The healthcare sector is under extreme pressure, with healthcare professionals facing excessive workloads and limited resources. The pandemic has exacerbated this strain, and the industry is now confronted with an unprecedented demand for flexibility and heightened responsiveness.
The sector must evolve to enhance clinician productivity and improve patient experiences, all while tackling the dynamic landscape of cyber threats, staff shortages, and tight budgets.1 To achieve this, more healthcare organizations are adopting Cloud-first Chromebooks.
This article explores how ASUS Chromebooks can be used to deliver more efficient healthcare services and better-quality patient care.2
Chromebooks Vs. traditional laptops: What is the difference?
A Chromebook is a laptop or tablet that operates on Google ChromeOS. Unlike traditional Windows and MacBook laptops, Chromebooks utilize cloud-based services for many of their tasks instead of relying heavily on internal hard drives, therefore requiring less processing power and memory.3
Chromebooks look similar to traditional laptops and notebook PCs; however, they are typically smaller and lighter due to the minimal hardware requirements of the ChromeOS.3 Not only are they more portable than traditional laptops, but they are also more budget-friendly and energy-efficient. Moreover, brands like ASUS manufacture Chromebooks of a wide range of form factors, offering various features like rubber bumpers to improve device durability, touchscreen and stylus options, and antimicrobial coatings.
Chromebooks are also automatically protected against viruses, whereas Microsoft Windows and Apple MacBook laptops require a virus scanner or antivirus program.3 Impressively, as of February 2024, there has been zero evidence of any documented, successful virus attack or ransomware attack on ChromeOS, based on ChromeOS monitoring of various national and internal databases.4 With so many advantageous features, Chromebooks are increasingly finding applications in the healthcare industry.
Image Credit: PopTika/Shutterstock.com
Why are Cloud-first Chromebooks dominating the healthcare sector?
Chromebooks have found diverse applications in healthcare, ranging from mobile healthcare devices and shared workstations to the digitization of training and communications.2 They also support virtual and telehealth initiatives and can function as self-service and public kiosks.2
Their integration into healthcare systems has helped streamline healthcare experiences as well as address numerous challenges facing the industry.
For instance, national labor shortages have forced many healthcare systems to rely on contract staffing firms to meet patient demand, resulting in a 258 % increase in contract labor expenses.5 To minimize overall expenditure, more healthcare organizations are incorporating Chromebooks into their operations.
These devices demand fewer IT staff resources, streamline onboarding and offboarding processes, reduce employee downtime, and can be shared amongst multiple colleagues via individual cloud profiles.3 As a result, Chromebooks are 36 % more cost-efficient to manage than other operating systems, saving healthcare organizations $3,901 per device over three years.6
ChromeOS users also experience a 24 % reduction in cyber-attacks thanks to built-in, proactive security. The read-only OS-verified boots and blockade executables remove the requirement for third-party antivirus software, which is critical when dealing with confidential and personal healthcare data.
In addition to ensuring security, these devices centralize data in the cloud, thereby enabling shareability and rapid access to files anytime, anywhere.1 This becomes particularly crucial in medical emergencies, where each second counts. Therefore, the adoption of Chromebook technology facilitates the transformation of healthcare workspaces, aiding in the optimization and prioritization of patient care.3
Chromebooks also improve practitioner experience, which is imperative given that overworked or stressed staff can experience burnout—that is, a state of emotional and physical exhaustion.7 In 2021, 63 % of US clinicians displayed at least one manifestation of burnout,8 resulting in higher staff turnover, increased expenses, and a decline in patient care. The fast, flexible, and user-friendly Chrome OS interface minimizes workloads, mitigating staff burnout and associated issues.
By improving efficiency, enhancing security, and increasing speed, Chromebooks are revolutionizing the delivery of healthcare.
Introducing the ASUS ChromeOS devices: Advantages and applications in healthcare
To further enhance healthcare experiences, ASUS offers a wide portfolio of ChromeOS devices with sophisticated added features. This includes Chromebook, 360-degree convertible Chromebook Flip, Chromebook Detachable, which can be used as a tablet, and Chromebox.
Running on ChromeOS, all ASUS Chromebooks are rapid and streamlined with 24-hour battery life, up to WiFi 6E connectivity, and automatic Google updates. They also feature integrated security; the Titan C chip delivers hardware-based security by archiving and encrypting sensitive data in a secure environment.2
For maximum productivity, all ASUS ChromeOS devices house a comprehensive set of I/O ports, enabling connection with additional screens for cross-referencing. They also permit the attachment of peripherals, such as barcode scanners for labeled medications, which help ensure that the appropriate medicine and dosage are administered to the right patient.2,9 With potent AMD Ryzen or Intel Core Processors and manageability features, ASUS Chromebooks offer total reliability.
