Transforming IT Infrastructure at a Medical Facility

Background

We were engaged by a medical facility after demonstrating our expertise at a related surgical center. This facility offers comprehensive medical and surgical services across various specialties and boasts an impressive 97% patient satisfaction rating.

Challenges

• Lack of Network Understanding: The facility hired an IT engineer who was not certified for Windows environments, leading to difficulties in network support.
• No Network Oversight: There was no one overseeing the network, resulting in poor performance and lack of clarity about the network’s needs.

Our Approach and Solution

To address these challenges, we started with a comprehensive Network Assessment. The assessment revealed several critical issues:

1. Unidentified Servers:
   • We discovered servers at an off-site co-location that the facility was unaware of. These servers were found to be mining bitcoin, contributing no value to the facility’s operations.
   • Immediate action was taken to disconnect these servers from the network, eliminating unnecessary costs without impacting network performance.
2. Implementation of Managed IT Services:
   • We provided managed IT services covering servers, switches, laptops, desktops, and end-user support, ensuring comprehensive oversight and support for the entire IT infrastructure.
   • A dedicated project was launched to refresh and organize the servers. This involved:
     • Building new physical and virtual servers.
     • Migrating roles and existing machines.
     • Removing obsolete equipment.
3. Enhanced Security and Continuity Measures:
   • A managed firewall was installed to protect the facility’s network environment.
   • To ensure business continuity and data recovery, we implemented both on-site and cloud backup solutions.
4. Improved Communication Systems:
   • A new phone system was installed, providing easier call management, and enhancing communication efficiency.

Outcome

The comprehensive IT overhaul and continuous support provided by our team resulted in significant improvements in the facility’s network performance and security. The CFO of the facility commended the partnership with AME, stating it was the best decision they had ever made.

This case study highlights the transformative impact of a thorough network assessment and the implementation of managed IT services, emphasizing the importance of qualified oversight and proactive IT management.