will become a huge hit.
• Security is one of the leading variables to decide the success of an application. There are numerous reasons why security is becoming a prime factor, and blockchain usage helps a mobile app developer improve tracking and security. The growth of blockchain enables the growth of more sophisticated payment and money transfer apps.
• Next to security, space is of major concern. Manufacturers try to enhance the mobile device’s primary storage limit in every new model, and yet, users find it insufficient. The use of the cloud allows apps to utilize less space. The trend of favoring apps with a cloud base started as early as 2014. Apps with heavy databases depend on AWS or similar services for backup. Such technology paves the way for enhanced collaboration and improved productivity in the future.
• AMP allows app developers to stay competitive. It helps the developers to advertise, sell, and market products or services on the app, with ease. According to An Akamai study, even a delay of 100 milliseconds reduces the conversion rate by 7%.
• Cross-platform application development reduces the time, complexity, and cost required to bring an app to the market. Consequently, this trend supports the app developers to generate better apps within a shorter time-frame. 
• Billions of devices integrate and sync with the help of IoT and development of mobile apps for smart homes, smart automobiles and healthcare will see a positive trend.
• Lastly, 5G technology, everyone is waiting for it. It helps to transfer data one hundred times faster than today. Such a faster data channel will enhance the development of ultra-performing apps, which would make a whirl in healthcare. The combination of 5G and virtual reality would bring new changes to 3D gaming apps and healthcare applications.

How Has Machine Learning Technology Revamped the Usage of Mobile Apps?

The AI subfield is getting recognition for constant, data-dependent learning. It uses real-time analytics to spot behavior, anomalies, differences, and regularities. ML is having a substantial impact on the development of 21st-century mobile apps. The shift from ML-powered computer applications towards smartphone apps has been rapid and highly productive.

With this in mind, machine learning apps revamp smartphone usage with the following efficient approaches:

• The modern mobile users expect simplicity, convenience, joy, and functionality; Through machine learning app, they record hobbies, anticipate wishes, manage calendars, notify events, and recommend solutions.
• Restless searchers want quick, relevant, and informative results. ML tools are effective in tracking typical actions and storing historical data. These tools correct spelling, respond to voice searches and offer lists of related outcomes.
• M-commerce is a boon for those who want to buy and sell on the move. ML algorithms enhance the customer experience and recommend the best products. They assist in digital marketing through data analysis, real-time ads, and purchase pattern recognition to businesses.
• Business leaders expect top-of-the shelf app functions. ML algorithms help with metrics, insight analysis, and intelligence gathering. They facilitate data accuracy, decision-making, product delivery, personalized services, and secure connectivity.
• ML-powered mobile experiences are seamless, smoother, and intuitive. Their practical approach is suitable for high-speed smart devices. The machine learning in mobile applications helps developers build diverse, powerful apps through data filtration, algorithmic training, model selection, parameter tuning, and predictions.

Rise of ML-based Mobile Apps

AI and ML technologies will bring forth more stunning mobile apps. The investments in ML will reach US$58 billion by 2021. The industry’s growth will peak at US$20.83 billion, with a CAGR of 44.06% by 2024. Experts estimate the neural network market to grow to US$23 billion by the year 2024.

Machine learning applications will revitalize the eCommerce industry. Security, Finance, Photo, and Video apps will grow by leaps and bounds. To put it differently, IoT devices are smartphone-controlled so the market potential for ML-powered mobile apps is also huge. 

Top Machine Learning Applications

Without tangible results, investors will not continue their patronage. Thankfully, multiple applications satisfy their trust. These diverse ML-powered mobile apps are powerful and user friendly. Some of the top ML-powered mobile apps are:

1 Snapchat

This messaging app has excellent face detection abilities. Its filters combine ML algorithms with augmented reality. Photos get processed as data sets with individual color pixels. Repeated scanning, contrasting clues, and grayscale values get processed to identify faces. To emphasize, it also creates 3D masks using data training, scaling, rotation, alignment, etc.

2 Google Maps

Google studies and analyzes thousands of data sets. They use training models to aggregate location data. And later logical regression gets applied to make parking lot of predictions and related services.

3 Tinder

This dating app uses Smart Photos to find perfect matches and soul mates. Profile swipes get analyzed to reorder popular photos. The system continually learns and improves itself using inputs.

4 Netflix

This streaming service uses regression and learning algorithms too. It classifies content based on genre, actors, reviews, year, etc. The app learns from user action and behavior to recommend the movie and personalized content.

5 Oval Money

This financial app stores and processes user’s spending habits. It analyzes transaction data to offer convenient strategies to save money. In addition, its intelligent system also relies on tracking to improve financial literacy. And it helps the user make sound and safe investments at the right time.

Machine Learning in Mobile App Development

The current mobile app developers prioritize machine learning application projects for various reasons. The top smartphone brands have become very powerful, thanks to ML-powered apps. The internet is ideal for testing out powerful machine learning algorithms. 

How mobile app developers use ML to generate innovative apps?

ML helps reduce the gap between understanding user behavior and utilizing it to create a customized solution. App developers embed ML into mobile applications to create customized applications for each individual. ML depends on continuous learning. Based on the user’s everyday activity, the ML program learns and re-learns to create a customized solution. This advancement helps to create an adaptive app that can help to achieve an ideal omnichannel experience.

1. ML helps in predictive analysis. This technology helps an application to process a massive amount of data and derive quantitative predictions that are customizable based on the user’s requirements.
2. Developers can train ML modules to filter out spam and potentially insecure sites or emails. This technology leads to a pro-active security measure.
3. Character recognition and NLP, combined with predictive analysis, will help create applications with the ability to read and understand language. It is a milestone in ML-based apps, and it helps to generate an array of different applications for different niches.

Have a look at these different machine learning techniques applied in diverse fields by mobile app developers:

• Data Mining

  The mining of large datasets helps to identify patterns and connections. This process requires the collection, storage, maintenance, and analyses of relevant data. A good example of using the mining technique of ML is the travel app. The algorithm helps to collect client data and categorize it. Gender, age, social media profiles, and others are some of the variables to design custom applications and services. The operators receive business intelligence to modify tours and schedules. 

• Tracking

  Tracking financial and banking data facilitates smarter businesses. The module uses the user’s credit and transaction data to offer friendly deals. This tracking feature helps to create customer-focused marketing and targeting for various products and services.

• Analyses

  Data analytics is essential for eCommerce and m-commerce. Big Data analyses help retail giants like Amazon satisfy their customers.

• Search

  ML techniques help improve search outcomes for products and services. They learn to display the most relevant results based on the search query, screen scrolls, clicks, etc. It is possible to tailor the available information based on the searcher’s preference. The programs understand the searchers’ past behaviors, history, and other activities to deliver a customized ranked search result. 

• Monitoring

  Data monitoring and ML-powered defense systems improve security and antivirus apps. With the help of programmed modules, the user can trail online activities and install alarms to trigger if any fraudulent activity appears. 

• Security

  Voice recognition, biometrics, and audiovisual data can be helpful in-app authentication. Certainly, security becomes possible in a platform where real-time changes take place to the input. This application is useful in a secured data transfer app, file storage, and others.

How Mobile App Developers Benefit From Machine Learning Techniques? 

The machine learning technique of pattern recognition is a dynamic learning experience. On the other side, predictive analytics is applicable to financial, marketing, and banking data, face detection, image, and object recognition methods are essential for reliable security. The percentage of mobile app developers relying on ML techniques at various mobile app development stages is increasing. And therefore, developers benefit from these sophisticated processes in the following way:

1 Creating wireframes for apps

ML helps to develop wireframes for apps. It uses big data to create a wireframe that incorporates strategies from R&D and conceptualization. The developers can use ML in running technical feasibility tests at each stage with high speed and accuracy.

2 Customer segmentation

Mobile app developers can create apps with an ability to provide personalized services for their customers. Notably, they can use the data from these apps to create personalized messages for customers and others using ML techniques. ML provides a growing in-depth knowledge of customer behavior, which is essential for strategy formulation and feedback. 

3 Profit

ML helps developers to collect and monitor the app usage data. Enterprises can identify profitable opportunities through app insights. They can collect information about users’ spending on mobile apps. The improvised personalization helps to allure the customers into seeing the products that have a very high probability of attracting them. Henceforth, users stay on the ML app for a considerably longer time compared to other applications.

4 Fraud control

ML techniques help a developer to create apps with crucial security features. A fraud-control app with pro-active security features will have higher trustworthiness among the users. It improves the brand value of the app. Another key point, a fast authentication process is very crucial while developing eCommerce sites, which is possible through ML.

