Arctic Slope Native Association Deploys Virtual Desktops for Cost-Effective Healthcare Computing
Customer Company Size
Mid-size Company
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- NComputing L120-L230
- NComputing L300
- NComputing vSpace
Tech Stack
- Virtual Desktops
- Server-side Virtualization
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Energy Saving
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries
- Healthcare & Hospitals
Applicable Functions
- Facility Management
- Business Operation
Use Cases
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
The Arctic Slope Native Association (ASNA) is a not-for-profit organization located in Barrow, Alaska. It operates as a JCAHO Certified Critical Access Hospital through Indian Health Services (IHS), serving as the primary healthcare facility for the North Slope region. ASNA is recognized among the top hospitals nationwide for delivering quality service and maintaining high standards of patient safety. The organization is dedicated to providing healthcare services to the North Slope region, which is characterized by its remote and challenging environment. ASNA's mission is to enhance healthcare access and quality for its patients and healthcare providers, despite the constraints of limited resources and budget. The organization is committed to adopting innovative solutions to improve its healthcare delivery, ensuring that both patients and staff benefit from efficient and secure computing access. ASNA's focus on cost-effective solutions and compliance with healthcare regulations underscores its dedication to serving the community while maintaining high standards of care.
The Challenge
The Arctic Slope Native Association (ASNA) faced significant challenges in managing their healthcare computing infrastructure. As a not-for-profit organization operating in Barrow, Alaska, ASNA needed to upgrade its obsolete PCs to improve data management and compliance with strict healthcare regulations. The shift from paper-based to electronic medical records necessitated a secure, cost-effective, and low-maintenance computing solution. ASNA's IT budget and support resources were limited, making it crucial to find a solution that could provide fast, convenient, and reliable computing access while adhering to government security standards. The complexity of managing multiple applications and securing confidential information added to the challenge, as did the need to comply with regulations like the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). Traditional PC desktops were not viable due to their high maintenance costs and inefficiency in handling multiple users and applications. ASNA needed a solution that could centralize application delivery, reduce costs, and improve user experience for both healthcare providers and patients.
The Solution
To address its computing challenges, ASNA deployed a virtual desktop solution using NComputing's technology. The solution involved the deployment of 120 L120-L230 and 125 L300 NComputing access devices, along with 35 host servers, to create 225 workstations. This setup allowed ASNA to move away from traditional PC desktops to a virtualized desktop model, centralizing application delivery and reducing costs. NComputing's vSpace software facilitated server-side virtualization, enabling ASNA to deliver mobile medical workstations for accessing patient point-of-care information. The virtual desktops provided a unified protocol, software, and hardware platform, making the deployment fast, simple, and affordable. By leveraging the unused computing capacity of a single PC or server, NComputing's solution allowed multiple users to share resources efficiently. Each user's monitor, keyboard, and mouse were connected to a small, reliable NComputing access device, which was then connected to the shared computer. This approach minimized hardware requirements, reduced maintenance costs, and improved resource utilization. The virtual desktops also enhanced security by centralizing data management and compliance on a central server, simplifying the demonstration of healthcare compliance. ASNA's partnership with Microage, an NComputing reseller, facilitated the acquisition and deployment of the solution, ensuring that the organization's computing needs were met effectively.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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