As your healthcare practice grows, technology becomes more complex. Between cybersecurity threats, HIPAA compliance, Microsoft 365 management, and supporting electronic health records (EHRs), many practice owners reach the same question:
Should we hire an internal IT employee, or outsource to a managed IT provider?
For most healthcare practices with 10 to 25 employees, outsourcing managed IT services is the more cost-effective and practical solution. It provides access to an entire team of IT professionals, predictable monthly costs, and specialized healthcare expertise without the expense of hiring full-time staff.
Here's how the two options compare.
The Cost of Hiring Internal IT
Hiring an experienced IT professional involves more than just salary.
Typical costs include:
- Annual salary
- Payroll taxes
- Health insurance and benefits
- Retirement contributions
- Paid time off
- Ongoing training and certifications
- Recruiting and hiring expenses
- Backup coverage during vacations or sick leave
Depending on experience, a full-time IT professional can cost $80,000 to $120,000 or more per year before benefits and overhead.
For many small healthcare practices, that's difficult to justify.
The Cost of Managed IT Services
Managed IT services provide access to an entire team of specialists for a predictable monthly fee.
For most healthcare practices with 10 to 25 employees, managed IT services typically cost $125 to $200 per user, per month.
That generally equals $1,250 to $5,000 per month, depending on your technology environment and security requirements.
Unlike a single employee, you gain access to specialists in:
- Help desk support
- Cybersecurity
- Microsoft 365
- Cloud infrastructure
- Network engineering
- HIPAA compliance
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Strategic technology planning
Internal IT vs. Managed IT Comparison
|
Internal IT |
Managed IT Provider |
|---|---|
|
One employee |
Entire team of specialists |
|
Salary + benefits |
Predictable monthly fee |
|
Limited expertise |
Multiple technical experts |
|
Vacation coverage required |
24/7 support available |
|
Reactive support |
Proactive monitoring |
|
Limited strategic planning |
vCIO services included |
|
Recruiting required |
Immediate access to experienced professionals |
When Internal IT Makes Sense
Hiring internal IT may be the right choice if your organization:
- Has multiple locations
- Supports hundreds of employees
- Operates a large internal IT department
- Requires dedicated on-site staff every day
- Has highly specialized technology needs
Larger healthcare organizations often combine internal IT staff with a managed IT partner for additional expertise and around-the-clock monitoring.
When Managed IT Makes Sense
Managed IT is often the better choice when your practice:
- Has 10 to 100 employees
- Wants predictable IT costs
- Needs healthcare cybersecurity expertise
- Must support HIPAA compliance
- Doesn't want to hire or manage IT staff
- Wants access to multiple technology specialists
- Needs strategic technology planning
For most small and mid-sized healthcare practices, managed IT provides greater value at a lower overall cost.
Real Client Example
Trusted Healthcare IT Partner for Over 10 Years
Torch Networks has helped healthcare organizations across North Texas simplify technology management and reduce IT headaches for more than a decade.
Dr. Relda Setliff of Relda J. Setliff, M.D., P.A. shared:
"For over 10 years, Torch Networks has been a trusted technology partner for our medical practice. In healthcare, reliable and secure IT support is essential, and their team understands the unique technology, security, and compliance needs of healthcare providers. They are knowledgeable, responsive, and consistently provide dependable service that allows us to focus on what matters most, our patients. Their proactive approach and commitment to keeping our systems secure have earned our trust year after year. I highly recommend Torch Networks to any healthcare organization looking for an IT partner they can truly rely on."
Why Healthcare Practices Choose Torch Networks
Healthcare organizations need more than someone to fix technology issues. They need a strategic partner who understands compliance, cybersecurity, and business operations.
Torch Networks provides:
- 24/7 U.S.-based support
- 15-minute response time guarantee
- Flat-fee managed IT services
- HIPAA-focused cybersecurity
- Strategic vCIO planning
- Microsoft 365 management
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Proactive monitoring and maintenance
Our team becomes an extension of your practice, helping you improve security, reduce downtime, and plan for future growth.
Which Option Is Right for Your Practice?
If your healthcare practice has between 10 and 25 employees, managed IT services often deliver more expertise, better cybersecurity, and lower overall costs than hiring a full-time IT employee.
If you're evaluating your options, Torch Networks can help you compare the true cost of internal IT versus managed services and recommend the approach that best supports your practice's goals.