5 Cost-effective development process

On-device ML solution helps in reducing the complexity of data processing and thereby requires lower bandwidth. It benefits the developer in avoiding expensive cloud services. It is possible to use a small team to scale the development without the need for cloud infrastructure.

6 Effective app testing

ML helps developers to generate a customized module for testing their ML apps or use a general AI- testing module. Either way, the module helps to run exploratory tests to find random behaviors without the team spending a massive amount of time running unnecessary steps.

7 Efficiency

Mobile app development can enjoy heightened accuracy without the team sacrificing long labor-intensive working hours or complicated processes. It is possible to reduce manual and numerical error to almost zero and add more innovation to curb real-time problems.

8 Virtual assistant

A virtual assistant might not be helpful in the development phase. The ML-powered chatbots help to communicate with a wide customer base with a small team. Manual errors can reduce to zero, and it becomes possible to provide an ample amount of information to the customers within a short time and with no space for miscommunication.

Why Use Machine Learning Technology For Your Enterprise Mobile Apps?

Machine learning started as a pattern recognition program, and today, the programmers train the modules to conduct a specific task. ML techniques can help to read big data and generate big-picture analysis within seconds. It is possible to adapt the ML module to accept new input and self-learn to generate a continuum of information. Information is the key to the growth of any business or development. The concept of a self-driving car is possible only with machine learning. Users receive online product recommendations during online shopping because of machine learning.

Machine learning can help to monitor, create, understand, and even react intelligently. For example, while composing a mail, if you write about attaching a document in the body of the mail and forget to attach it, the application sends out a message reminding you that you forgot to attach the document. ML can learn, understand, and use this information to predict our behavior. Why is machine learning important?

• For personalized experiences

  Advanced ML algorithms analyze information from social media platforms. They facilitate a continuous learning process using digital units. To put it differently, customers who use apps can experience a personalized experience. They will receive recommendations and ratings in their social media app immediately.

• Increase customer engagement

  Machine learning apps increase customer engagement. Customer engagement and experience can be enhanced through the function of information categorization. It is possible to convey the app’s real intent with approached buyers.

• Superior search

  In the data-led world, a high-speed search with efficient UX is vital. ML-based apps facilitate seamless and rapid online searches; they improve contextual results and optimize search outcomes too. The customer receives a balanced list through the history of data access, analysis, and ranking.

• Visual authentication

  ML methods include facial recognition and word translation. Developers can write apps with visual and auto-recognition. ML enables account access and a secure authentication process. M-commerce apps become more reliable, convenient, and user-friendly.

• Advanced data-mining

  Big Data is the new norm in the world of mobile communications. Refined data mining techniques effortlessly analyze large information volumes. Data categorization and multiple user profile configuration become more efficient. Right strategies and robust data create first-rate mobile apps.

• Consumer behavior

  Consumer’s online behavior, hobbies, and interests are valuable. ML algorithms exploit these preferences to assess customer’s attitudes. They use the insights to enhance advertising strategies, and lower and upper sales funnels to achieve higher profits. Location, search, gender, and app usage data analysis is possible with ML methods. Result-driven strategies ensure customer satisfaction, brand equity, and market reputation. 

• Online security

  Mobile apps help streamline and secure audiovisual data. Voice recognition, biometrics, and digital fingerprints improve security. Banking, m-retail, and financial sectors benefit from selfie-style account access. They prevent identity theft and stop breaches in business, personal, and customer data security. Automated product tags, logistical optimization, and insightful business intelligence are some of the other benefits.

Conclusion

Summing up the discussion, the next-gen mobile apps will be smarter and powerful. App developers will employ the finest machine learning techniques. They apply predictive analytics, data mining, and facial recognition techniques and rely on neural networks and reinforced learning algorithms. The effective ML processes, including mining, tracking, analyzing, monitoring, searching, and predictions, benefit sectors like health, finance, m-commerce, banking, education, and entertainment. The next-generation mobile apps will have refined security, search, predictive, and customization features. And their UI/UX will be sharper, intuitive, informative, authentic, and entertaining. Are you planning to create a new app for your business? Try to create a profitable and self-learning app with ML techniques.

Author's Bio

Businesses around the world are relying on technology to ensure the safety of employees, expedite information distribution, and maintain continuity. In addition, governments have also invested in up-and-coming technology in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s more to it.

How Technology is Helping in Combating COVID-19?

Financial advisors, utility service providers, retailers, and others who relied on in-person communications, are among the most hit in this pandemic. However, many businesses escaped slowdown. And much of the credit goes to digital readiness and technology change in business.

Companies are adopting collaboration tools to support working from home and retailers are using contactless payment and delivery methods. With social distancing enforced, the use of drones for supplies is on the rise too.

So, here are eight ways how prominent the role of technology in businesses have been during the ongoing pandemic:

1 Facilitating remote healthcare services

In China, autonomous vehicles are delivering medicines and other essential goods in the affected areas. Apollo (a vehicle platform by Baidu) collaborated with Neolix to deliver supplies to a hospital in Beijing. In fact, Apollo cloud services are available to healthcare organizations for free. In addition, another company – Idriverplus – has deployed its automated fleet of street cleaning vehicles to disinfect hospitals.

Antwork drones, built by a Japanese company Terra Drone, were used to deliver required materials in the virus-infected Xinchang city. Drones are transporting equipment and medicines in other countries too. And in California, Nuro R2 robotic vehicles are delivering food and protective gear to a field hospital and other quarantined patients.

2 Monitoring body temperature among the crowd

Airports around the world have installed full-body infrared scanners to monitor passengers. These thermal imaging systems detect abnormal body temperatures and identify probable infected people.

Many countries, like India and China, have installed these infrared scanners in selected high traffic railway stations too. China’s Baidu designed an AI-powered infrared system to monitor a large population. It installed one such system at Qinghe railway station in Beijing. It can screen up to 200 people per minute without any chaos. So, apart from the full-body scanners, infrared thermometer guns are also used in banks, offices, hotels, retail stores, and other public places.

3 Tracking people’s location

Technology is helping manage the mayhem by keeping track of infected individuals and whom they have interacted with. Aarogya Setu app in India is using a smartphone’s Bluetooth and GPS to detect other users nearby and alert if anyone is COVID-positive. The app keeps a log of the locations the device is present.

On the other side, Apple and Google have developed a system to use Bluetooth transmissions for contact tracing. The data is stored on the phone and accessible through official apps of health organizations. Italy has launched its Immuni app, based on this Apple-Google API.

In the same vein, Singapore is working on developing a wearable device for all its residents.

And the government in China has installed CCTV cameras at various locations to monitor those who are quarantined. That is to say, tech companies are also testing AI-based facial recognition systems to track infected people.

4 Conferencing and consulting digitally

In this worldwide outbreak, technology is bringing video conferencing and networking together for digital interactions. Virtual events have replaced the in-person ones.  Google Cloud Next ’20 conference was hosted online under the name Digital Connect. Followed by, Collison, a North American tech conference, went virtual with the help of digital tools.

Fintso, a web-based financial software, is helping independent financial advisors to communicate with their clients effectively. National Health Service (NHS) has made Microsoft’s video conferencing software – Teams – available to all its staff in the UK. They use instant messaging and audio/video calls to share updates of the patients from anywhere. Many doctors in China have started using Zoom for online consultations.

5 Promoting online learning

Schools and university campuses have opted for online tutoring mode. Many institutions are using video conferencing tools like GoToMeeting and Microsoft Teams, others have built dedicated learning platforms. Hence, many independent online learning websites have seen significant growth in their user base during this period. BYJU’S, an online tutoring platform in India, reported a 200% increase in new enrolments.

6 Streamlining remote working

Companies use technologies like virtual private networks, collaboration tools, and cloud conferencing to manage remote working seamlessly. More employees are now successful in adapting the practice of working from home. For example, Cisco improves its Webex software to support the businesses and offers them 24/7 assistance. Project management tools like Trello and team communication apps like Slack have also made it easier for teams to work remotely. Apart from providing more flexibility in work, technology is also saving commute time for remote workers.

7 Enabling contactless movements

Technology has also enabled safe movements in many places around the world. Self-driving vehicles, robots, and drones are being used worldwide to deliver essential items. To maintain social distancing, people are inclining towards online shopping and ordering. And the emerging technology in business is helping online retailers, food aggregators, and restaurants to make contactless deliveries.

The growth of e-wallets and other digital payment methods has also paved the way for a truly contactless delivery ecosystem. Customers place an order, make their payment online, and an agent delivers it at the door. Many companies are focusing on picking and dropping goods at designated locations, instead of hand-to-hand deliveries.

