The healthcare sector is undergoing a massive shift driven by digitalization. Organizations today need more than basic patient care applications; they require a unified platform that seamlessly connects providers, payers, and public health organizations.

Salesforce Health Cloud meets this need with a unified patient-centric foundation that unites every stakeholder to streamline and enhance the entire care journey.

This guide breaks down the path to a successful Health Cloud implementation, covering its benefits, pricing, and the essential steps to plan, deploy, and scale it for better outcomes.

What is Salesforce Health Cloud?

Introduced in 2016, Salesforce Health Cloud is a healthcare-specific CRM platform designed to improve patient experiences and streamline healthcare operations. Unlike generic CRMs, it goes beyond managing records; it connects providers, payers, and public health organizations on a single, secure platform.

At its core, Health Cloud consolidates clinical and non-clinical data into a complete patient profile, giving care teams the insights they need to coordinate effectively and engage more personally. It also supports regulatory compliance, making it a trusted choice for modern healthcare organizations.

Simply put, Health Cloud transforms disconnected systems into a unified ecosystem that puts patients at the center of every interaction.

Note: Salesforce also offers Life Sciences Cloud, a related solution released in 2024, tailored for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medtech companies, focusing on industry-specific needs beyond patient care.

Why Healthcare Organizations Should Implement Health Cloud

The healthcare industry is under constant pressure to deliver high-quality care with less time and effort. Providers need instant access to patient records, including medications and treatment history. Payers want to manage claims efficiently, while patients expect personalized, seamless experiences at every touchpoint.

Salesforce Health Cloud fulfills all these needs by unifying providers, payers, and patients on a single platform. Here’s what implementing Health Cloud can bring to your organization.

1. 360° Patient View: Health Cloud consolidates all patient information, medical history, prescriptions, lab results, and more, in one place. This empowers providers to make faster, better-informed decisions while focusing on what truly matters: the patient.

2. Patient Empowerment & Self-Service: With self-service features powered by Experience Cloud, patients can access their health records, track medications, schedule appointments, and find answers to common questions. This not only lightens the workload for care teams but also gives patients more control over their healthcare journey.

3. Utilization & Resource Management: Health Cloud helps providers monitor and optimize how critical resources are used, from hospital beds and medical equipment to medication and supplies. With visibility into utilization rates, providers can reduce waste, avoid shortages, and ensure patients always get timely access to the right care and resources.

4. Security & Compliance: One key reason healthcare organizations need Health Cloud is its robust security and compliance framework. The platform adheres to HIPAA, GDPR, and other healthcare regulations, offering role-based access, audit trails, and HL7 support. This ensures patient data remains protected.

Salesforce Health Cloud Pricing and Licenses

Salesforce Health Cloud comes in four editions, each with its own pricing and feature set. Choosing the right edition and add-ons is a crucial step in planning your Health Cloud implementation.

Health Cloud Enterprise — $350/user/month (billed annually)
Best for foundational healthcare CRM needs such as care team collaboration, EHR integration, and a unified patient view.
Health Cloud Unlimited — $525/user/month
Includes everything in Enterprise plus additional storage, Live Agent Chat, and a Full Sandbox.
Health Cloud Agentforce 1 for Service- $750/user/month
Designed for service teams, this advanced Health Cloud edition includes AI-powered Agentforce agents, additional Data Cloud credits, Slack integration, and Tableau Next for advanced analytics.
Health Cloud Agentforce 1 for Sales- $750/user/month
Nearly identical to the Service edition but optimized for sales use cases, with features like Slack Sales Elevate and Salesforce Maps.

Add-Ons to Expand Capabilities

In addition to core editions, Health Cloud offers optional add-ons to extend functionality further. You can choose any add-ons that complement or fill gaps in your current license type.

