Implementing Technology Upgrades in Healthcare

Implementing Technology Upgrades in Healthcare
Foundations of Remote Healthcare Access

Just the Facts

With the rise of COVID-19, the pandemic has reminded our community about the importance of remote technologies. At REVISION, we recognize the crucial need for implementing technology upgrades in Healthcare to increase the standard of living, create safe working conditions, and increase access to quality healthcare.

We were selected to implement a complete technology upgrade in 580 outpatient rooms, including wiring all rooms for Internet access, outfitting them with new computers, televisions, and telephones, and building the system infrastructure required to support it. Partnering with Apple, REVISION created an i-chat system that enabled patients to use telehealth technologies to video conference with their doctors and families.

Utilizing Extreme Project Management strategies and tactics, REVISION accomplished this massive project in 28 days from start to finish.

The Challenge

The client chose REVISION to implement a technology solution and lifecycle upgrade for the wounded patients and their families at a military hospital. This solution needed to be flexible and secure and accommodate all interactions within the systems. It had to be flexible enough that a soldier could utilize recovery time to do training or personal work, and at the same time, it had to be secure.

The goal was to provide a solution focused on software solutions and Internet access for the soldiers while simultaneously integrating with the current base infrastructure and architecture without compromising any medical health systems and security.

The Approach

To expedite the process, REVISION executed an “image” to replicate and consolidate over 30 individual software applications needed to support this system. By creating a single image, we not only reduced a full day evolution down to an hour, but the image also served as an ideal disaster recovery tool. Once we developed the image, we proceeded to test and validate that image and deployed that image to over 750 desktops. Two additional images were created following the same process and deployed to all associated back-end networks, server infrastructure, and architecture. Additionally, REVISION completed conventional software uploads to over 560 TVs.

REVISION’s services have also included programs where clients have requested an assessment of installed infrastructure, architecture or software applications. Upon successful inspection, REVISION captured all documents delivered by other contractors and Government activities, and after review, we provided comments and recommendations for acceptance, correction, or improvements. Where these documents did not exist, we took the lead in their development and provided accurate documentation.

In another initiative, the senior staff realized that their entire IT strategy was based entirely on Microsoft products. Our highly successful and innovative approach to dealing with this problem led to developing a Smart Client project. Our Smart Client project designed and built a hybrid desktop where applications could run locally. In addition, the servers could store all data, and most of the user community would not have the ability to take information out of the system (via CD, USB drives, etc.). The scope of this project included:

Continued support of legacy applications
The ability to grow and accommodate new systems and features such as desktop Video Teleconference (VTC)
The highest levels of security possible
Operating the system on-site or remotely with uniform functionality and performance.

The Outcomes

REVISION developed the concept for “The Office Smart Client” within a universal DOD secured Intel-Based system, which supported legacy applications. The Smart Client system maintained all user storage on a server back-end solution. The server back-end solution was a significant concern because of the potential inability to locate vital data and data vulnerability issues linked to access. The Smart Client, image security system, was built around the DOD Common Access Card (CAC) authentication and utilized Citrix (passed CAC permissions from the OS as Single Sign-On [SSO]) to access Windows-only programs.

The diversity of this solution required REVISION to research and evaluate new technologies and introduce new systems to meet mission requirements, pushing vendors to develop new ways of using these devices and programs. The vendors involved were Apple, Citrix, Admit MAC, VPN, PKI/CAC, AKO (Army Knowledge Online), Microsoft (MAC), and many other software developers. REVISION completed the analysis through site surveys and equipment evaluations and provided recommendations to the client. reVision researched and evaluated a wide range of devices and security technologies, including, but not limited to, firewalls, routers, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) initiatives. REVISION worked with the customer to develop and deploy security suites and equipment to include an anti-virus solution suite that addressed the disinfection of virus/worms and the detection and removal of adware/spyware. By doing so, REVISION ultimately ensured data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

REVISION’s experience implementing technology upgrades in healthcare through research and testing has allowed the customer to receive application integration efficiencies and improvements previously thought unavailable for Internet Explorer and Outlook running natively. reVision has been able to work with developers and engineers to adjust coding and remove integration conflicts that allowed for multi-level CAC integration, sending and receiving of signed and encrypted e-mails, access to CAC-enabled websites, and digital signatures on documents.