8 Increasing transparency in data

Miscommunication and sharing wrong data during a virus outbreak can be catastrophic. And technology is playing a role in fighting against it. Popular services like Google, Facebook, and YouTube are creating a transparent scenario by displaying accurate information to the users. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are being used to identify fake news and keep them from spreading.

Besides, other social platforms have joined hands with the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide verified facts to users and businesses. In India, telecom operators are playing coronavirus caller tunes to spread awareness.

How Is The Government Employing Technology During The Pandemic?

Using technology in business has helped companies to be in touch with customers and employers. And governments are turning towards technology to contain the spread as early as possible. Data-driven analytics, coupled with AI and ML, are being used to track the cases and provide on-time support.

• Monitoring coronavirus cases

  The South Korean government used a combination of records to track the movement of infected ones. Data from credit card transactions, smartphone location logs, CCTV recordings, and others were cross-referenced for confirmation. The government in countries like China and Ghana too have launched contact tracing through mobile phones.

  In Liechtenstein, biometric bracelets are being developed for citizens. The aim is to monitor COVID-19 in real-time and keep track of potential cases. Similarly, in Hong Kong, quarantined people are provided with wristbands to track their activities. During this global pandemic, technology has provided a two-way communication medium between governments and citizens.

  Mobile apps are increasingly used to maximize awareness as well as tracking. In India, the government has recommended downloading the Aarogya Setu app to keep a watch on potential hotspots of the virus growth. The app is available in 11 regional languages. And a toll-free Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) has also been implemented for citizens who do not use smartphones. The Indian government is also using railway reservation data and airline booking records to monitor the quarantined. In America, the government is seeking aid from tech giants like Facebook and Google about possibilities regarding the use of location data from smartphones.



• Providing critical support

  Apart from tracking location, governments are also taking help from technology leaders or service providers to ensure on-time support and consultation. The UK’s NHS staff team is using Microsoft Teams to be in touch with their peers and other doctors. Through messages, calls, and video conferences, they are sharing regular updates.

  In China, remote-controlled robots are being used to examine infected people. From performing ultrasound scans to collecting mouth swabs, these robots are proving to be a superb aid to the medical staff. Italy, similarly, used robots to monitor patients’ health and deliver food.

How Has Technology Changed Consumer Behavior?

The virus outbreak, social distancing, and lockdown have affected the purchasing pattern too.

More people are turning towards online stores. This trend is observed across all nations, including the US, India, and Japan.

As per the research conducted by Accenture, the online buying activity of the infrequent eCommerce users is expected to grow to 160%.

Also, the customers are getting in touch with local stores over social media and messengers. The use of digital payment solutions and contactless home delivery methods have seen an exponential rise during the coronavirus crisis.

With the switch to working from home, employees have adapted to their new environments. And the increasing use of social media and online streaming platforms, both have led them to new ways to entertain online.

Apart from watching shows, many people have developed new hobbies and skills online. 48% of the consumers are learning new skills or taking online education as per the above Accenture research. And 62% are trying new recipes while at home. All such activities have been possible thanks to the developments in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

How Has Technology Impacted Operational Processes of Various Industries?

Technological advancements have brought significant benefits to day-to-day operations during this COVID-19 outbreak. From reducing human intervention to increasing productivity and minimizing errors, technology in business plays a critical role. Here are some emerging technologies which have impacted the industrial processes:

• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) 

  With support from sensors, analytics, and high-speed network connectivity, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is being used for remote management and assistance in real-time. You can build a digital twin of your factory and control it remotely. With AI and ML, you can also create a predictive maintenance schedule.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  Industrial IoT, AI, and deep machine learning go together. Couple them with recognition of a face, other patterns, and movements, and you will be able to leverage machine vision. You can thus delegate routine tasks to robots and supervise them remotely. As they master skills, they can run more complex setups.

• Machine Learning (ML) 

  Through continuous learning and predictive analysis, ML and AI technology in business, collectively help industries to be on time. Machine learning algorithms can ensure production and supply chain efficiency by processing data and improving themselves over time. You can employ smart robots to automate many tasks.

• Augmented Reality (AR)

  With AR headsets, wearables, and associated software, experts can create projections and train on-site workers and robots remotely. Through a combined setup of AR software, virtual overlays, and IoT devices, different teams can collaborate and maintain regular business operations without being on-site.

• Big Data Analytics

  Big data enables businesses to make informed decisions through analysis of data related to production, waste management, demand patterns, and others. By implementing suitable big data analytics, companies have improved performance and streamlined their business operations.

• Blockchain

  From cost efficiency to data privacy, Keeping records to save time and blockchain technology in business brings various benefits. It is a distributed ledger with tamper-proof records. And you can track the transactions and deliveries online, without errors, while also keeping your suppliers, customers, and employers well-informed.

• Sensor-based tracking

  Real-time sensor-based tracking prevents misinformation and miscommunication. It helps in mapping products to the exact location and managing a supply chain globally. You can use sensors to monitor real-time status, track a product location, and provide accurate information to customers even without human involvement.

How Will Technology Continue Redefining Business Post COVID-19?

During this global crisis, the use of technology in business is reducing the spread of the virus, while keeping businesses afloat.

Usage of digital payments, delivery by autonomous vehicles, and adoption of remote working tools are growing. And this growth will continue post-COVID-19 as well.

Self-driving autonomous vehicles have proved their efficiency in delivering supplies in virus-infected areas. And seeing them on roads will soon be normal. They can be used in delivery, pickup, or movements in hazardous environments.

The usage of drones has also been fruitful during this ongoing pandemic. From surveillance and monitoring to delivery in remote areas, drones are being deployed for a multitude of tasks. And the commercial adoption of drones is bound to grow with time.

Also, the dependency on cloud services will continue to post the coronavirus crisis. Cloud technology in business has enabled a seamless transition to work from home. And it is aiding in remote management of facilities too. 

Telecommuting and remote workforce collaborations will be more common than ever. Many businesses, thus, need to invest in creating secure dedicated networks online.

With the developments in AI and ML, IoT devices, too, will continue to flourish. They are already proving their efficiency in industrial tasks. AI-based virtual assistants and smart medical chatbots also will see significant growth in the post COVID world.

Wrapping It Up,

Technologies like AI, ML, IoT, and Cloud have provided a boost to the operational efficiency of businesses. And the pandemic has made businesses grow out of conventional strategies and incorporate more technology in day-to-day business. And you can expect a digital business transformation post this COVID-19 crisis. So, get working on building a digital infrastructure, and be prepared to thrive in the new normal.

Author's Bio

A 45-year-old man is at his workplace. Suddenly he feels a sharp pain in his chest and collapses. The peers immediately call for an ambulance service and try to give first aid to the man. The patient is being taken to the nearest hospital. Meanwhile, the emergency medical services (EMS) unit collects patient’s information from the peers, own examinations, and make reports. Upon reaching the emergency department (ED) of the hospital, they hand over the patient’s reports to the ED nurses. The nurse communicates this information to the ED doctor. But there are some key parameters missing on the report.

The doctor fails to figure out the exact scenario of the ischemic stroke because the reports aren’t standardized. She calls the EMS agency and tries to get more information about the patient’s condition.

Due to the lack of appropriate information, she decides to go ahead with her own physical examination of the patient. The whole process consumes a lot more time than what should be relevant in an acute healthcare situation, and this could be potentially hazardous for the patient on the bed.

At a healthcare unit with all the appropriate devices, technology for treatments, best healthcare professionals, time is probably the only thing that the patient does not have.

The interruptions caused during an emergency situation can lead to a negative impact on the patient’s health. A study reports that on an average 30.1% of a physician’s conversations are interrupted.

Though it might sound surprising, a lot of EMS providers find handoff extremely frustrating due to certain barriers. The whole disorganized structure of most hospitals’ systems, lack of time and focus, coupled with lack of respect for the EMS providers is definitely not a good way to keep the Emergency Medical Service providers motivated.

A qualitative study of 90 EMS handoffs proved that EMS providers tend to miss out many important details while reporting the patient to the ED during the handoff.

This calls for a means of better communication between EMS agencies, ED, and people of ED, and thus high-quality handoffs.

What Is ED-EMS Communication?

The EMS communication system can be defined as a system which helps synchronize critical medical care in emergency settings such as hospital emergency departments, ambulances, and dispatch centers. The system aims to care for serious patients to lessen potential harm to their health.

