​What this article discusses:

• How Virtual Desktops help Hospitals.
• How Virtual Desktops improve security and compliance.
• Factors to consider when deciding to outsource Virtual Desktop or build internally.
• Biggest risks to anticipate when building an Virtual Desktop Environment internally.
• Cost considerations for building a Virtual Desktop Environment for 1,000 employees and 3 campuses.
• Annual maintenance considerations for a Virtual Desktop Environment.
• Staffing requirements for a Virtual Desktop Environment.

How Virtual Desktops help hospitals?  

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) can help hospitals in several ways: 

Secure access to patient information: VDI allows doctors and healthcare professionals to access patient records from any device, anywhere, and at any time. By using VDI, healthcare professionals can access patient records securely, without storing any patient data on local devices. 

Cost-effective: VDI can save hospitals money in terms of hardware and software costs. Instead of purchasing and maintaining individual devices for every employee, hospitals can use VDI to provide secure access to patient data from any device. 

Better patient care: VDI can improve patient care by providing healthcare professionals with access to the latest patient data in real-time. Doctors and nurses can access patient records quickly and easily, which can help them make more informed decisions about patient care. 

Flexibility: VDI allows healthcare professionals to work remotely, which can be beneficial in emergencies or when healthcare professionals are unable to physically be in the hospital. By using VDI, doctors can access patient records from home or on-the-go, which can help them make better decisions about patient care. 

Improved collaboration: VDI can improve collaboration between healthcare professionals by providing them with a centralized platform to share patient data and collaborate on treatment plans. This can help improve patient outcomes and reduce errors. 

Overall, virtual desktops can help hospitals improve patient care, reduce costs, and improve collaboration between healthcare professionals. 

How VDI improves security and compliance.  

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) can help hospitals improve security and compliance in several ways: 

Centralized management: VDI allows hospitals to manage and secure all of their desktops and applications from a centralized location. This reduces the risk of security breaches and makes it easier to enforce compliance policies. 

 Controlled access: VDI allows hospitals to control access to patient information by restricting access to authorized users only. This reduces the risk of data breaches and ensures that patient information is kept confidential. 

 Data encryption: VDI can encrypt data on the server, during transmission, and on the client device, which can help protect patient data from unauthorized access and breaches. 

 Patch management: VDI allows hospitals to quickly and easily apply software patches and updates, reducing the risk of security vulnerabilities. 

 Logging and auditing: VDI can log and audit user activity, making it easier to identify and investigate any security breaches or compliance violations. 

 Disaster recovery: VDI can help hospitals quickly recover from disasters or system failures by allowing them to quickly spin up virtual desktops in another location. 

Compliance with regulations: VDI can help hospitals comply with various regulations and standards such as HIPAA, HITECH, and PCI DSS by providing secure access to patient data, encrypting data in transit and at rest, and controlling access to patient data. 

Overall, VDI can help hospitals improve security and compliance by providing centralized management, controlled access, data encryption, patch management, logging and auditing, disaster recovery, and compliance with regulations. 

 What factors should a hospital consider when deciding if to outsource or build internally? 

When deciding whether to outsource or build an IT solution internally, hospitals should consider the following factors: 

Cost: The cost of building an IT solution internally can be high due to the need to hire and train staff, purchase hardware and software, and maintain the system. Outsourcing may be a more cost-effective solution as the vendor can provide the necessary resources and expertise at a lower cost. 

Expertise: Hospitals should consider the expertise and skill sets of their internal staff. If the hospital lacks the necessary expertise to build and maintain an IT solution, outsourcing may be a better option. 

Time-frame: Building an IT solution internally may take longer than outsourcing, which can delay implementation and result in higher costs. 

 Control: Hospitals should consider the level of control they require over the IT solution. Building an IT solution internally provides more control, but outsourcing may provide more flexibility and scalability. 

 Scalability: Hospitals should consider the scalability of the IT solution. If the hospital expects the system to grow over time, outsourcing may be a better option as the vendor can provide the necessary resources to scale the system as needed. 

 Security: Hospitals should consider the security implications of outsourcing versus building an IT solution internally. If the IT solution involves sensitive patient data, the hospital may need to retain more control over the system and consider additional security measures. 

 Compliance: Hospitals should consider the regulatory and compliance requirements for their IT solution. The vendor may be able to provide expertise and resources to ensure compliance with regulations, but the hospital may also need to ensure that they have sufficient oversight and control. 

 Overall, hospitals should carefully consider the cost, expertise, timeframe, control, scalability, security, and compliance implications when deciding whether to outsource or build an IT solution internally. 

Risks when trying to build a virtual desktop environment internally?  

 When building a virtual desktop environment internally, there are several risks that hospitals should consider: 

 Complexity: Building a virtual desktop environment is complex and requires specialized knowledge and skills. Hospitals may lack the necessary expertise and resources to build and maintain a virtual desktop environment, which can result in implementation delays, cost overruns, and performance issues. 

 Infrastructure requirements: Virtual desktop environments require significant infrastructure to support, including servers, storage, and networking equipment. Hospitals may need to purchase new hardware or upgrade their existing infrastructure to support a virtual desktop environment, which can be costly. 

 Performance issues: Virtual desktop environments are highly dependent on network performance, and any network issues can lead to performance problems for end-users. Hospitals may need to invest in additional networking equipment and bandwidth to ensure that the virtual desktop environment performs adequately. 

 Security: Virtual desktop environments contain sensitive patient information, which makes security a critical concern. Hospitals may need to implement additional security measures, such as encryption, access controls, and monitoring, to protect patient data. 

