Head in the Cloud
http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=365&sid=2057261
The Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to come to terms with a new challenge when it comes to medical records: should it allow young medical doctors some flexibility to use newly available Web tools to help them care for their patients?
Just about anyone who uses a computer and the Internet these days is familiar with online services that lets users store and share things like word processing documents and spreadsheets. And VA Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and chief information officer Roger Baker is now trying to set official policy on whether such applications can be used in limited circumstances when accessing veterans’ personal information.
The tech world is abuzz with the term “cloud computing.” For the uninitiated, “the cloud” refers to services that are provided by vendors whose servers may store data outside of the institution in which it is used. This is a relatively new paradigm that security conscious institutions such as the Veteran’s administration are learning to cope with. Historically many applications and all data were contained within a company’s own servers, on site. This is changing.
What if a “cloud” software solution beats the pants off of a home-grown application? What if users –doctors in this case- begin adapting outside technology to their needs, in spite of regulations to the contrary?
This seems to be happening more frequently. Large, security minded institutions are going to have to deal with this reality in an ever more pressing manner. You can’t at once have ultimate security and THE BEST, fastest and most user-friendly solutions without opening the doors to the outside a little.
As the costs of software development continue to plummet. And better solutions make their way to market in an accelerated fashion, this trend will continue. The latest and greatest will continue to rise up from the obscure. And institutions that pass on software that provides real value will lag. It will be interesting to watch the trend unfold.