There’s a Need for Better ED-EMS Communication

A study by JAMA researchers suggests that the arrival of an emergency medical service unit can take from 7 minutes to 28 minutes at the scene and almost 1 in every 10 patients face 30 minutes or longer wait. That median time gets larger to more than 14 minutes in rural backdrops. With the criticality of that moment and the lack of time, anything that can shave off some time to get the patient to the ED is more than welcome to carry out the handoff. However, it is important to understand what exactly is involved in the EMS-ED handoff.

• When the patient moves from the emergency medical service providers to the ED, their health reports, their first aid procedure, their examination (by the EMS) reports, are also handed off to the ED reception.
  
• The ED reception then makes calls and relays the details of the patient further to the doctors and specialists.
  
• The specialists are then required to add to the information (if necessary) and sent out to the respective laboratories, as per the requirement.

So, here are the problems with the current state of the system:

• As per the current structure of most hospitals, the data transfer happens through radio, phone calls or non-standardised pages of text. The lack of standardization in this data transfer between agencies (same or different) requires a lot of time to interpret, consequently, it can be critical for the patient, especially in acute situations.
  
• Having said that, it is also crucial to accept the fact that a patient in an emergency case has to pass through different healthcare providing units across the same or different organizations. Just to name a few of these entities: Government-owned, Charity-based, Private-owned, Combined, Hospital provided, EMS and ED, and their different combinations. Most importantly, it moves across people; and it is very easy for communication to break if the health data exchange process is not seamless.

According to studies, efficiency in the communication system and correct data transfer can reduce medical errors by almost 30% and can shave off nearly 28-46% of the operating time.

How Mobile Technology Makes EMS Communication Significantly Better?

Transferring and analyzing data has never been easier than what it is today. Major companies in the market like Ola, Uber, Lyft, are all mobile app-based. They use mobile technology to connect people with taxis, without owning a single taxi of their own. Communication and data exchange can be made that simple too if one knows how to use leverage smartphones and internet connectivity.

Custom mobile apps that are easily accessible by the emergency medical service personnel and the ED staff can provide a much smarter means of communication between them to streamline the health data exchange. Here’s how –

EMS – send information in advance, ED – prepare for patient’s arrival in advance

Having to update a patient’s information over and over again over a cell phone or over messages or in person, can be unbelievably cumbersome. Replacing this with an app that can take pictures, patient information, can be a boon. The app would alert the ED specialists while the patient is traveling. This can reduce the amount of time that would have otherwise been consumed after the patient reached the hospital door. And standardizing the information passed on, to alert the Emergency Department also makes it easier and more efficient for the ED specialists/doctors to understand the patient’s condition in advance.

Bridge communication gaps

Even today, with so much advancement in technology, it would be surprising to know that at most hospitals, after the patient is brought to the hospital door, a nurse relays all the information passed onto her from the EMS providers to the ED specialists over phones or radio channels. Imagine the scope of miscommunication that underlies this process.

Pressing a button to relay the same and standardized information to any entity of the hospital (as and when required) can avoid miscommunication massively. To have the liberty to attach further documents as the process moves on, would allow seamless transfer and thorough health report of patients, along with a reduction in time.

Improve transparency

Having a centralized server where data from all remote agencies, entities are stored of the patient ensures that the health record is transparent and accurate, as compared to verbatim communications via radios. These mobile applications can also record and store the patient’s check-in time, the patient’s in-time condition, location to ensure there is almost no scope of fraudulence and mistakes.

Quicker reimbursements and insurance claims

With all the data centrally stored in a server, it becomes much more efficient and easier to share thorough health reports, bills, patient’s conditions, all at the press of a button, with the insurance agencies. Thus making it easier for reimbursement and claim processes. Also, the standardization of these bills and reports will make it quicker for the insurance agencies to glance through and release payments.

Are Hospitals Already Using These Apps to Work Efficiently With EMS?

Apps like Pulsara, Twiage, ESO health data exchange are being used at various hospitals. One such example is Hayward Memorial Hospital that is using Twiage for the efficiency of their work process.
The usage of the app has made the hospital ED team better prepared at the time of emergencies before the patient arrives. It has ensured transparent and thorough health data exchange within the organization and beyond. It has also made it easier to keep the data confidential.

Concluding Remarks: The future of EMS communication is mobile

Although it is not uncommon to see humans being resistant to any sort of change at first, the advantages of mobile technology when it comes to increasing survival rate by shaving off time and efficiently transferring data cannot be denied. All the hospitals that have used this technology have found it incredibly helpful, and haven’t looked back since.

In the future, there is a huge scope of making use of existing sensors and microchips on smartphones to collect data remotely without having to use a lot of equipment. Setting up the equipment and machines also take time and that can be shaved off by using the omnipresent mobile devices at least for the basic tasks.

It is high time EMS providers and hospital EDs change their age-old, redundant systems, and bring in mobile technology to make health data exchange more efficient, and consequently improve the survival rate of their patients.

Author's Bio

Scaling graph of the missed medical appointments due to the lack of suitable transportation channels exhibits the pressing need for NEMT. The aging population and invalid people irrespective of age are guaranteed customer base which assures strong chances of success in the NEMT industry. 

The consistent patterns and service requirements are stating the need for NEMT. The huge demand in the present would be soaring further in the future. It ensures that the present time is the most congenial to start NEMT business with proper planning, patience, and prompt action.

The primary prerequisite for commencing a business is just possessing a van. But the growth you may require in the future depends on being ready and prepared for the demand and competition which will be at the peak in the upcoming time. 

Initial Steps for Newcomers to Start NEMT Business:

The newcomers need to decide whether they want to have the sole proprietorship of the business, an LLC, or a joint venture. Along with this, the transportation licensing has to be done or validated. Beginners can get more information in this regard from the State Department of Health and Human Services.  The documentation, validation and license process could be time-consuming. So, have a buffer time before launching your business. Besides this, business and marketing plan, hiring of personnel, vehicles with necessary arrangements and NEMT software are the essentials to start the business.

For Existing NEMT Business Runners:

It is time for the existing NEMT business owners to revise the various strategies and ideas to expand the operation. With the help of technology and making the staff more tech-savvy can set you at a higher level in this industry by providing quality trips and optimizing the profit out of daily scheduled trips since the entire operational tasks can be managed and monitored with NEMT software.

Whether You Are a Newcomer or Existing Business Owner, There Are Certain Steps That Will Help You Grow:

1 Plan Your Investments:

Investments depend on your plan for business expansion. You need to decide whether you want to serve the limited clients and do business at a small scale and local level or you want to expand it at the state level. In the former case, you need to complete the limited trips maintaining quality and building relations with your clients. For better execution, you will require efficient software that would manage automated scheduling, billing, and mandatory operational tasks.

In the latter case, if you want to expand, you will have to raise your service standards at a higher level by optimizing your NEMT software through technological upgrades so that you can have your business flourishing.

Considering, each state has its own vehicle certification policy, take into account the expenses for insurance, transportation licensing and permits. Evaluate the cost of vehicle maintenance, fuel, office supplies, etc. which will keep the business functioning smoothly and complying with the operations with HIPAA standards.

2 Offering an Affordable Rate for Your Service:

Providing up-to-the-mark service at an affordable price is one of the key factors attracting clients. The average earning of the NEMT service provider lies between the bracket of US$35-US$60 per hour. You can get an approximate idea to finalize your rates by comparing your competitors’ rates in that same region. Comparing their pricing patterns, fleet, services, you can offer some attractive discounts or schemes for your clients to be noticed.

3 Advertisement and Branding:

The use of brand and advertising can speed up your reach to your clients. A brand can be a logo, tag-line, color theme or a combination of certain images representing your service. It is a sign of identity which makes people recognize your service and business and works as a connection between you and them. The brand, as the face of your business, should be appealing. The big share of NEMT business comes from the senior citizens so start researching your local senior centers, retirement and assisted living facilities and healthcare providers. You can get the business from these centers and once these clients start to develop trust in you, word of mouth recommendations will start to play its role as the most genuine component of your advertising and branding.

4 Stand-Out Factor:

You are providing the same service which your competitors are. Then what would be the difference that would make people notice you and compel them to be part of your business? The stand-out factor is the solution. Giving the same service but having some special features will make you stand out among your competitors. Understand the need for clients before they demand. Clients expect a little more from a NEMT driver than an ordinary taxi driver. Being proactive and kind to your clients can make them feel cared for and valued. NEMT industry has been facing some issues as far as service to clients is concerned. Genuine striving to overcome can provide you the stand-out factor.

• Being Late: Prevalent Complaint.

