Evidence Based Recommendations

Cybersecurity is crucial in the given growing amounts of data in the healthcare sector given the growing amount of data that hospitals and health insurance providers are generating. As a consequence safeguarding healthcare data is important because not only do regulations such as HIPPA and HITECH require it, but also because data has become the driver of healthcare policies and capacity building. Healthcare providers should therefore have robust security measures by addressing the gap between equipment and technology vendors and the maintenance of the former’s data infrastructure (Dogaru & Dumitrache, 2017; Murray et al., 2011). 

Patient-centered care as defining standard of excellence means that hospitals have to address their patients’ medical conditions (MFMER, 2019; Kowalski, 2014). Securing patient information has become an important part in the delivery of quality care. Cyber-attacks, in addition to exposing confidential patient information, may also result in corrupting patient data with attendant ramifications for patient care.

In expanding its infrastructure, the Mayo clinic has relied on local and state stakeholders to finance the expansion, demonstrating the importance of external collaborations with other industry actors. Further, the Mayo clinic has collaborated with software engineering, bio-therapeutic and molecular imaging research and development firms to enhance the integration of technology and clinical practices with successful outcomes (Noseworthy, 2018). Internally, the Mayo clinic maintains a patient centered collaboration between administrators and employees. In particular, Mayo’s peer review program ensures that practitioners deliver the highest quality of care (McCarthy et al., 2009). Further, Mayo coordinates its personnel to enhance communication with the clinic’s patients, a strategy that enables administrators maintain accountability. 

In order to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the healthcare industry, the Mayo clinic has invested considerably in the adoption of various technologies to fulfill any number of important functions. Mayo uses technologies to fulfill functions that include EHRs and related cyber security infrastructure, the proton beam therapy project, and procurement and logistics (Murray et al., 2011; Noseworthy, 2018; Baier, 2019). 

The integration of data into the hospital’s overall strategy and objectives has eased the delivery of quality care to patients and created opportunities for innovation. However, the increasing reliance of the healthcare industry on data and recent major cyber incidences has highlighted the need for the adoption of more robust cybersecurity frameworks by providers such as the Mayo clinic (Dogaru & Dumitratche, 2017). 

In addition to cyber threats, another challenge that confronts healthcare providers is scaling up capacity in response to emerging population health needs. Because healthcare is a capital-intensive sector, funding is crucial to meeting a providers objectives. The Mayo clinic’s commitment to maintaining good working relations with its host community, local and state legislators and internally with human resource programs that ensure quality care and professional excellence among its staff. 

In conclusion, the Mayo clinic like its competitors, has taken advantage of the benefits that technology and data present, as well as taking a holistic view with respect to its strategic partners. Importantly, the Mayo clinic’s primary partners are its care-givers and its patient-centered HR approach has enabled the clinic to offer high quality treatment since its founding. Equally, the Mayo clinic has to contend with challenges such as emerging competitors, cybercrime, funding constraints and so forth in the hospital quest to remain a premiere care provider. 

References

Baier, E. (2019). How does Mayo stack up against its competitors? Minnesota Public Radio News Retrieved from https://www.mprnews.org/story/2013/03/01/health/mayo-competition

Dogaru, D. I., & Dumitrache, I. (2017). Cybersecurity in healthcare networks. In 2017 E-Health and Bioengineering Conference (EHB) IEEE, 414-417.

Kowalski, A. E. (2014). The early impact of the Affordable Care Act state-by-state. National Bureau of Economic Research No. w20597 Retrieved from https://www.nber.org/papers/w20597 

McCarthy, D., Mueller, K., & Wrenn, J. (2009). Mayo Clinic: multidisciplinary teamwork, physician-led governance, and patient-centered culture drive world-class health care. New York: Commonwealth Fund pub. 136, 7.

Murray, T. L., Calhoun, M., & Philipsen, N. C. (2011). Privacy, confidentiality, HIPAA, and HITECH: implications for the health care practitioner. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 7(9), 747-752. 

Noseworthy, J. (2018). Why unlikely partnerships will spark the healthcare revolution. CNBC.com Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/27/mayo-clinic-uncommon-alliances-will-spur-health-care-revolution.html

World Government Summit. (2017). How is technology changing the healthcare sector? [Video] | Transcript. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM4aep7VXb8