As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ebb and flow, the healthcare sector has needed to adapt to a relentless series of paradigm-shifting events. This reality has demanded that providers fast-track their digital transformations in order to give patients the care they need, when and where they need it.

 One solution to these challenges is Kubernetes, an open-source container system that makes it possible to deploy and orchestrate cloud-based software bundles. Kubernetes is key to managing data and applications in a hybrid cloud environment, which healthcare organizations are increasingly adopting as they seek to combine conventional mainframes with the security and customizability of private clouds as well as the scalability of public cloud services like AWS.

However, despite the affordances of Kubernetes and the hybrid cloud, concerns persist about how to best deliver effective services while also protecting the privacy and keeping costs down. Addressing these issues is vital to shoring up operational efficiency and, most importantly, patient well-being. 

Thanks to Kubernetes and the hybrid cloud, the healthcare sector can create and connect points of care, safeguard the data that saves lives, and accelerate organizational growth.

Creating and connecting points of care with the hybrid cloud

 First released by Google in 2015, Kubernetes capitalizes on the innovative technology of containers. Containers virtualize operating systems and thus enable software to run across devices and clouds. Though this technology is not new, its application in the healthcare space is; in particular, with Kubernetes, organizations have at their disposal a tool with which they can multiply and network points of care through the effective management of patient health information (PHI).

For the next wave of telehealth and telemedicine, providers can turn to Kubernetes to manage digital infrastructure on the hybrid cloud, which will enable them to maintain connected care at scale. At their core, these digital transformations connect clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and patient residences seamlessly and securely. This connectivity grants organizations the dexterity to avoid the logistical disruptions that often arise from medical emergencies.

 On the ground, this technology empowers healthcare professionals of all kinds. During ordinary and extraordinary times alike, hybrid cloud-based application and data integration allows practitioners to focus on providing direct, effective care both at the bedside and remotely. Instead of struggling with the authentication or compatibility issues that can crop up with hardware or even more traditional virtual machines, doctors and nurses are able to consistently transform any device into a reliable, modern clinical workstation. This flexibility streamlines workflow, improves productivity, and allows clinicians and staff to dedicate more time to patients.

 Patients of organizations managing hybrid cloud environments via Kubernetes don’t just enjoy access to better interactions with their doctors—they also benefit from a faster, more personalized experience on site or from their homes. Diamanti’s Kubernetes lifecycle management platform provides an effective means of unlocking these possibilities: its centralized interface facilitates the rapid deployment of Kubernetes clusters capable of natively integrating with any point of care. 

The digital channels created by Kubernetes and consolidated by this platform empower medical professionals and patients to together make informed and timely data-driven decisions based on PHI. These channels also provide a resource to stakeholders after in-person or remote consultations by granting easy and secure access to medical information.

 Safeguarding data that saves lives

Because patient health information is the key to improving patient experiences and outcomes, it needs to be protected. Indeed, certain industry professionals are apprehensive about implementing hybrid cloud-based digital infrastructure out of fear that doing so will increase risk. Healthcare providers and payers are legally bound to securing patient PHI, and failure to do so can result in audits and penalties.

The Diamanti platform recognizes these concerns and provides a means of streamlining app security and data compliance. This begins with its approach to data back-up and recovery: while traditional back-up tools weren’t designed for Kubernetes, Diamanti’s cloud-native protection is equipped to automatically and responsibly back up PHI and other operational data.

 What’s more is that, much as it centralizes container management, the platform’s architecture reduces complexity by providing comprehensive security for applications. This simplifies the orchestration of safe, HIPAA-compliant clusters while maintaining ease and speed of access to data capable of improving and saving lives.

Using Kubernetes to drive healthcare savings and innovation

 Managing containers on the hybrid cloud via Kubernetes also accelerates growth by giving providers and payers the means of developing operational agility. This not only saves time and money but also transforms how their members receive care.

 For one, this technology requires fewer computing and hardware resources than older virtual machines. This, coupled with the Diamanti platform’s ability to efficiently centralize containers, permits healthcare organizations to avoid expensive hardware and cloud subscription fees. Further, this platform also allows these organizations to respond to real-time demand by deploying more containers during periods of heavy network traffic and paring them back during others. Third, Kubernetes makes it possible to automate operations, thus enabling providers and payers to eliminate redundant costs and allocate resources where they’re truly needed.

 With the savings afforded by Diamanti’s approach to Kubernetes, the healthcare sector can consistently deliver the most innovative and highest quality care—no matter the context, no matter the demand.