3 Signs It’s Time to Partner with a Managed IT Services Provider
Often the need for managed services isn’t recognized until it’s too late, as in when:
- projects pile up and topple over burnt-out staff
- timelines run amuck, and it’s impossible to keep up with critical benchmarks
- financial objectives go out the window, and budgets go haywire
We’re working during unprecedented times. Industry-wide, health systems and hospitals are operating on limited resources: staffing, funding, and the most precious, time. Yet there are big expectations for IT departments in 2022. Like cracking down on cybersecurity. Wrestling big data. Digitizing patient experiences. Overcoming integration barriers.
Big-picture planning and transformational software projects require dedicated focus and support for in-house staff. When daily IT responsibilities bog down the pipeline, it can be challenging for teams to make significant strides toward improving day-to-day business and clinical operations.
Luckily, there’s a way to plunge the gunk and get the flow back on track. Read on for three key indicators that it may be time for your IT department to partner with a Managed Services Provider (MSP).
You’re struggling with the long game.
Staffing shortages are a crucial reason to consider working with an MSP.
It takes time and energy to find the right people, not to mention the accrued cost of recruiting, training, and (fingers crossed) retaining a permanent hire.
In joining forces with an MSP, you have instant access to a pool of well-qualified candidates that cover a spectrum of IT specialties. The provider takes over the admin dirty work to screen and select top talent for your department’s needs. It’s impossible to build a bigger team by simply snapping a finger, but this gets pretty darn close.
Managed services isn’t a short-term solution. It’s a long-term, strategic partnership where external talent seamlessly integrates with an in-house team. With more staff comes expanded service availability and application support, leading to better customer service and higher end-user satisfaction. Seems like a hole-in-one to us.
You’re focusing on the mackerel, not the big kahuna.
In the sea of IT responsibilities, there’s a lot to swim through this year. Many larger-scale projects put on hold during the pandemic are starting to resurface as a high priority. Being tied up with fixing minor troubleshooting issues leaves less time for significant ramp-up and roll-out plans.
Sharing the workload with your MSP allows you to go after macro technology solutions. The provider ensures that every software program, network, and systems like EHR and ERP applications are up-to-date, optimized, compliant, and secure.
You’re draining dollars like no tomorrow.
Fun Fact: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.
So, how does this apply to health IT? One leak in the system may not seem to cause much financial burden. It still works. That is until the drops add up to buckets that cost hundreds (even thousands) of extra funds annually.
There are many reasons your leaky budgetary faucet could use a tune-up:
- Requiring staff with a high payroll to complete mundane service desk requests may not be the best use of salaried hours.
- Not running at optimal speed or performance due to burnout amongst staff can affect your department’s bottom line over time.
With fixed expenses in a predictable cost model, an MSP offers a sense of control in mapping out monthly or annual budgets. In addition, service agreements are tailored and scalable to fill your department’s gaps, meaning you always know what you’re paying for and never pay for what you don’t need.
So, what's next?
Expecting success without sufficient support is the equivalent of expecting a miniature pony to keep pace with a cart pushed down a steep hill. Instead, put the cart before behind the horse and implement proactive measures for improving your IT department’s effectiveness and efficiency in 2022.
Healthcare IT Leaders’ expert consultants are just a message away to help you start building a managed IT services plan today!