  Nobody likes to wait. Even a fit and healthy person detests waiting, let alone a patient or disabled person. Being punctual means being in demand in the NEMT industry. But, to achieve the punctuality, one has to streamline and optimize the schedule in a way that it will allow approximately 15-20 minutes time managing the gap between pick-ups. Obviously, you will have fewer trips but from the clients’ point of view, they will have a good start and quality trips. Clients would start to demand your service so you can ask the broker for better rates. And your enhanced reliability and quality will compel them to agree with your terms.

• Behavior Issue: The Most Common Complaint.

  Sometimes the clients experience unprofessional behavior from the drivers and the assistants. Companies get to know about this through reviews and feedback.  Behavior issues hamper the business while politeness enhances your business growth. However safe your service is, you complete the trips for clients if you are not polite, it is all of no avail without pleasing personalities attending the casualties.

  Some of the steps which could be helpful in enhancing driver’s conduct are:

  i. Soft Skill Development Sessions and Training Programs: At certain intervals and for new recruitments, soft skill and motivational sessions should be arranged. These sessions would underline the importance of decent behavior with clients. Sympathetic dealing of the drivers with the patients can certainly be effective in reducing the number of missed medical appointments. So, it would help with a better Return on Investment (ROI). 
  
  ii. Sharing the Feedback: The feedback of clients should be shared with the drivers and assistants on a regular basis while the crucial feedback should be shared with them on priority.
  
  iii. Rewards and Recognition: Drivers and assistants should be rewarded and appreciated for their good behavior.’ Criticize in private and praise in public ‘ policy is motivational to perform better. This R & R program can be Soft Skill Development Sessions and conducted on a monthly or quarterly basis.
  
  iv. Disciplinary Actions: Disciplinary actionsfor impolite behavior can compel the drivers to be polite with clients. The warning letter accompanied by loss of payment and ZTP ( Zero tolerance policy) should be implemented.
  
  
• Stay Connected:  Reply to the Clients’ Feedback and Comments Regularly.

  In the world of social media and online presence, feedbacks and reviews from customers work as a bridge between business owners, staff and customers. So the remarks and comments should be addressed properly to keep the flow going. Having feedback shows that you are noticed and replying properly to one’s comment encourages people to be connected. Being in contact with your staff and clients helps build a strong business. So, make it a point to check these reviews, comments as well as ratings regularly.

5 Think About the Future Demands of Your Clients in Advance:

To be successful in business we need new clients but not at the cost of losing old ones. If you succeed in retaining your old ones means you are providing a stable and satisfactory service. To maintain this in the future, you should proactively start thinking about the possible needs of your clients. Their needs and requirements can vary. For instance, they might need an assistant in the future to perform their daily tasks or scheduled caregiver visits, they might have increased medical appointments due to suffering from some chronic diseases and a lack of mobility. For providing solutions to these changing needs, you may require an interdisciplinary team that can take care of these needs with accuracy and efficiency. Having a solution to the occurred situations will increase your credibility and dependability. Specially, your service may be asked by your client.

6 Be Eligible to Get More Business from Brokers:

Brokers always want their providers to succeed. If providers succeed, so do the brokers.  Being prompt, accurate, diligent and dedicated makes you eligible to get more trips. You have to do nothing extra to achieve this. Following the instruction to execute the trip as per the asked standards and keeping the detailed information of being on time, provision of asked vehicle, odometer readings, submitting claims and invoices will make you reliable for a broker. Your dedication and commitment enhance your credibility. Brokers use NEMT software to monitor and manage their provider clients.

7 Keep Yourself Technologically Updated:

Success in the NEMT industry demands high-quality service. Most of the time, this cannot be handled manually or using the antiquated process due to consistently high demand. NEMT software plays an important role in dealing with this. It enables providers to grow their business by maintaining the required standards and criteria. Automated billing and scheduling will save you considerable time and paperwork by offering a cost-effective rate to the customer. The saved time can be utilized to focus on your business and exploring the different tools.

Wrapping Up

Though, here in the market for a long time, the non-emergency medical transport facilities are revamping their strategies to suit the customers better. The NEMT service is being transformed into user-friendly NEMT software, where the customer can use it as per their convenience. Focussing on the patient ‘s comfort, simplicity of the app, its attractive user interface, and seamless operation, it is foreseen to make it big in the regional as well as the global market in the coming years.

Author's Bio

Millions of people all around the world, who somehow miss medical care due to lack of transportation services, they can experience a significant improvement in terms of medical transportation with the help of NEMT (Non-Emergency Medical Transportation) services. Digitally integrated NEMT services reduce barriers to healthcare transportation. 

The Current NEMT Industry: With Traditional Technology 

As being one of the vital components of the healthcare system in the USA, annually US$5 million is spent by Medicaid and other health plans to provide the NEMT benefits which include the transportation of patients to and from doctor’s appointments, dialysis centers, and other healthcare visits. Every year, the NEMT network covers nearly 104 million trips. The demand for the service is increasing with the rise in the elderly population and life expectancy rate. The surge in the total revenue of global healthcare transportation certainly indicates the expansion of the industry.

With the rising demands, to provide the top-notch service, healthcare centers, and insurers need to utilize new technology to manage the operations smoothly, maintaining transparency. The new aspects like ridesharing, autonomous vehicles, and more are being introduced to be used in the NEMT business for optimization and better customer experiences.

Result Of Lack Of Up-to-date Technology: Malpractice In The NEMT Industry

Being a lifesaving aspect of the Medicaid program, the volume and magnitude of the industry are enormous. So, inefficiencies and malpractice results in billions of lost revenue misused funds along with higher healthcare costs.

Factors Causing Misuse of Funds:

• Fraud:

  Use of traditional and conventional ways like phone and fax to track and monitor trips leaves the scope for fraud. Lack of updated technology like GPS  provides the chances to produce increased mileage on trips, unavailability to book an appropriate vehicle prevents fudge medical necessity to invoice more expensive vehicle trips, Billing for the trips which never took place increases the nations health-care cost.

  Some Instances of Fraud Practices:

  • The dialysis patients who didn’t need ambulance transportation were provided the service. Hence, to settle the claims, two ambulance programs in Connecticut paid almost US$600,000.
  • As reported by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), the practice of attributing the rides to ceased people landed Massachusetts NEMT provider in jail with a fine of approximately US$475,000.
  • The mother faced imprisonment of 30 days with a fine of worth US$21,500 for the trips which never took place. She had billed for child treatment trips to Medicaid.

• Missed Medical Appointments :

  Lack of streamlined systems in the industry results in an increased number of missed medical appointments. Annually 3.6 million patients miss their medical appointments. It causes more hospital stays and extra expenditure on healthcare.

• Unnecessary Service :

  A practice known as “upcoding” means charging for unnecessary medical devices and support (such as an Advanced Life Support -ALS when only Basic Life Support-BLS is needed.) Companies earn their profit through this practice. A dialysis patient is provided an ambulance when a wheelchair car will do. But it costs him double.

• High Administrative Cost:

  The most time-consuming tasks in the NEMT industry are scheduling and billing. Healthcare service providers or NEMT transportation service providers arrange a trip for patients only after checking the eligibility. If the client is eligible, scheduling and billing require more staff to get the task done unless up-to-date tools and technology are used. 

  In a discussion on high administrative cost with National Public Radio Harvard economist David Cutler presented an example of Duke University Hospital, which has 1300 billing clerks and 900 beds. This additional staff is needed to make accurate bills that meet the requirements of various insurance providing companies.

• Extra Cost For The Same Service:

  When a regular vendor is unavailable, you may have to rely on another provider. It may cost more to the provider, and the customer as the charges for the service may vary.

Measures To Attain Profitable Business With The Provision Of Cost-effective Services:

In this modern age where technology is making radical changes in every field, the NEMT sector is no exception. Using well-equipped tools to maintain the NEMT operation can bring about the desired changes.

1. Discarding old and traditional methodology of using phone and fax, utilization of technologically advanced tools, applications, and software to execute all the commands and operational tasks required for successful completion of NEMT trips with bringing the operation on an online platform can be used. This technology facilitates us with monitoring and managing the operations along with providing the exact data like web-enabled time stamps of actual pick-up and drop time, making billing and scheduling so easy, getting online, and instant feedback from clients for evaluating the performance of service providers for better results.
2. Evaluation of the performance of the service provider can bring about a healthy competition, which results in the elimination of the companies that are are not performing well in the industry. The allotment of trips on the basis of quality and care can be managed to keep client satisfaction at the topmost priority.
3. Proper analysis of the data obtained using the latest technology, not just for record maintenance, but can also be helpful in utilizing the funds properly in the facility, which in turn can save the cost of healthcare and also provide quality and proper care to the patient.

