By David Linthicum

We all know that cloud computing provides business agility.  For many enterprises, that means they have the ability to keep up with new and emerging markets.  In the world of healthcare, cloud computing also provides the ability to keep up with ever-changing regulations.

This double value that healthcare cloud computing brings is rather interesting, given that many in healthcare are suspicious of the value of cloud computing.  Ironically, the same folks who push back on cloud computing are the same ones who are typically killing themselves in an effort to keep up with the forthcoming regulatory changes.

Core to this situation is the need for healthcare organizations to plan for the need to change.  In other words, they need to fully understand the driving forces that will make them change as the cost of non-compliance escalates to include fines as well as knocks on the reputation of …