Which Healthcare Communication Tools Should I Consider?

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Privacy and Legal Considerations

Any healthcare communication tool used for sharing patient data must comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Even a name, date of birth, or medical note counts as sensitive information. This creates two key obligations:

• Data sovereignty: Patient information must remain in Australia, unless strict OAIC rules are followed.

• Security configuration: Even if a tool includes compliance features, it must be set up correctly to meet legal standards.

Slack®

Only Slack Enterprise Grid can be configured to meet Australian healthcare data requirements. Free or standard editions of Slack do not comply out-of-the-box, making them unsuitable as healthcare communication tools for clinics.

Google Workspace™

Google Workspace poses a sovereignty risk because data may not remain within Australian servers. For healthcare providers handling patient records, this makes it a weak option compared to other healthcare communication tools (Google Cloud Data Locations).

Microsoft 365®

Microsoft 365 for Business remains the strongest choice for healthcare communication tools. Data for Australian tenants is hosted in local data centres, and the platform is certified against ISO/IEC 27001 and IRAP standards. This combination of compliance, security, and integration makes Microsoft 365 the most complete solution for clinics.

Integration and Workflow

Many third-party chat platforms require costly add-ons to integrate calendars, file sharing, and email. Microsoft 365 avoids this issue. Its healthcare communication tools—Teams®, Outlook®, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®—are designed to work seamlessly together.

For clinics, this means:

• Secure staff logins with Azure Active Directory®.

• Compliant document sharing via SharePoint® and OneDrive®.

• Unified scheduling and communication through Outlook® and Teams®.

• No hidden costs for connectors or middleware.

Pricing and Value

Healthcare clinics often spend money on duplicate platforms without realising their Microsoft 365 subscription already includes the communication tools they need. For example, Microsoft 365 Business Standard costs about the same as Slack, but it also includes:

• Email hosting

• Teams® chat and video calls

• Word®, Excel®, PowerPoint®

• SharePoint® and OneDrive® storage

The value is clear when comparing what clinics pay for multiple third-party platforms.

The Real Differentiator: Setup and Training

Even the best healthcare communication tools fail without proper setup and staff training. At Medic Cloud, we see many clinics paying for platforms they don’t fully use due to lack of expertise. By configuring Microsoft 365 correctly, clinics reduce compliance risks, cut costs, and improve daily workflows.

Final Thoughts

Healthcare is a highly regulated industry, and not every communication platform is safe for patient data. Among the available healthcare communication tools, Microsoft 365 stands out as the most complete, integrated, and cost-effective option—provided it is deployed and managed correctly.

At Medic Cloud, we help healthcare clinics unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365. Our role goes beyond licensing software. We ensure your communication, file sharing, and compliance processes are safe, seamless, and efficient.

For more insights, see our related article: Healthcare Data Files: Popular File Sharing Platform

Speak to us today for more information and guidance.

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