That’s Why Digitization is a must…

Managed healthcare organizations are now focusing more on improving patient care by digitizing their operations. Everyone associated with the NEMT business can gain benefits with the adequate use of technology-driven NEMT solutions. Designed keeping in mind the multiple functions of stakeholders such as healthcare organizations, brokers, transport providers,  and Medicaid beneficiaries, NEMT dispatch software solution rigorously focuses on all levels of operational care and provides reliable transportation services. 

With the help of NEMT software,

• Healthcare organizations can easily organize and manage their NEMT operations such as Trips, Drivers, Vehicles, Clients on a single platform. They can easily create, plan, schedule, and track the trip on a click of a button. This software has the capability to collect and compile the data to gain operational insights and performance reports. 
• Transport providers can seamlessly schedule patient transportation requests to suits the patients’ needs. They can streamline other transportation functions like vehicle allotment, billing, communication with their drivers to enhance the service. 
• Drivers can get real-time patient transportation requests and navigate their routes for seamless pick-up and drop of patients. They can view their trip departures and arrivals. 
• Medicaid beneficiaries can access on-demand transportation services for medical purposes quickly and efficiently. This results in improved health, better and all levels of care, and lower costs. 

Key Features Of The NEMT Solution:

1 Personalized Experience

Healthcare providers can highlight their brand name and logo, along with a seamless user interface. They can also get the opportunity to promote the value proposition of their organization effectively, as the solution delivers the customized user experience of healthcare needs. It results in higher customer engagement and brand loyalty. Personalized experience keeps users the most active and engaged with the app.

2 HIPPA Compliant

To keep patients’ medical data secure, the solution is designed considering the HIPAA compliance. As per the guidelines, it is mandatory to ensure the protection of the personal healthcare information that is used and stored electronically. This solution allows the healthcare entity to create, edit, use, send or receive the protected data on a single platform.

3 GPS-enabled Tracking

The integrated mapping system of the solution provides real-time data of the trip; it enables drivers to determine effective routes to reach passenger locations. It helps to automate the process, making it easy for patients to find out nearby vehicles and book immediately. This reduces the phone call between the patients and service providers.

4 Comprehensive Management

Managing everything on a single platform is possible with the help of a technology-driven NEMT solution. It helps to manage all the information related to NEMT operations accurately like trip management capabilities, routing and scheduling, scalable as per organizations’ demands, monitor, track, and protect real-time data.

Migrating from traditional methods to cutting-edge technology is essential to improve the transportation process. It gives visibility to the entire healthcare transportation, reducing the paperwork associated with each medical trip and enhances communication. 

Conclusion

Acceptance of innovation can lead to change in the current model of the industry, which is plagued by fraud and money wastage. With the cutting edge technology, transparency and reliability can be increased. By simply abandoning the old methodology and adapting the required functionality to the NEMT field, the industry can grow and provide required facilities without compromising with the latest standards. An updated technology-enabled system can help improve health and reduce healthcare costs. Indirectly, it enhances the quality of life by providing access to well-coordinated and reliable transportation services.

Author's Bio

It is challenging to bring changes to the healthcare sector due to numerous legacy systems as well as highly sensitive personal information. Throughout the globe, many governments experience innumerable problems in their initiatives for making healthcare services digitized. The healthcare structure as an entity suffers unprecedented challenges due to the ever-increasing expectations as well as rising demands.

All these parameters place the existing healthcare model under increased strain. While the healthcare industry has to deliver higher operational efficiency via digital transformation, there comes an ever-increasing pressure for consistently providing better services to the patients.

The challenges experienced by the healthcare sector can probably be better understood during the version control process when it is about managing a vast number of patient records electronically, integrating healthcare and social data, and building infrastructure for connecting trusts, clinics, hospitals, and surgeries.

This is where cloud computing comes into existence. Cloud technology is gradually changing and modifying how doctors, nurses, hospitals, and clinics render cost-effective and quality services to the patients. This change is being triggered by two aspects – the economic imperative for cutting costs and improving the quality of patient care. The technology of cloud computing can revolutionize healthcare to make things more efficient by a decentralized method.

Earlier, by keeping all the information centralized, healthcare firms had to obtain and maintain every necessary software, hardware, as well as relevant staff- irrespective of, if or not such resources were utilized efficiently.

The cloud-based computing technology namely its caliber of efficiently processing and delivering information in collaborative style as well as analyzing data to relevant information possesses the capability of relieving the challenges faced with earlier methods. By making use of cloud-based solutions, healthcare firms are only required to pay for the things that they use, like applications, infrastructure service, and storage.

Different Cloud Computing Solutions for the Healthcare Sector

Nowadays many different cloud computing solutions, encompassing a broad spectrum of abilities, have come up for the healthcare sector. Mentioned below is an extensive list of various cloud computing services available for the healthcare firms as of now.

The analysis of the bigger sets of data across various industries is providing necessary insights that were not available earlier. That being said, healthcare is no different. Big data and cloud services are used for tracking, and mapping diseases, and informing the mass as to where the potential risk exists.

Healthcare firms can use the infrastructure and services needed for supporting these services at a reduced cost by adopting cloud computing. Some tooling available in the market today is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), IBM Explorys, McKesson, eClinicalWorks, Cerner, and IBM Phytel Population Health Management.

Physicians and healthcare firms are increasingly making use of cloud-based medical records, healthcare image archiving techniques, and practice management solutions. Such medical solutions offer cost-effective and easy implementation of various tasks. Some tooling available in the market is IBM Watson Care Manager, Diabetes Care, McKesson, and eClinicalWorks EHR.

Organizations are now building various new SaaS services and products for concentrating the expertise needed as well as lowering the production cost for the healthcare providers. Some tooling available in the market is Eyenuk EyeArt Retinal Screening and IBM Merge iConnect Retinal Screening.

Image handling service is one of the essential cloud-based services for healthcare providers. These cloud-based services help healthcare firms in scaling storage services for a reduced cost that will be needed for internally implementing them by reducing the total TCO. The tooling available in the market is IBM Merge iConnect Access, IBM Merge iConnect Cloud Archive, McKesson, and RxEye Cloud.

With the arrival of advanced analytics, language processing, and machine learning, the scope of cognitive assistance flourished. The cloud computing solutions have helped medical practitioners in searching large amounts of data for producing better treatment plans. The patients can make use of these services for exploring their medical problems and collaborating with their physician.

Cloud-based services which address the patient connectivity help the patients in connecting with the medical services of their providers. Some tooling available in the market is e-ClinicalWorks, Cerner, and IBM Truven Micromedex Patient Connect Suite.

Cloud-based data distribution services help in exchanging important health-related information between healthcare organizations. This health-related information can be patient images, electronic medical records, and much more. Some cloud services available in the market today are IBM Merge eMix, Medical Interoperability Gateway, and Cal INDEX.

Cloud-based laboratory services such as document control and Histology Exam Simulator help clinical labs in various works. Some tooling available in the market today is Cerner Laboratory, MediaLab Cloud-Based Software for the Lab, and IBM Merge LIS.

Many pharmacology vendors today are supplying SaaS and PaaS solutions for improving drug development and research. The data explosion from the next-gen sequencing, together with the increasing necessity of biologics concept in research is making cloud-based computing a critical facet in research and development.

The pharma agencies now need not to deploy techniques for handling huge sets of data in the computing facilities, thereby minimizing the barrier-to-entry and hiking the rate of change. The tooling available in the market today is Medidata Clinical Cloud, IBM Merge eClinicalOS.

BPaaS is the delivery of the business process outsourcing (BPO) service which is derived from the cloud and developed for multi-tenancy. The services are usually automated and the places where human processing actors are needed, there is no precisely available labor pool for each client.

Pricing models are subscription-based or consumption-based commercial terms. As a cloud-based service, the BPaaS model can be accessed through internet-based technologies. Some tooling available in the market today is Gartner Research (BPaaS), Gartner Research (iBPMS), IBM Merge Financials, and IBM Merge Document Management.

Considerations for Deploying Cloud-Based Computing for Healthcare

The healthcare organizations (HCOs) should aim at providing improved and advanced patient care abilities while limiting the medical cost hikes at the same time. IT plays a critical role in patient and healthcare field, with cloud-based solutions starting to make their mark. There are significant benefits to adopting cloud computing for healthcare practices. However, some specifications that need consideration which is as mentioned below.

• Healthcare firms require establishing robust cloud solution agreements having detailed provisions for privacy, security, and to understand their risks, liabilities and to be capable of absorbing those risks.
• Healthcare firms should be aware of how and where the Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) is handled, stored, or moved by their CSP.
  
