Healthcare Gets Shot in the Arm with Novell

Novell Net services software creates a manageable, secure and stable environment for organizations like Allina Health System, which has leveraged Net services software to assist in reducing help desk calls by 50 percent and has maintained level support staff headcount while growing 57 percent.

21 May 2001

  • Novell Net Services Software Provides Security, Cross-Platform Management, and Operational Efficiencies to Healthcare Providers Facing Rising Costs and Government Regulation
  • Allina Health System Utilizes Novell ZENworks to Deploy Over 1,000 Desktop Applications , Including Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • eDirectory Lowers Management Costs and Simplifies Cross-Platform Management

Novell, Inc., the leading provider of Net services software, is simplifying, securing and accelerating IT systems on the Net for healthcare providers worldwide through Novell® Healthcare, a practice which combines Novell's Net services software with strategic industry alliances, education and consulting services. In an industry that adds a "patient-critical" dimension to the term "mission-critical," many healthcare providers struggle to unify and empower life-saving systems into a single Net, across multiple platforms and across the intranet, extranet and Internet. Novell Net services software creates a manageable, secure and stable environment for organizations like Allina Health System, which has leveraged Net services software to assist in reducing help desk calls by 50 percent and has maintained level support staff headcount while growing 57 percent.

"The healthcare industry is faced with spiraling costs of doing business and the need for personalized relationships with providers and patients," said Alex Salehi, vice president of professional services for Novell. "In today's Net economy, healthcare organizations are increasingly looking for ways to securely connect, interoperate and reduce costs by streamlining business processes. Our Net services software provides key components of the infrastructure foundation for healthcare organizations of all sizes to succeed in the 21st century."

As the healthcare industry globally moves to eBusiness, it faces the added challenge of government regulation, privacy concerns, and intense public scrutiny. New technologies are central to addressing these challenges. Novell Net services software allows healthcare providers to bring business applications and new services rapidly to the Web, centralize management across large networks, and the ability to secure and monitor who has access to network resources both within and outside the organization.

Healthcare organizations worldwide are experiencing success as they leverage Novell Net services software and support services. They include, among others, Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals NHS Trust (UK); Anna-Laberge Hospital Centre (Canada); SUSALUD (Columbia); Prince William Health Systems; Metropolitan Health; Capital Region Healthcare; Rush Presbyterian; Health First; University of Alabama Medical Center; Swedish Medical Center; Children's Hospital Oakland; Hartford Hospital; and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Allina Health System
Allina Health System, headquartered in Minneapolis, has standardized on Novell's Net services software to securely network and build online relationships among hospitals, doctors, employees, distributors, and suppliers. Allina Health System is a not-for-profit integrated healthcare organization with 23,000 employees and serving 15,000 physicians and their patients. Medica, Allina Health System's health plan division, serves more than one million members, with healthcare coverage in a four-state area. Allina utilizes Novell Net services software to help integrate their enterprise applications, and manage over 1,000 applications throughout the enterprise, and simplify their network administration.

Novell NDS® eDirectory and DirXML, core network management and integration technologies, have allowed Allina to begin unifying systems running on NetWareâ and Windows NT*. As early adopters of DirXML, Allina is leveraging the directory to create a common infrastructure platform throughout its organization. Novell Consulting has provided expertise in leveraging DirXML to integrate eDirectory and Active Directory*, simplifying management of applications, identities, and processes. The security features of eDirectory give Allina management complete confidence that their directory based systems design will allow them to comply with pending government regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Novell's desktop management solution, ZENworks® for Desktops, has greatly streamlined installation, management, and support of over 1,000 application profiles running throughout Allina systems, including Outlook 2000*. Originally used to accelerate Allina's Y2K compliance, ZENworks for Desktops has become a source of significant cost savings. Currently used to push out and manage standardized desktop systems, ZENworks has played a significant role in driving down helpdesk calls by 50 percent and has allowed for 57 percent growth, from 7,000 to 11,000 PCs, without additional support staff. Allina estimates that ZENworks saved them 3,500 man hours in software installation alone for just their rollout of Outlook 2000 on 7,000 PCs.

"Allina Health System's mission is to provide an excellent health care experience for our customers," said David Lind, director of information services for Allina Health System. "As we have added new systems, Novell has provided a solid infrastructure on which to build. Novell products offer the security, stability, and cross-platform management capability we must have to be successful in meeting our mission."

About Novell Net Services Software
Novell is the leading provider of Net services software that secures and powers all types of networks intranets, the Internet, and extranets; corporate and public; wired to wireless as one Net, across all leading operating systems.

About Novell Healthcare
Leveraging Novell healthcare practice and strategic alliances with industry partners, Novell is providing core expertise in security and IT assessments with focus on the advantages of directory-enabled infrastructure for security and management. For more detailed information on Novell Healthcare and offerings please visit www.novell.com/consulting.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL), is the leading provider of Net services software that delivers services to secure and power all types of networks the Internet, intranets, and extranets; wired to wireless; corporate and public across leading operating systems. Novell's Net services software provides the foundation for one Net a single global network that supports new applications and forms of business. Worldwide channel, consulting, education and technical support programs, along with strategic alliances, combine Novell Net services software with third-party products and services to form complete Net solutions.

For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom. In addition, detailed comparisons between Novell products and competitive offerings from other vendors are available on the Web at http://www.novell.com/competitive.

Novell, NetWare, NDS and ZENworks are registered trademarks, and DirXML and eDirectory are trademarks are Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. * All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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