Leveraging a Server Investment in Health Care - Navigator

Leveraging a Server
Investment in Health Care
Choosing to invest in a server can bring immediate benefits to
health care professionals and patients. Health care administrators
can better secure data while doctors and other health
care providers can quickly share information and collaborate. IT
staff can more easily maintain and upgrade critical software applications
with a server. Selecting a server and software combination can
be easy and affordable — and the benefits can be enormous — no
matter how big or small the health care facility.
Essentially, a server is a protected, high-tech warehouse where
all the data and applications needed to power a health office or
clinic are housed. A server delivers information and software to
other computers that are linked by a network via cables or wirelessly
through a router. The server also provides a centralized place
to manage data and share files and resources. It enables effective
backup, provides remote access to files and applications and
increases data security.
Once a server is in place, it is critical to take the proper steps
to maximize its value. Health care offices need to guarantee the
highest return on investment by ensuring the server is operating at
its optimal level. This paper discusses a simple, four-step process a
health care facility can take to ensure it is getting the most out of
its server.
Step 1:
Configure the Server for Optimal Performance
• Consult documentation and vendor customer support during
installation
• Run simple diagnostic checks to make sure that the server
install was successful
• Ensure the server is properly connected to the network
Before a server can become the central hub of documents and
information, it needs to be set up properly. Effective setup ensures
that doctors, health care providers and patients gain the full benefit
of the system. Servers come pre-packaged with documentation
and setup wizards that guide you through the installation process,
and additional help is readily available if necessary.
If you start to get frustrated, the first place to look is the customer
support provided by the server manufacturer. Trained professionals
are available 24/7 who can answer questions and guide
you through the process. If more specialized help is needed, they
can point you to the right place.
While the specifics will vary by model, most servers also
come with some simple diagnostics tools that can ensure that
the server install was successful and that it is connected to the
network. Once these steps are completed, the server is ready to
house the documents and resources that will help improve your
health care facility.
Step 2:
Check Available Resources
• Confirm that the processor, storage and networking
capabilities will meet the health care facilities’ needs
• Ensure there is enough drive space — this is critical as the
server becomes important in day-to-day operations
It is important to confirm that the processor, storage and
networking capabilities of the server not only meet the health
care facilities’ needs now, but will also meet future needs. The
server should have the capability to scale-up as application
demands increase.

While servers are typically shipped with ample drive space,
there is always room for more — especially as the price of storage
continues to drop. Considering external drives can be beneficial,
both for amplifying the utility of a server and extending its life.
With eSATA (External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment),
an external hard drive can be accessed just as quickly as one inside
the server itself. Alternatively, health care facilities can choose to
have an external drive kept offsite or use a cloud-computing service
to back up data and prevent data loss. Offsite storage capabilities
continue to improve, so keep an eye out for the backup options
available in the cloud.
Step 3:
Load Your Applications
• Inventory the applications you plan to use
• Install applications according to manufacturer instructions
• Look for additional applications that can increase the value of
the investment
It is important to keep track of what applications need to be
installed for your health care facility and that they are correctly
loaded. Help is available to guide you through these steps and you
will want to follow all the manufacturer instructions to ensure optimum
performance of the server. Usually, questions about an application
need to be directed to the software maker who provided that
particular program. They have the in-depth expertise needed to
troubleshoot their software.
Health care offices need to
guarantee the highest return on
investment by ensuring the server is
operating at its optimal level.
Other applications may be available that increase the value of
server investments and ease the management of a server-based
network. For instance, a management console application is
designed to make network management easier by giving health
care administrators and IT staff a bird’s-eye view of the network.
It shows the status of anti-spam and anti-virus applications with a
simple color-coordinated threat level system, and sends alerts for
necessary software updates. With a console, you can view critical
information about your computers and network. The server can
also e-mail customized reports when time is limited. That way, a
snapshot of the network’s health can be delivered to your inbox
every morning.
Step 4:
Ensure Security and Backup Protections
• Configure backup services to avoid unexpected data loss
• Guard the system against power failures
• Set up security precautions to protect patient data
The loss of data due to system failure or disaster sets back
doctors and health care providers, rendering them unable to
focus on the needs of patients. Data loss due to system failure is
easily preventable and health care facilities can reduce the damage
in the event of a disaster (fire, flood, earthquake, etc.). The
chance of disaster or server failure can be greatly minimized by
using care and placing a server in a dry, cool and secure environment.
In any event, always make sure to schedule regular system
backups and test the backup system before it is actually needed.
Keep in mind that health care providers must comply with
federal and state privacy regulation — namely HIPAA. Viruses,
malware and other security breaches halt patient services and
negatively impact trust in a health care facility. Cyber criminals
that plague businesses have set their sights on clinics and hospitals.
Recently, a medical center in Richland, Wash., had a server
hacked. The data breach exposed patient names, dates of birth,
ages, genders, medical record numbers and doctors’ names and,
as a result, the server was removed from service and a firm was
hired to investigate the data breach.
Conclusion
To recap, there are four steps health care administrators can
take to ensure the peak performance of a server. Begin by configuring
the server — configuration can be double-checked by running
a diagnostic after installation. Next, check available resources
— external hard drives and the cloud allow servers to hold more
space and enable virtualization capabilities. Then, load applications
as the server will act as a hub for doctors, health care providers
and patients, allowing them to share information and data in
accordance with HIPAA. Also, look for applications that can make
maintenance of the server more user-friendly for IT staff. Finally,
make sure that data is secure and backed up — schedule regular
backups and place the server in a secure location to avoid physical
damage to the server.
For more information please contact a Dell representative at 1-877-818-0419 or visit www.dell.com/healthcareserver.
The first step in building your Dell network
solution is to meet the needs of your healthcare
organization and speed up productivity by
finding the right Dell server.
Work with your dedicated healthcare team
to build a network solution to help you keep
patient data secure and accessible.
Choose the Microsoft server operating system that’s the
best fit for your healthcare practice
Entry-level server operating system for running business
applications and sharing information and resources. Up to 15 users
Advanced server operating system with built-in virtualization capabilities
for increased reliability and security. Unlimited users
All-in-one server suite for enhanced designed for small businesses
productivity and a more professional business image. Up to 75 users
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