  
• Supplement security controls might be necessary for healthcare firms, and background checks might be important for the CSP personnel who would interact with the ePHI.
• Healthcare firms should be capable of tracking the modification, deletion, and creation of the ePHI, its process, and storage on any cloud service.

• The implementation of control and operational facets for securing the ePHI is carried out by the CSP. However, the ultimate compliance responsibility is always on the healthcare firm.
• The owners of the ePHI should need CSPs for contractually agreeing for maintaining every ePHI, abiding by the government regulations and standards.
• Healthcare firms should know country-specific regulations linked with the connected healthcare devices which need compliance from healthcare device manufacturers as well as the relevant service providers.
  
  

• The primary performance indicators connected to CSP performance and reliability should be monitored and refined regularly.
• Disaster recovery is important. Healthcare firms require making sure that the cloud solution agreements offer the right treatment of disaster recovery problems, processes, and procedures.
• Change management is essential. The capability of the CSP for performing software and system upgrades regularly is essential.
  

• Providing an end-to-end system which completely integrates all the patient data, including in-patient and emergency care, billing, reimbursements, pharmacies, and other concerns need interoperability and standardization across in-house HIT systems and cloud services.
• Using standard data models and healthcare interfaces help in migrating to the various cloud-based service providers.
  

• There are several standards which can be applied to multiple facets of healthcare solutions; customers should understand the standards available properly and if the cloud-based services abide by the necessary standards for provided capabilities.

Steps for Deploying Cloud Computing in Healthcare

• Create a business case.
• Determine and prioritize cloud-based medical solutions.
• Identify the relevant service and cloud deployment models.
• Make sure all privacy and security needs are addressed.
• Integrate with the old enterprise system.
• Negotiate Cloud solution agreements and scrutinize primary performance indicators.
• Manage Cloud environment.

Wrapping Up,

Cloud technology is very robust, efficient, and secure. It has indeed given rise to a much-needed revolution in the domain of healthcare. There is absolutely no doubt in the fact that cloud computing in the medical field has been a blessing for both the healthcare service providers as well as receivers. There are still multiple innovations and developments happening in this field, and we can be hopeful to watch out for more advancements shortly.

If you want better and productive solutions for your healthcare firm, connect with the best Cloud Computing developers today and get the best quote.

Author's Bio

Technological advancement has brought evolution in every sector, making the management process speedy and seamless, serving more people worldwide. The healthcare sector is no exception. The arena of healthcare informatics, combined with healthcare data, information technology, and business, has gained a huge boost from technology. Health Information System (HIS) is such a technological boon for the health industry, helping the management of healthcare data with utter efficiency. The implementation of this system helps in improving the quality of patient care, reducing operational cost, making administration data error-free and shaping the entire internal management process more organized. 

If you are new to this industry, this post will help you understand the important features of HIS, what benefits you can get from HIS and how it can make your business activities seamless and profitable. So, without further ado, let’s start the discussion. 

Benefits of Health Information System

Health Information System is a technology-driven system that makes the process of sharing protected health information (PHI) between organizations and providers really hassle-free. Also, because of this system, patients are able to get seamless and coordinated treatment from healthcare providers. Especially, the patients whose diagnoses need cross-specialty treatment coordination and substantial medical information management get the maximum benefits from HIS. And above all, it improves the delivery of the care and outcomes of the patients.

As you get easy access to patients’ data with the help of Health Information Systems, you can save all the information and share across multiple databases to improve the safety of the patients. Even you can get alert notification whenever there are any issues related to patients’ health. For example, the healthcare providers can receive an alert from program security checking about the harmful effects patients may experience on any particular medicine if they have that without being prescribed. This way you can avoid committing any serious mistake that happens due to the lack of details available during making the decisions.

By collecting and saving patients’ information, including diagnosis reports, medical history, allergy reactions, vaccinations, treatment information plans, test results, etc., Health Information Systems provide the healthcare providers a complete and orderly framework that helps them interact with their patients in a better way and eventually deliver care to them in a more efficient way.

Using Health Information Systems enables multiple avenues through which you can access your staff performance, analysis patient care, check the efficiency and stability of your organization. HIS reduces the paperwork and makes every record computerized. You can take any decision related to your staff based on their skill sets. Also, you can take decisions after focusing on previous performance details. With HIS, your patients get the chance of sharing review regarding the level of care they are receiving from your staff so that you can stay aware of the performance of your staff and analyze the effectiveness of your organization.

With HIS, you can address any kind of stressed situations for your patients. You can have a virtual view of patient flow and what every individual patient experiences during their meeting with health care providers, administrative personnel, lab technician and financial assistants. Careful attention to this helps you spot the areas where you can bring betterment.

As Health Information Systems maintains less paperwork and makes everything computerized and automated, you get the error-free reports and information. As a result, various medication errors can be avoided and patients’ safety can be ensured.

According to a report, published by World Health Organization (WHO), “The Health Information System collects data from the health sector and other relevant sectors, analyses the data and ensures their overall quality, relevance and timeliness, and converts data into information for health-related decision-making.” And the more reliable the information is, you have the better chance to make any decision, implement any policy, execute any regulation, conduct health research, training, and development program and have a check on service delivery.

Health Information Systems Enable health organizations to assign resources in a  planned manner and save potentially remarkable amounts of expenses, energy, and supplies. In a nutshell, you can make your healthcare service better for your patients while saving lots of money.

Other than saving money, Health Information Systems help in saving time as well. By making all the patients’ information computerized and personal activities automated, HIS saves a significant amount of time in making patient care coordinated and hospital management seamless. 

By adding value to the clinical process Health Information Systems don’t only make the daily job of healthcare providers and administration easy but also improves the satisfaction level of the patients. The patients can rely on your service, and when you become a reliable name in your sector, you get more patients and get a great return on investment.

After going through the benefits of Health Information Systems, it is clear that HIS offers healthcare providers various opportunities to provide better care to the patients while saving cost and making work seamless.

Now let’s a have a look at what makes Health Information Systems proffer these benefits. And to have a clear idea about that, you need to know the features of HIS. So, without further ado, let’s talk about the monumental features of HIS.

Important Features of Health Information Systems

The patient portal is an important feature of the Health Information System. It is a platform, similar to the electronic health record, but what makes it different is that through these patients are capable of having secure online access to their medical records, scheduling doctor appointment, communicating with the doctor, check medical bills and processing payment online. All they need is a smart device to avail the maximum benefits of the feature. Instead of following the age-old process of scheduling a doctor’s appointment, they can just log in to their account in the patient portal, have a look at the availability of their doctors and make an appointment as per their convenience and doctor’s availability. After scheduling the appointment, they can check the bill and make the payment or set the details for future payments. The popularity of Patient portal is increasing day by day because it improves the accessibility for the patients and maintains the transparency between the patients and their treatment processes. Therefore hospitals opt for this to improve their patients’ satisfaction level and build themselves as reliable ones.

Online medical billing feature manages all the billing tasks in less amount of time than usual. Gone are the days when hospitals used to spend a major amount of time in managing all the appointments and billings. Now with medical billing feature, patients’ billing, insurance details, patient tracking, and payment process – everything can be handled with efficiency. You can even receive notification alert if there is any delay or other issues in payment so that you can take action accordingly. Moreover, the claim scrubbing tool in medical billing helps you detect any type of medical errors way before they start to slow down your management process. It includes scanning and getting rid of any LCD, CCI or HIPAA based errors, and delivering you latest updated reports.

Just like the patient portal, with patient scheduling patients can schedule their own appointments by simply logging into their respective accounts. This way they neither have to wait in line in front of the doctor’s chamber or clinic nor need to call the clinic again and again to make an appointment. All the facilities will be available 24/7 in just a tap away. They can even match their convenience with the availability of the doctor and book appointment accordingly. This feature is beneficial for the care providers as well. They can assign their staff, test rooms, and specialty apparatus (if needed).

This software in Health Information Systems speeds up the complete prescription process, usually done by the staff members of the medical practitioner’s office. They can send and fill the prescriptions of every patient to the pharmacies via online. Also, they can track the entire process and take any action if needed. This way the whole process becomes quick, safe and error-free. 

This is another promising feature of Health Information Systems, enabling the access of patients’ details easy, helping care providers deliver good health care to the patients and minimizing severe condition expenses. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is really useful for patients who are suffering from chronic health issues. Doctors use the information collected through RPM for monitoring patients’ health status. Also, with these details, they can foretell or put a stop to the situations that would or else need serious medical intervention. Other than chronic health care, RPM is helpful for other cases as well, such as care for the senior citizens, care after discharging a patient, treatment for behavioral health and substance abuse, etc.