To improve healthcare experiences, ASUS devices incorporate two-way AI noise-canceling technology, facilitating highly focused remote consultations and telemedicine.2 This, along with excellent connectivity, streamlines patient care.
To prioritize practitioner and patient health, selected ASUS Chromebook models are also equipped with an antibacterial guard—a specialized coating applied to the device’s most frequently touched areas.2 This coating inhibits bacterial growth by at least 99 % over a 24-hour period.
ASUS Chromebooks can be utilized in diverse healthcare applications. For instance, the ASUS Chromebook and Chromebox (a compact desktop PC) can be used in fixed and shared workspaces. These products can handle numerous tasks, from power-intensive data analysis and telemedicine to powering digital signage.2 They can also be mounted onto medical carts for easy access to electronic health records. This eliminates the need for paper notes, thus saving time and enhancing the quality of patient care.
The ASUS Chromebook Detachable seamlessly transforms from a laptop to a tablet, making it ideal for healthcare staff who need to move between appointments. The garaged stylus also ensures easy notetaking. The ASUS Chromebook Detachable and ASUS Chromebook Flip feature a multi-touch display, enabling frictionless patient check-ins at the reception desk. The 360° “flippable design” of the ASUS Chromebook Flip also permits mobile productivity.
Along with innovative technology, ASUS Chromebook devices come with 24/7 support, up to a 5-year expandable warranty, and Accidental Damage Protection (ADP).
Transforming the future of healthcare with ASUS ChromeOS devices
The healthcare industry is ever-evolving, with an increased emphasis on population health. Despite this, healthcare workers are overworked and under-resourced, grappling with outdated technology that hinders progress and undermines confidence in healthcare systems.
ASUS Chromebook technology surpasses traditional laptops in speed, security, and efficiency. The implementation of ASUS ChromeOS has already revolutionized healthcare delivery and is poised to transform the industry further. To learn more about some of ASUS’ Chromebook Enterprise devices, contact a member of the team today.
References and further reading
- Ureche, T. (2023). Modernize Healthcare Delivery with ChromeOS. [Online] Google Cloud. Available at: https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/chrome-enterprise/modernize-healthcare-delivery-chromeos (Accessed on 13 December 2023).
- ASUS. (no date). Cloud-first solutions to deliver expert care. [Online] ASUS. Available at: ASUS Chromebook Guide_Healthcare_v5_Compressed (Accessed on 13 December 2023).
- Devoteam. (2021). Why Chromebooks are Conquering the Healthcare Industry. [Online] Devoteam. Available at: https://gcloud.devoteam.com/blog/why-chromebooks-are-conquering-the-healthcare-industry/#:~:text=Chromebooks%20are%20increasing%20speed%2C%20enhancing (Accessed on 14 December 2023).
- ChromeOS. (no date). The Cloud-First, Secure OS for Your Business. [Online] ChromeOS. Available at: https://chromeos.google/ (Accessed on 30 April 2024).
- Lagasse, J. (2023) Hospitals’ Labor Costs Increased 258 % Over the Last Three Years. [Online] Healthcare Finance. Available at: https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/hospitals-labor-costs-increased-258-over-last-three-years#:~:text=Compared%20to%20before%20the%20pandemic,discharge%20from%202019%20to%202022 (Accessed on 17 December 2023).
- IDC. (2023). The Business Value of ChromeOS. [Online] Google. Available at: https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/the_business_value_of_chrome_os_business_value_snapshot.pdf (Accessed on 17 December 2023).
- NHS Employers. (2023). Beating Burnout in the NHS. [Online] NHS Employers. Available at: https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/beating-burnout-nhs (Accessed on 17 December 2023).
- Berg, S. (2022) Pandemic Pushes U.S. Doctor Burnout to All-Time High of 63 %. [Online] American Medical Association. Available at: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/pandemic-pushes-us-doctor-burnout-all-time-high-63 (Accessed on 17 December 2023).
- NCCMERP. (no date). Recommendations for Bar Code Labels on Pharmaceutical (Drug) Products to Reduce Medication Errors. [Online] NCCMERP. Available at: https://www.nccmerp.org/recommendations-bar-code-labels-pharmaceutical-drug-products-reduce-medication-errors#:~:text=The%20bar%20code%20should%20contain,recall%20can%20be%20readily%20identified. (Accessed on 30 April 2024).
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