Transforming Healthcare IT: A Comprehensive Case Study on Optimizing Data Centers for Hospitals and Clinics

By David Hutchison, CDCS, Founder of Excipio Consulting: a premier data center strategy company.

A large, $3B medical healthcare provider with 10+ hospitals, 150+ clinics, and 60+ pharmacies desired a data center assessment and future data center strategy. Their current facility was aged (25+ years) and was only a Tier I facility, which was not suitable in terms of healthcare standards.

Prior Pain Points/Challenges/Roadblocks

1. Complex IT Infrastructure: The healthcare provider was managing a complex and outdated IT infrastructure that included various systems and technologies.

2. Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with stringent healthcare regulations and standards, was a significant challenge.

3. Disaster Recovery: The existing disaster recovery plans were inadequate, risking business continuity.

4. Cost Management: Controlling and reducing operational costs while maintaining high service quality was a persistent issue.

5. Vendor Management: Handling multiple vendor contracts and ensuring optimal terms and conditions was cumbersome.

Why Excipio Was Selected

Excipio Consulting was chosen by the healthcare provider for several compelling reasons:

1. Proven Methodology (EAMM® Process): Excipio's EAMM® process provides a thorough understanding of the data center’s technical, business, and financial state, which is crucial for healthcare organizations needing precise and reliable assessments.

2. Comprehensive Assessments: Excipio offers in-depth assessments of the entire technology structure, identifying and ranking critical technology services.

3. Disaster Recovery Strategy: The ability to develop robust disaster recovery strategies tailored to the specific needs of healthcare facilities.

4. Vendor Management Expertise: Expertise in vendor management, helping clients leverage, consolidate, and negotiate the best contracts, leading to significant cost savings.

5. Industry Best Practices: Drawing upon best practices from multiple industries, Excipio brings a wealth of experience and innovative solutions.

6. Financial Impact Forecasting: Accurate financial forecasting of the impact of recommended changes, providing clear visualization of potential cost savings and ROI.

Value Brought to the Healthcare Delivery Systems:

Excipio Consulting delivered substantial value to the healthcare provider through the following key benefits:

1. In-Depth Insights: Provided comprehensive insights into technical, financial, and operational factors, enabling informed decision-making.

2. Enhanced Disaster Recovery: Improved disaster recovery plans, enhancing business continuity and preparedness.

3. Elevated Service Quality: Leveraged best practices from a blend of industry experience, elevating service quality and innovation.

4. Strategic Expertise: Brought expertise from former C-level executives, adding a layer of credibility and high-level strategic thinking.

5. Data-Driven Analysis: Utilized data-driven analysis and precise financial forecasting, allowing for clear visualization of impacts and ROI.

Specifically:

• Modern Tier III Facility: A new facility with 500kW of usable UPS power, scalable to 1MW.

• Cost Savings: Saved the client $3MM from design to final commissioning.

• Scalable Design: A modular, scalable facility, initially designed as a DR facility, later became the production data center.

• Efficient Cooling: Hot aisle containment with in-row cooling, allowing for free cooling for 7 months of the year.

 

Client Testimonial

"Our engagement with Excipio was very positive. Excipio was able to accomplish within 3 years what we as an enterprise could not accomplish on our own over an 8-year span. We found that the expertise of the Excipio staff assisted us in a better understanding of the market, available options in technology, and encouraged us to look at new innovative approaches to our delivery of technology services. The Excipio team not only offered consulting services but also worked alongside our staff implementing the solutions as well as offering training when needed. Excipio went above and beyond to make sure we had overall success as well as realizing needed cost reductions. “

By addressing these key areas, Excipio Consulting effectively supports healthcare organizations in overcoming their IT and data center management challenges, leading to improved operational efficiency and cost savings.

About Excipio Consulting

At Excipio Consulting, our mission is to empower organizations with the knowledge and tools they need to optimize their data center operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall efficiency. We are committed to delivering innovative, data-driven solutions tailored to the unique challenges of each client. Our vision is to continue to lead the industry in data center excellence, driving technological advancement and operational success for our clients. Visit us at www.Excipio.net.