Considering IT Services for Your Medical Practice or Dental Office? Here Are the Questions You Should Be Asking

Technology can be something of a double-edged sword for medical practices and dental offices. When deftly configured to meet the needs of these and other healthcare operations, IT can streamline tasks, maintain patient privacy, and support improved outcomes. But getting it right requires experience, planning and expertise.

Onboarding the right managed IT services provider can alleviate many medical and dental practice challenges. By that same token, the wrong provider can leave you frustrated. Before sitting down with consultants, consider creating a managed service provider questionnaire to determine the right fit.

How Long Has Your Firm Been in Business?

Longevity is not necessarily a make-or-break way to measure the viability of a managed IT service provider. But, longevity and experience are important to organizations that deal with significant government regulations and patient privacy mandates. While an upstart IT company may be well-equipped to handle the IT of less-regulated industries, medical and dental practices would be wise to hire a third-party IT firm with no less than 10 years of experience.

How Large Is the Managed IT Company?

Although small outfits may tell you that size doesn’t matter, adequate staffing is necessary. For example, a managed IT provider charged with overseeing your cybersecurity defenses requires enough people to deliver 24-7 monitoring. Team members must also have the certifications, training and experience to deter and repel hackers. Those are reasons to hire an IT provider with no less than 20 employees.

Where Are Your Headquarters Located?

This tends to be one of the subjective IT support questions for medical and dental organizations. Today’s remote capabilities allow firms to manage systems and provide determined cybersecurity from afar. For example, advanced IT service providers usually offer Remote Monitoring and Management, aka RMM. An experienced firm with the tools, technology and experts can oversee digital operations, including endpoint devices. But if you place a high value on in-person business relationships, consider a firm within your average commuter radius.

Does Your IT Business Handle Organizations That Require HIPAA Compliance?

It’s important to keep in mind that each industry operates under specific guidelines. The military industrial base follows the Pentagon’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification mandate. Healthcare organizations must meet or exceed the patient privacy regulations outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA. A firm that possesses HIPAA compliance experience ranks among the best reasons to hire an IT provider.

How To Get Started With a Healthcare Managed IT Services Provider

Once you have checked references and completed your due diligence, a healthcare managed IT services provider reviews existing systems and security vulnerabilities. One of our consultants then works with the practice’s leadership team to craft a managed IT and cybersecurity plan that meets your needs and effectively protects your digital assets.

At Integrity Systems, we specialize in integrating and supporting technology built around your needs. With experience in technology support and guidance, we’ve earned a reputation for honesty, commitment, reliability and creativity. Request a free consultation today, and let’s get the process started.