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Alliance Member: CentriNet
Customer: Not-for-Profit Community Hospital

"CentriNet was able to seamlessly and successfully integrate a number of different technologies into a single, cohesive solution that effectively addressed the client's needs - while delivering the ease of use its end users demanded."
- Keith Paschall, President, CentriNet

ABOUT THE CUSTOMER
This not-for-profit community hospital in Georgia anchors one of the state's largest health care systems, with a medical staff of more than 400 primary care physicians and specialists.

Key Benefits of CentriNet's Deployment of Citrix SmoothRoaming™

• Ensured the security and confidentiality of patient records and other critical data
• Reduced the logon/logoff process to mere seconds - from 2-3 minutes to just 9-10 seconds, leaving more time for patient interaction
• Thin-client architecture streamlined system administration time and application licensing/ version control costs
• Improved the efficiency and productivity of the hospital and its staff

THE CHALLENGE
In the fast-paced atmosphere of the hospital, doctors and nurses are constantly jumping on and off various computer workstations throughout the facility to retrieve and update patient information, sometimes as often as 40 times each day. But with no time to log off each time they leave the computer to visit with a patient or attend to another task, users would often walk away from their workstations without disconnecting - leaving them open to major security risks. With HIPPA and other security requirements growing more stringent each day, the hospital needed to find a way to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the information being accessed. At the same time, it was critical not to bog down the hospital's doctors and nurses with a lengthy logon/logoff process that required multiple passwords and various steps.

THE SOLUTION
After reviewing the hospital's specific challenges and needs, CentriNet spearheaded the development of a solution designed to automate the process of connecting users to the information they needed - and disconnecting them quickly when their session was complete. The solution focused on creating unique sessions for each user that could automatically "follow" them to the next workstation - eliminating the need to both log off the previous computer, and log into the new one. At the heart of the solution was the Citrix Access Suite, featuring Citrix SmoothRoaming. Citrix delivers functionality to any kind of terminal (thin client, laptop, Cart on Wheels, desktop, etc.), while also allowing for a single sign-on (Password Manager) and VPN security with the Access Gateway.

The Citrix solution is extended through a thin-client interface at each workstation. Data and information is stored on a central server, and accessed directly through the thin client, which also offers an integrated smart card reader and easy-to-use management tools. In addition, CentriNet equipped the hospital with Gemalto smart cards and readers to provide universal access for users at any workstation, from any location within the facility. This created a "Hot Desktop" functionality that allows for instant logon/logoff capability, with the card adding an additional layer of physical authentication and security.

THE BENEFITS
Today, the hospital's practitioners log in once in the morning, and work seamlessly throughout the day by inserting their Gemalto cards into the readers and/or thin client stations anywhere in the facility. When they change locations, they simply pull out their card, which leaves their session in a "disconnected state" - while locking down the workstation and keeping it fully secure. This automated disconnect process guarantees the security of each workstation, ensuring that users are logged off 100% of the time. It also offers the two-factor authentication that is required for the hospital to comply with current HIPAA standards. At the next workstation, users can re-insert the card, and pull up the screen that they were working on last.

Thanks to the CentriNet solution, the login process for the hospital's doctors and nurses has been reduced from 2-3 minutes to only 9-10 seconds - enabling them to spend less time on the computer, and more time with their patients. In addition, with instant access to their last open session, the hospital's practitioners can easily walk away from a workstation to be with a patient, then return and pick up exactly where they last left off. This has improved efficiency and productivity throughout the hospital.

"Our team brought deep Citrix expertise to the project, with an average of more than ten years of experience as well as certification as a Citrix Platinum Solutions Advisor," said Keith Paschall, President of CentriNet. "Ultimately, we were able to seamlessly and successfully integrate a number of different technologies into a single, cohesive solution that effectively addressed the client's needs - while delivering the ease of use its end users demanded."

ABOUT CENTRINET
CentriNet is a recognized leader in application delivery and infrastructure management. Centrinet's philosophy of putting the customer's needs first and building solutions based on their goals has enabled CentriNet to become a premiere professional services organization and respected leader throughout the industry. Through Centralization and Virtualization, CentriNet's approach to computing offers clients simplified IT management, increased data security, improved application and server performance, and measurably lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). CentriNet provides a full range of solutions and professional services, all designed to enable the customer's IT department to increase productivity, decrease expenses, improve efficiency, and simplify their network. To find out more, visit www.gocentrinet.com.

ABOUT THISA
THISA is a national network of regional solution providers dedicated to providing a range of industries high-value solutions that reduce costs, improve confidence, and increase compliance. 

THISA helps its clients address today's critical IT issues and fulfill all IT infrastructure, security and compliance requirements. From strategic risk analysis to storage and continuity issues to entire enterprise infrastructure design, THISA offers the highest level of technical expertise and a strong commitment to its customers.