Provider Network Management- $100/user/month
Helps healthcare organizations gain a 360-degree view of their provider network.
Agentforce for Health Cloud- $150/user/month
Empowers healthcare teams with unlimited AI-driven support designed specifically for Health Cloud
Home Health- Starting at $30/login/month
Extends care beyond hospital walls by enabling in-home services

👉 For more details on pricing and additional add-ons, refer to this official Salesforce page.

3 Key Steps to Prepare for Your Health Cloud Implementation

Before starting your Health Cloud implementation, it’s essential to plan and align everything in advance. This includes defining business goals, identifying requirements, setting your budget, and more. Let’s take a closer look at each step.

Outline Your Goals: Health Cloud serves all pillars of healthcare: hospitals, insurers, providers, and patients. Determine whether the solution is for internal teams (doctors, nurses, care coordinators), patient engagement, provider coordination, or all. Involve end users in the planning process to ensure the solution is practical, user-friendly, and meets real-world needs.
Access Existing Data: Salesforce can integrate with any system and utilize both structured and unstructured data. Ensuring all relevant data from your EHR, EMR, or legacy CRM is ready for migration not only enables a smooth implementation but also provides more accurate insights.
Plan Your Budget: Define your budget based on your requirements, as you will need to select the license type accordingly. If your needs are basic, Enterprise will suffice. For additional features, avoid upgrading unnecessarily; instead, consider add-ons. For example, if you need a patient-facing portal, adding the Experience Cloud for Health Cloud add-on is a cost-effective option. A Salesforce consulting partner can help you choose the right license type.

Choosing the Right Way to Implement Health Cloud

Once your objectives, data, licenses, and budget are finalized, the next step is implementation. Broadly, there are two approaches: doing it yourself or collaborating with experienced Salesforce implementation partners.

Some organizations consider DIY, which may seem cost-effective at first but often comes with hidden challenges. The other approach involves certified professionals who ensure a seamless and scalable rollout. Let’s look at both in detail.

Why You Shouldn’t DIY Health Cloud Implementation

Implementing Salesforce Health Cloud requires more than just purchasing licenses. It isn’t a simple plug-and-play solution. A successful setup demands expertise in configuring account settings, mapping complex healthcare data models, meeting strict compliance standards, and much more.

The DIY route often leads to:

Misconfigured data models that limit functionality.
Ineffective integrations with EHR/EMR and legacy systems.
Low adoption due to poor user experiences.

The Smarter Approach: Work with Health Cloud Implementation Partners

Partnering with certified Salesforce Health Cloud experts ensures a smooth and scalable rollout. Implementation partners bring:

Proven Expertise: Backed by years of experience with diverse healthcare providers and payers, partners know how to get it right.
Customization & Best Practices: Partners design solutions that fit your organization’s unique needs while following healthcare best practices.
Faster Time to Value: A guided implementation accelerates setup, ensuring your teams can start using Health Cloud effectively in less time.
Ongoing Support: Beyond implementation, these partners provide training, adoption assistance, and, most importantly, serve as Salesforce managed service providers who actively manage your Salesforce solution to ensure it scales and adapts as your organization grows.

Pro Tip: Maximize Value After Implementation

Implementation should not be your last step. To get even more out of Salesforce Health Cloud, explore the Salesforce AppExchange, a marketplace filled with solutions tailored for healthcare and beyond. From patient engagement tools to advanced analytics, you can choose apps that extend the core capabilities of your system and bring additional value to your organization.

Conclusion

Salesforce Health Cloud is a powerful solution that addresses the full spectrum of needs within the healthcare domain. From unifying patient data to streamlining care coordination and ensuring compliance, it empowers organizations to deliver better outcomes efficiently.

When combined with expert guidance and AppExchange extensions, you can implement it seamlessly into your operations while building a scalable, future-ready solution supported by experienced professionals for continued success.

If you’re still unsure where to start, reach out to us. Together, with our Salesforce Health Cloud implementation services, we’ll find the right path to meet your organization’s needs and ensure a successful rollout.

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Salesforce Health Cloud in Healthcare: Where to Begin