Simplifying Your User Experience: The Advantages of Single Sign-On in Healthcare

Discover how Single Sign-On (SSO) can make switching between different devices a breeze for healthcare providers.

A typical shift will see healthcare providers switch between numerous tablets and computers. Every time they switch, they have to log out of the old device and into the new one, which gradually adds up over the day, leading to less time spent treating patients and more time spent on what they see as bureaucratic busywork.

With Single Sign-On (SSO), however, a healthcare provider can pull up a patient’s EHR, web browser, and any other tools they need after signing in just a single time, making it highly convenient during charting and treatment.

SSO can take a variety of forms, whether that be a single password granting access to multiple applications and tools or a physical smart card pre-programmed with the individual's credentials.

The Advantages of SSO

All stakeholders in healthcare, including healthcare groups, providers, and patients can benefit from the implementation of SSO.

Increased Productivity

Not having to constantly sign in and out and in and out of their tools throughout the day means that healthcare providers can instead focus on treating their patients. They also need less help from IT support for recovering lost or forgotten passwords.

Higher Job Satisfaction

The simple truth is that no one likes dealing with paperwork or bureaucratic roadblocks, including healthcare providers. They want to treat sick people, not deal with constant interruptions to their workflow. SSO lets providers quickly access the tools they need and reduces the hassle that contributes to burnout.

Better Cybersecurity

It's understandable if you think that SSO creates a vulnerability in a hospital’s cybersecurity efforts: after all, aren’t multiple passwords or authentication methods more secure than just one? The truth is more complex. In theory, yes, each application or program having its own authentication requirement makes them more secure. However, this forgets the human element in cybersecurity.

In the real world, forcing providers to remember multiple different passwords makes it that much easier for them to forget or misplace this crucial information. By relying on a single authentication method, providers can devote their focus to that one piece of information or physical smart card, making it easier for them to stay safe.

Can Combine With Other Forms of Security

Another cybersecurity-related advantage of SSO is that it can easily be combined with other security measures, such as risk-based authentication (RBA). RBA monitors user habits and can flag unusual ones such as an unrecognized IP address attempting to log into a hospital’s systems. It also enables login monitoring and can detect multiple login failures, which may be indicative of an unauthorized access attempt.

Ensure HIPAA Compliance

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has strict requirements regarding access to patient data, which often means multiple layers of expensive password management. By implementing SSO through a company like Imprivata, a healthcare group can ensure that only authorized personnel can access their database, maintaining compliance with HIPAA regulations.

Enable Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

In computer terms, a “desktop” refers to the programs and information displayed on a monitor, like how a physical desk displays paperwork. Typically, desktops are restricted to a single device. SSO and cloud computing can work together to create virtual desktops, which can be transferred from one device to another. This lets providers switch between computers while maintaining their work uninterrupted. Whenever a provider signs into a new device, their virtual desktop will load all the programs and tools they were using on the previous device, saving them time from having to go through and re-open them.

Closing Thoughts

With the healthcare industry increasingly relying on computer programs and applications to treat patients, anything that speeds up the process of providers accessing the tools they need is a welcome sight. However, embracing SSO will require medical-grade computers capable of supporting the authentication method.

If your healthcare group is interested in medical computers that are SSO-compatible, contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. We’d be happy to explain how our computers enable SSO login, along with a host of other security and productivity-enhancing features.

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