The Use of UPS Systems in Medical IT Environments
Whether hospitals and care homes or GP surgeries and dental practices, our modern healthcare facilities have become increasingly reliant on digital technology. Whilst it is true the medical sector has been a little slower on the uptake, due to concerns about safety and how the technology would be used, 86% of all NHS organisations now have some form of electronic patient record in place.*
Gone for most are the days of paper drug charts and patient notes. Replaced instead by electronic health records, that now play an important role in advancing medical research and delivering long-term patient care.
Today’s systems have the ability to provide access to online booking platforms and healthcare advice, provide tailored support and share patient information across a number of platforms and care settings, allowing for an overall superior level of health care management.
Maintaining access to data at all times and ensuring this information can be safely shared and stored is critical to patient safety. Yet it is not just the security of patient records that must be protected. Any loss in power supply, even for the briefest of moments, can result in a catastrophic chain of events resulting in equipment malfunction and system failures.
It is for these reasons that UPS systems have become such essential components in safeguarding the security of our medical IT devices and data.
These backup power solutions have the ability to deliver a reliable and continuous source of power in the event of mains failure or any power anomaly, ensuring connected systems remain operational at all times, regardless of the circumstances.
Risks of Mains Failure or Power Anomaly in Medical IT Environments
Any temporary loss in supply can result in the downtime or damage to essential IT and networking equipment, resulting in a number of issues for healthcare providers. Staff are no longer able to read or update patient notes, access crucial information relating to drug usage, share data with other healthcare providers or communicate amongst departments.
No matter how temporary, any interruption has the ability to create a significant impact on the continuous delivery of patient care and performance of the medical system as a whole.
Anomalies and outages can also have far-reaching effects on medical IT and network security systems. As these form the first line of defence against unauthorised access to data assets, any temporary or permanent loss in supply can leave systems open and vulnerable to attack from would-be hackers and cyber criminals - intent on stealing sensitive data or disrupting the wider system as a whole.
These breaches in data security bring their own series of consequences, not just in terms of legal compliance but from the impact they may have on patient welfare too. Data protection guidelines within health and care settings aim to safeguard the intimate details of patients and vulnerable persons.
It is therefore up to healthcare providers to secure the personal data of all those under their care, protecting the dignity, safety and welfare of each individual.
Benefits of using a UPS system for Medical IT
- Mitigate damage to networks and connected equipment
The primary role of any UPS is to provide the immediate short-term emergency power when there is a complete mains failure or momentary loss in supply. The UPS provides the necessary bridge to keep equipment connected and operable until either normal mains power is restored, or equipment can be systematically shut down.
Use of a UPS will also help to correct a wide range of electrical anomalies in the mains supply, including sags, spikes and power surges, which can all cause lasting damage. If left unprotected, repeat surges and spikes in electrical current can degrade systems over time, resulting in the loss of equipment functionality.
- Reduced errors in patient records
As the UPS ensures the continuity in electrical supply, networks and data systems are constantly protected. This allows healthcare providers to maintain accurate and up-to-date records for each patient, without having to resort back to paper records. This reduces the risk for potential error and helps to improve the overall levels of patient care.
- Protects data exchange
Medical UPS help to safeguard the exchange of data and patient records between different healthcare settings, departments and devices.
Lapses in power, however transitory, cause systems to go ‘offline’ whilst information is being transferred, giving rise to the potential for lost data or corrupted files. The UPS ensures that a constant clean source of energy is available to complete the process and preserve the quality of the exchange.
The ability to share patient information will become increasingly important if healthcare facilities are to meet future delivery of care standards in line with the NHS Long Term Plan, five year framework for GP contract reform and the Digital, Data and Technology Vision.
These aim to transform the way in which healthcare is delivered and create stronger foundations for its delivery in the future. All targets set ultimately rely on the safe and secure sharing of patient information across varying care practices and settings.
- Enhances data protection
Temporary losses in supply leave security systems open to vulnerability and the threat from hackers and cyber-attacks. Should patient data be accessed and passed outside the healthcare facility, there is the potential this sensitive and confidential medical information could be revealed, resulting in a risk to patients’ rights and freedoms. Any data breaches will certainly result in internal investigation and may also give rise to criminal prosecution.
- Continual monitoring of devices
Many healthcare providers use digital monitoring devices to track important information relating to patient health. Where sensors are reliant on a continual electrical supply, the medical UPS will ensure that devices remain connected and that data is continually recorded to avoid inaccurate or failed readings.
Any UPS used within a medical IT environment must have the resilience to maintain system security and protect sensitive data. As plans progress to bring all care providers into the digital age, the ability to safely exchange and share electronic patient records will become fundamental to the government’s healthcare vision for the future.
Power Control has a proven track-record of providing medical IT UPS systems across the entire healthcare sector. We offer a wide range of single-phase and three-phase solutions that have the reliability and resilience required to support all healthcare environments. With enhanced energy efficiency and superior monitoring capabilities these medical UPS combine both safety and reliability to meet not just today’s medical IT needs, but those of the future too.
If you would like further information on the range of UPS available for medical IT and healthcare facilities, please visit powercontrol.co.uk or contact a member of the team on 01246 43131.
* Source: Telegraph, May 2024