Can you run a medical practice without a physical server?

If you’re running a medical practice, server costs are highly likely to feature on the list of your biggest technology expenses. 

The cost of your server includes the physical cost of the hardware, maintenance, updates, security and backups — as well as the requirement for space to house it. If your server goes down or your business is struck by fire, floods or other disasters, you’re looking at additional costs in the form of data loss and downtime until you can replace your damaged equipment and get back up and running again. 

The good news is, a server in your practice isn’t necessarily essential for your medical practice. In fact, with cloud software you can ditch the physical server altogether and save money as well as risk-proof your business. 

How does it work?

With cloud-based clinical software, there’s no need for a physical server. Your software is hosted by an external company and accessed remotely. Servers are maintained by the cloud provider who also takes care of upgrades, backups and security. All you have to do is log in to your account on your browser and everything you need is right there. 

There are a number of ways ditching the server can save you money:

Reduced hardware costs. Not only do you not have to fork out for a server, you can also reduce your hardware and infrastructure costs as cloud software is flexible and accessible from any device that has an internet connection. This means all you need to get up and running is a network cable and an internet connection. 

Reduced IT costs. Because your backups, upgrades and any maintenance or fixes are taken care of for you, you can save on third-party IT providers. 

Increased productivity. Cloud software platforms can increase efficiency through greater flexibility and automation. This frees your staff up to focus on caring for your patients and allows them to see more patients, increasing profitability. 

Running a medical practice without a server on site is not only possible, it can be hugely beneficial for saving costs. To find out how much you could save by moving to a cloud platform like MedicalDirector Helix, take a look at our calculator here.