Merger Aftermath Insights: Streamlining IT Functions Within a Healthcare Organization's Amalgamation
In the heart of Utica, New York, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has demonstrated an impressive approach to health IT integration following a 2014 merger of two local hospitals.
Established in 2014, MVHS began its journey by merging two separate entities, each with its own Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems. For the first five years, these systems continued to operate independently. However, the bulk of the IT integration work was completed about two or three years after the merger.
To facilitate this transformation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) stepped in, installing HPE Synergy infrastructure and 3PAR StoreServ all-flash storage arrays at Faxton-St. Luke's data center. This move enabled MVHS to pre-provision extra capacity for server and storage scalability as needed.
Recognising the importance of seamless workflow and having all patient records in one place, MVHS made a strategic decision to consolidate its EHR systems. In 2019, the system standardised on Epic, a leading EHR provider, marking a significant milestone in the integration process.
Moreover, MVHS adopted HPE GreenLake services for a more cost-effective on-premises solution, ensuring the system could accommodate growth while keeping costs under control.
To enhance security, the IT team brought St. Elizabeth up to Faxton-St. Luke's security standards by installing a demilitarized zone on St. Elizabeth's network and upgrading to Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls. Additionally, Trend Micro's endpoint security software was standardised across the system to protect against potential threats.
The IT department also consolidated two production data centers into one, using HPE's blade servers and 3PAR storage hardware. Furthermore, the newly combined health system consolidated VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft licenses under one contract for each vendor, streamlining licensing management.
To foster seamless staff communication, the merged IT department consolidated to one email system. The IT team also implemented single sign-on, enabling clinicians to log in and out of EHR systems automatically using their employee badges. Active Directory implementations were standardised for staff from both organisations to authenticate, access applications, and share data.
As MVHS continues to grow, it is building a new regional medical center set to open in fall 2023. The staff from the two hospitals will work under one roof in the new medical center, further enhancing operational synergy.
In summary, MVHS's approach to health IT integration in hospital mergers emphasises clear governance, phased technology alignment, and stakeholder engagement. By following best practices such as establishing a joint IT governance structure, conducting comprehensive IT assessments, and prioritising critical system integration, MVHS has successfully streamlined its operations, ensuring continued quality care for its patients.
- MVHS, in its commitment to excellence in health-and-wellness, followed best practices in science-driven systems integration after the 2014 merger, streamlining their operations through phased technology alignment and clear governance.
- Recognizing the importance of seamless workflow and single patient record access, MVHS made a strategic decision to consolidate their Electronic Health Records systems in 2019, adopting Epic, a leading EHR provider, as their standardized system.
