“We Could Not Turn Our Legacy System Off. We Had To Mirror The Data In Some Other Way To Make It Accessible. My Staff Told Me AS400 Can Go On The Cloud.”
Background
Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) is a not-for-profit integrated health system with over 3,000 employees. It is comprised of over twenty facilities, including three inpatient hospitals, two clinics, two physician office buildings, an urgent care and dedicated centers that include neuro, cancer, heart, sleep and rehabilitation.
IBM 9406-820 With Siemens MedSeries IV Holds Patient Records
An IBM 9406-820 with Siemens MedSeries IV had supported SIH’s patient histories and accounts receivable. As SIH made plans to migrate to EpicCare EMR, Georgette Loubnan, Enterprise Solutions and Business Intelligence Manager, was tasked with the job to determine how to provide SIH stakeholders with access to the MedSeries data for patient financial services.
Georgette explains, “I am all about optimization and getting rid of things we don’t need. I was given the job to interview the users and stakeholders about their needs.”
Different Departments Still Need Access
For 2 years Georgette interviewed SIH department heads that relied on MedSeries IV. Accounts in the MedSeries IV system were up to 20 years old. Various departments needed access to records for billings and adjustments for payments from insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or directly from the client. Compliance and auditors needed access to the records to respond to legal requests and other queries.
2 Year Study Finds No Common Consensus Among Users
Georgette says, “I did not find a common consensus among the users. And Engineering wanted the space back in the room that was taken up by the 9406-820.”
“We could not turn this legacy system off. The users still wanted access to decades of information. So we had to mirror the data in some other way to make it accessible another way that’s not going to break.
Hunt For Best Solution Begins And Ends With Cloud400
Georgette concluded, “For now, cost/benefit-wise, with the skills we have in-house, until those accounts receivable mature completely and they write off the accounts, we are going to have to figure out a solution. So I sent some of my staff on a hunt to figure out the best solution.
“Tim Schellenberg on my staff came back and told me AS400 can go on the cloud. Tim said, ‘Cloud400 can do it. Cloud400 is the company you need to talk to’.”
Strong IBM Experience On Cloud400 Team
Georgette continues, “What stood out about Cloud400 for us first was their experience with IBM iSeries/AS400 systems and the fact that many Cloud400 team members had originally worked for IBM.
Easy Move To IBM OS400 Environment
“Second, Cloud400 was a good fit for what we needed. We could easily move our system to an IBM OS400 environment, not some other SQL database solution with data migration and extra programming expense.
Straightforward Cost/Benefit And Competent Cloud400 Team
“Third, the Cloud400 cost/benefit was straightforward.
“Fourth, Tim’s comfort. Tim said that the Cloud400 guys were competent, they easily understood our needs and knew what we were talking about.
60 Day Free Trial To Know It Works
“Tim also stressed to me, ‘Don’t pay for anything until you actually try it and know it works.’ Tim really liked that Cloud400 had a free 60-day trial.
Siemens MedSeries Expert Starts Journey With Cloud400
“I remember that idea did not leave Tim’s brain. He said, ‘That’s exactly the company I want to work with.’” Georgette continues. “I said pick up the phone and let Cloud400 know we need to talk. Let’s have our Siemens MedSeries IV expert Mike Arnold start on the journey with Cloud400.
HIPAA Regulations, Legal Issues Worked Out With Planning
“From the time we wanted to proceed and the time we started testing, we had several months of discussion between our legal team and Cloud400. Like any healthcare service that is regulated by HIPAA, we had key issues that needed to be worked out. With patience, SIH and Cloud400 worked out a plan so we could proceed. Cloud400 took that extra step to find ways to work things out. It made a huge difference.”
Cloud400 Testing Was Smooth Sailing
Georgette continues, “The testing of our system on Cloud400 was smooth sailing. I sit next to Mike Arnold, who managed the Cloud400 testing. He got responsiveness promptly. Cloud400 engineers were technically skilled. He felt the Cloud400 teams was competent and understood his needs. They were both aligned about what needed to get done for success. Everything got done quick, quick, quick.
Live On Cloud400 – No One Notices!
“We got the email we were live on Cloud400. Users got on – and no one noticed any difference. No users came to us to complain. It was great. It was seamless. Cloud400 has skilled people; Mike was very happy to work with the guys from Cloud400. No complaint whatsoever.
“Go Live Was Perfection.”
“Go live was perfection. When we went live we had 5 users on the system in less than 5 seconds accessing our system. Mike said, ‘Georgette, we have 5 users.’ I said, ‘OK, just let me know if anyone stops by.’
“We did not have one ring on the phone. Like…the users did not even notice that there was any difference going to Cloud400. They went in, they did what they do. It was just… great. We did not get one phone call.
Georgette Loubnan Recommends Cloud400
Georgette says, “I totally recommend Cloud400. I am like overwhelmed with joy. It was just such a great experience. Any day I would work with someone like these guys. Mike Arnold had the most amazing relationship with Cloud400 – the guys were very interactive and very trustworthy. Go to Cloud400 because it is the right thing to do. Totally, Cloud400 made my life easy. I did not have to work overtime. I would be happy to be a reference any time.”