 User acceptance: Virtual desktop environments can be complex for end-users to use, and if they are not designed well, they may be slow or difficult to access. This can lead to user frustration and reduced productivity. 

 Cost: Building a virtual desktop environment internally can be expensive, and hospitals may need to allocate significant resources to the project. The costs of hardware, software, licensing, and ongoing maintenance can add up quickly. 

Lack of expertise: Building a virtual desktop environment requires specialized expertise in areas such as virtualization, networking, storage, and security. A lack of expertise in any of these areas can result in a poorly designed or insecure environment. 

 Overall, building a virtual desktop environment internally can come with several risks, including a lack of expertise, complexity, cost, scalability, security, and compliance. To mitigate these risks, hospitals should carefully consider the expertise and resources required to build and maintain a virtual desktop environment and may want to consider outsourcing to a vendor with specialized expertise. 

How much does it cost to build a HIPAA compliant Virtual Desktop Environment for a 1,000 employee hospital with 3 campuses?  

 The cost of building a HIPAA compliant Virtual Desktop Environment (VDI) for a 1,000 employee hospital with 3 campuses can vary depending on several factors, including the technology used, the level of customization, and the scope of the project. Here are some factors to consider when estimating the cost: 

 Hardware costs: This includes the cost of servers, storage, and networking equipment needed to support the VDI. The cost can vary depending on the quality and quantity of hardware needed, but a rough estimate is between $450,000 to $750,000. 

 Software costs: This includes the cost of the virtualization software, operating system licenses, and other software needed to support the VDI. The cost can vary depending on the software selected, but a rough estimate is between $250,000 to $300,000 annually

Implementation costs: This includes the cost of deploying and configuring the VDI, which can vary depending on the level of customization required. A rough estimate for implementation costs is between $300,000 to $400,000. 

 Maintenance and support costs: This includes the ongoing costs of maintaining and supporting the VDI, which can include software updates, security patches, and user support. A rough estimate for ongoing maintenance and support costs is between $150,000 to $250,000 per year. 

Consulting and professional services costs: This includes the cost of hiring outside consultants or professional services to assist with the project, such as for compliance audits or security assessments. A rough estimate for consulting and professional services costs is between $150,000 to $250,000. 

 Overall, the total cost of building a HIPAA compliant VDI for a 1,000 employee hospital with 3 campuses can range from $850,000 to $1,550,000, depending on the factors outlined above. It's important to note that this is just an estimate, and hospitals should consult with IT professionals and vendors to get a more accurate estimate based on their specific needs and requirements. 

Annual maintenance consideration for a Virtual Desktop environment?  

 The annual maintenance costs for a HIPAA compliant Virtual Desktop Environment (VDE) for a 1,000 employee hospital with 3 campuses can vary depending on several factors, including the technology used, the level of customization, and the scope of the project. Here are some factors to consider when estimating the annual maintenance costs: 

Software maintenance costs: This includes the cost of software maintenance and support, which can include software updates, security patches, and user support. A rough estimate for software maintenance costs is between $150,000 to $200,000 per year. 

Hardware maintenance costs: This includes the cost of hardware maintenance and support, which can include repairs, replacements, and upgrades. A rough estimate for hardware maintenance costs is between $100,000 to $200,000 per year. 

Licensing costs: This includes the cost of renewing software licenses and subscriptions. A rough estimate for licensing costs is between $125,000 to $150,000 per year. 

Staffing costs: This includes the cost of staffing the IT department responsible for maintaining the VDE, which can include salaries, benefits, and training. A rough estimate for staffing costs is between $400,000 to $600,000 per year. 

Security and compliance costs: This includes the cost of ongoing security and compliance measures, such as security assessments, vulnerability scans, and compliance audits. A rough estimate for security and compliance costs is between $150,000 to $250,000 per year. 

Overall, the total annual maintenance costs for a HIPAA compliant VDE for a 1,000 employee hospital with 3 campuses can range from $875,000 to $950,000, depending on the factors outlined above. It's important to note that this is just an estimate, and hospitals should consult with IT professionals and vendors to get a more accurate estimate based on their specific needs and requirements. 

Staffing considerations for maintaining Virtual Desktop Environment

The number of staff needed to support a HIPAA compliant Virtual Desktop Environment (VDE) for a 1,000 employee hospital with 3 campuses can vary depending on the technology used, the level of customization, and the scope of the project. Here are some of the roles that would be necessary to support the VDE: 

 Project Manager: This person would be responsible for overseeing the project and coordinating with all stakeholders involved in the VDE. The number of project managers needed would depend on the size and complexity of the project. 

 System Administrator: This person would be responsible for managing the virtualization software, operating systems, and other software required for the VDE. The number of system administrators needed would depend on the size of the VDE and the number of virtual machines being managed. 

 Network Administrator: This person would be responsible for managing the networking equipment and ensuring that the VDE is properly integrated into the hospital's network infrastructure. The number of network administrators needed would depend on the size and complexity of the hospital's network. 

 Help Desk Technician: This person would be responsible for providing user support for the VDE, including troubleshooting issues with virtual machines, software, and hardware. The number of help desk technicians needed would depend on the number of users and the level of support required. 

 Security Analyst: This person would be responsible for managing the security of the VDE, including monitoring for security threats, managing access control, and implementing security policies. The number of security analysts needed would depend on the size and complexity of the VDE. 

 Overall, the number of staff needed to support a HIPAA compliant VDE for a 1,000 employee hospital with 3 campuses can range from 5 to 20 or more, depending on the factors outlined above. It's important to note that this is just an estimate, and hospitals should consult with IT professionals to determine the optimal staffing levels for their specific needs and requirements.