The rapid acceptance of ASPs has been the result of several key benefits. Practices can focus on their core businesses rather than information technology issues. As the dependence on information technology increases, practices need to allocate resources to assure the successful performance and ongoing enhancement to these applications. Depending on how a practice is utilizing IT, they will reach a critical point when they need to hire an IT professional or pay a consultant. An ASP can assume responsibility for much of this functionality and allow time and resources to be devoted to providing medical care.
ASPs can reduce the risk associated with implementing and maintaining applications.
A practice's management information system is essential to the smooth running and cash flow of the practice. Availability becomes even more critical as practices begin to use the Internet as a means of exchanging information for patients and providers and for electronic medical records. ASPs are designed to provide maximum availability, which should be documented in the service level agreement. An ASP minimizes hardware and potentially software investments to reduce start-up cost and provide more flexibility in the future. ASPs reduce these costs because you pay as you go.