Master Patient Index is quite popular across many hospitals and large organizations of medical practices. With this technology, one needs to feed the patients’ information once. After that, it gets connected to multiple databases and as a result, this data can be useful in the future for other lab tests and clinical departments. There will be no need to feed the data manually every time. The ease of access to patients’ details is the most important benefit of using the Master Patient Index. Also, it is completely automated, reduces the possibility of errors and improves the safety of the information.

Wrapping it up,

Health Information Systems are bringing revolution in healthcare service. In assistance with the robust systems in hospitals and medical procedures, not only the efficiency of the professionals will be increased but also their work becomes easier and more organized. As a result, they put a focus on giving better care to the patients. In a nutshell, HIS offers a win-win situation for both the patients and the healthcare providers. 

Author's Bio

When was the last time you checked a piece of news about healthcare data being hacked?The healthcare industry is not out of danger caused by data breaches. In fact, the industry is increasingly targeted by cybercriminals nowadays. According to a report, “data breaches have been increased by 12% within the past five years, with the healthcare industry experiencing the highest costs at $6.5 million on average per breach.”

Therefore, healthcare practitioners cannot just take the matter of cybersecurity lightly. Time has come when they must give importance to it and invest in bringing betterment in digital security.

In today’s post, I am going to give you a complete overview about cybersecurity in healthcare industry – the threats caused due to cyberattack, the major cybersecurity risks in the medical sector, the possible reasons for which medical data gets hacked, and above all how healthcare industry can improve in the field of cybersecurity and protect their patients information. So, without further ado, let’s start the discussion.

Major Threats Caused Due To Cyberattack

Electronic Health Records (EHR) include various details about patients, such as the test results, medical history, etc. Thus, securing a health organization network is a major IT concern. Electronic Health Records have made it possible for healthcare professionals and insurance agencies to share important details. As a result, both can coordinate and facilitate insurance matters in an easy way. Indeed these records have helped the medical professional collaborate for meeting patient’s needs efficiently.

However, this interconnected nature of today’s healthcare industry has a downside too. It creates digital security risks. The shared medical details have improved the patient care process. But the same thing can put these patients at risk as well. Wider the healthcare network becomes, the more useful it is in delivering high-quality health care, but its details also become more inviting to cybercriminals.

But why healthcare centers have become easy targets for cyber threats?

There are a few reasons for this:

• Healthcare networks can contain important financial information apart from patients’ medical records.
• The network has entire personal details of everyone in some form, as there are hardly any people who do not consult a healthcare provider.
• The way Electronic Health Records are interconnected, it signifies that hackers can have access to the information that can be collected under various patients’ names for a long time. Sharing these details is important for delivering the best possible care to the patients, but the same thing also makes all the networks very vulnerable targets for hackers.

And this vulnerability leads to compromise among the patients’ data. Due to lack of management, EHRs and other valuable details can fall into malevolent hands.

Below Are Some Possible Cybersecurity Threats:

1 Employees

Access to the patients’ information is easily available from the medical staff. There is no guarantee any employee will not illegally access the sensitive information.  The stolen information can be mishandled by criminals in many ways. They can do identity theft, make fraudulent purchases, or blackmail people with such information.

2 Phishing & Malware Schemes

These can plant malevolent scripts on a computer or steal sign-in credentials. And as a result, the whole network gets badly affected. One of the most common malware schemes is requesting sign-in information through emails from websites. Once a user gives the sign-in credentials, the hacker can sign in to the system. Diverse kinds of viruses will store the records-related information and automatically address it back to the actual host or allow it to get in action later.

3 Vendors

Medical professionals often have to work with different vendors without being aware of the associated risks. For example, if a cleaning agency is hired by a hospital, there is a possibility of that the agency’s employees get access to the hospital’s computers. While the personal details of patients should be safeguarded in such a way so that not all employees can view, it can not be guaranteed to keep the details completely secure since cleaning and other maintenance are important for keeping a health organization’s environment healthy.

4 Smartphone Devices

The medical facilities that allow sign-ins through mobile phones do not always need the phones to meet the security standards. This increases the vulnerability of their networks to cybercriminals. Also, stolen or lost mobile devices, which once used for accessing any healthcare facility, act as threats. If a lost or stolen phone comes in the wrong hands, the user can access that phone’s old or stored sign-in details and access the system. And such malicious action makes the process of resealing the data breach challenging.

5 Open Computer Access

Unlimited access to computers present in healthcare organizations can increase risks. If sensitive details about patients are stored in these computers and hackers get access in an unauthorized way, phishing attempts can be done easily, and hackers can have a gateway into the sensitive areas of the network.

6 Insufficient Discard Of Outdated Hardware

Old outdated hard drives and hardware that are used for accessing a network with credentials or electronic health records do not guarantee any security for those details even after the deletion. It has been noticed that after deleting the data and reformatting the devices, recovering the data is possible. In short, with outdated hard drives, anything that is once saved is always vulnerable.

Tips for Healthcare Industry to Be Improved in the Field of Cybersecurity

• Build Proper Security Culture

  By educating the users in a healthcare organization about the importance of keeping information secure, you can change the old careless habits and practices of the staff automatically. If your organization does not have a security culture, it is impossible to support and increase information security. Every person in a healthcare organization should have a vision of keeping information secure so that the practices and habits become automatic. You can conduct a training and awareness program for the staff frequently.  Remember, having accountability and owning responsibility to keep information secure should be the core values of your healthcare organization. Protecting your patients through proper data security practices is as important as maintaining the hygiene of the healthcare organization.

• Maintain Right Habits For Computer Usage

  Make sure the computers where all the records are stored should function properly. Configuring the software of such computers should be done accurately. If there is any software application that is not important for running the computer to access medical data, uninstall it. If you are installing new software, avoid accepting any default configuration. Go through every option, understand the options, and ask for technical help if needed. If there is any remote file sharing option, disable it to kill the possibility of unauthorized access to files. You should also maintain the software and operating system carefully to make your computers run smoothly for a long time.

• Use Firewall

  Using a firewall is important for protecting computers from any malicious intrusions from outside. It inspects all the messages coming from outside sources (internet or local network) and prevents the intrusion of anything malicious. A firewall can configure both in hardware and software. It is a complicated process. Therefore you should ask for technical assistance to do it successfully and keep your computers protected for further usages.

• Install & Update Antivirus Software

  Just like a firewall, installing a good antivirus software is also important to keep the computers protected and the information stored in them secure. An antivirus software finds and destroys anything malicious that has already been entered. After storing the health records, installing antivirus software is essential. And updating the software from time to time is also important to make it run in an error-free way. Most antivirus software shows reminders for such updates, some are configured to get updated automatically.

• Secure Mobile Devices

  I have already discussed how mobile devices can act as threats in the healthcare industry. Be it a smartphone, tablet, laptop or any other portable storage media device, every device should be used in a secure manner to protect electronic health records. Devices that cannot support the encryption of data should be banned from accessing and handling  EHR. If in any emergency, you or your staff have to take a laptop storing EHR out of a secure space, make sure the records are secured in the hard drive via encryption.

• Prepare For Unexpected Situations

  Important healthcare details should be protected against all  unexpected events, such as natural calamities, fire, etc. the two crucial parts of this practice are – keeping backups of the details and having a recovery plan. Keeping backups is important not only for securing the data but also for restoring it quickly and correctly whenever needed. One of the commonly used backup options is cloud computing that requires zero investment in hardware and little technical skill. On the other hand, when you have a recovery plan at the time of emergency, you know exactly what to do to protect and restore the data.

• Use Strong Passwords And Keep On Changing Them Regularly

  No matter which operating system you are using, make sure it is protected with a strong password. There is no guarantee that a strong password can completely prevent hacking activities, but it may slow the hackers down and also discourage them. Moreover, a strong password with effectual access control restricts casual misuse. Therefore think strategically and create a strong password for your system. Also, keep changing the password from time to time to improve the protection.

• Restrict Network Access

  Make sure any of your employees install or configure any software or application without prior approval from the authorities. Also, the signal of a wireless network should be secured so that only those who have permission to access the health records can pick up the signal. Moreover, make sure the router operates only in encrypted mode.

Final Thoughts,

Improving cybersecurity in healthcare has become a very important factor in today’s time when hackers are constantly targeting this industry. The above discussion has given you a profound idea about cyber threats and the possible risks a healthcare organization can face. Also, it helps preparing a defense against cybercriminals.

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