Adapting to modern technological advancements, Sharp HealthCare has embarked on an impressive journey toward enhancing its IT autonomy and reducing overall costs. This San Diego-based healthcare provider has meticulously crafted a hybrid cloud environment, integrating both public and private cloud infrastructures to enhance operational efficiency. Their multi-faceted approach combines the AWS public cloud, private clouds, and a multitude of applications, all orchestrated to drive technological agility and cost-effectiveness.
The Initial Steps in Sharp HealthCare’s Cloud Journey
Recognition of SaaS Limitations and Transition to Cloud Platforms
Initially, Sharp HealthCare leveraged an array of Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions to digitize their healthcare operations, seeking quick gains in efficiency and cost management. However, it didn’t take long for the organization to recognize the inherent limitations of relying solely on SaaS. The lack of customization options and the potential for escalating costs with growing data volumes and user bases prompted Sharp to seek more comprehensive cloud solutions. Thus began their transition to public cloud platforms, marking the start of a more robust and strategic cloud strategy aimed at integrating diverse cloud services seamlessly and effectively.
This transition wasn’t just about hopping onto the cloud bandwagon; it was a well-calculated move to broaden their digital capabilities and overcome the constraints posed by SaaS-only solutions. By engaging with commercial cloud infrastructures such as AWS, Sharp envisioned not just an expansion of their digital transformation efforts but also a groundwork for more sophisticated, automated, and cost-efficient IT resource management. In making this shift, they were effectively setting the stage for a hybrid cloud environment that promised greater agility, improved security, and the capacity to deliver enhanced services across their healthcare operations.
Partnering with Ahead for Expertise and Guidance
Recognizing their inexperience with public cloud environments, Sharp HealthCare sought the expertise of Ahead, an IT consultant headquartered in Chicago. Ahead’s involvement kicked off approximately 18 months ago and was crucial in laying down the foundational elements of Sharp’s cloud journey. The consultancy spearheaded a comprehensive review of Sharp’s existing application portfolio, meticulously evaluating each application’s viability for migration and crafting a strategic end-state model for cloud operations that balanced immediate needs with long-term goals.
Ahead’s role extended beyond mere advisory. They acted as both architects and mentors, designing the hybrid cloud infrastructure while simultaneously transferring critical knowledge to Sharp’s internal IT team. This dual approach ensured that Sharp wouldn’t just be reliant on outside expertise but would cultivate in-house capabilities robust enough to manage and evolve the cloud environment independently. “We worked with their experts to basically teach ourselves to feed ourselves,” said Thomas Gorrie, Sharp’s director of core technologies, encapsulating the essence of this strategic partnership aimed at fostering sustainable autonomy.
Constructing the Hybrid Cloud Environment
Designing for Flexibility and Autonomy
A paramount consideration in developing Sharp’s hybrid cloud architecture was to maintain maximum flexibility and avoid vendor lock-in. By employing Megaport’s Network-as-a-Service, Sharp ensured seamless interaction between their AWS public cloud and their private cloud environments. This approach not only maximized operational efficiency but also provided the agility to leverage multiple cloud platforms, including Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. This design choice fundamentally aimed to shield Sharp from potential constraints that could arise from heavy dependency on a single cloud provider, ensuring that they retained control and adaptability in their digital strategy.
The architecture was further bolstered by a robust private cloud setup anchored on Cisco Unified Computing System hardware and managed through a VMware hypervisor. This hybrid model allowed Sharp to optimize resource allocation across different environments, improving performance and reducing costs. Megaport’s service played a crucial role by facilitating consistent, high-bandwidth connectivity, thus enabling smooth data flow and application interoperability across the various cloud platforms. This integrated approach meant that Sharp could dynamically allocate workloads based on performance, cost, or compliance requirements, ensuring utmost flexibility in their operations.
Training and Empowering Sharp’s IT Team
An integral part of ensuring long-term IT sovereignty involved thorough training of Sharp’s in-house IT team. Ahead took on the responsibility of providing extensive workshops that covered the gamut of essential skills, from setting up AWS environments to mastering continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) best practices, GitHub Actions, and HashiCorp’s Terraform. These workshops included both consultant-led briefings and hands-on exercises designed to impart practical, actionable knowledge. Notably, Ahead provided pre-designed Terraform modules, empowering Sharp’s IT personnel to immediately apply their newfound skills in real-world AWS environment setups.
Such training sessions aimed to transform Sharp’s IT team from cloud novices to proficient managers of their cloud infrastructures. The concentrated effort on knowledge transfer enabled the IT team to grasp the nuances of cloud management, equipping them to handle everything from routine maintenance to complex deployments independently. This empowerment was pivotal for Sharp, as it not only reduced reliance on external vendors but also paved the way for greater innovation and responsiveness within their IT strategy. The ultimate goal was to cultivate a self-sufficient IT workforce capable of driving Sharp’s cloud initiatives forward.
Optimizing the Application Portfolio
Migration of Key Applications
Sharp HealthCare’s application portfolio, comprising approximately 400 applications, underwent meticulous evaluation to identify the optimal environment for each. The larger, more critical applications were moved to either SaaS solutions or remote hosting services, depending on their specific requirements. A significant milestone in this migration strategy was the transition from a Cerner EMR system to a hosted Epic EMR deployment. This complex migration, completed in March, was expertly facilitated by Ahead’s setup of an AWS environment capable of handling extensive data extraction, migration, and loading to a Snowflake data warehouse for analysis.
The migration of such key applications not only enhanced operational efficiency but also underscored the value of a strategic approach to cloud adoption. It allowed Sharp to leverage the advanced features of modern EMR systems like Epic, which offer superior data management and interoperability capabilities compared to their predecessors. This move was part of a broader attempt to streamline healthcare delivery processes, ensuring that the technological backbone could support Sharp’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality patient care while optimizing resource use and costs.
Evaluating Residual Applications
Despite the successful migration of major applications, around 200 smaller applications remain in evaluation limbo. For these applications, Sharp continues to strategize the best deployment approach, balancing operational efficiency with cost considerations. The goal is to avoid the high costs associated with duplicating infrastructure while ensuring these applications are placed in environments that maximize their utility. Sharp is considering multiple options, including moving some to the commercial cloud, internally managing others on their private cloud, or potentially decommissioning those that no longer serve a critical function.
This methodical approach ensures that every application is evaluated on its merits and operational necessity, avoiding unnecessary expenditure and optimizing resource allocation. As part of this ongoing process, Sharp aims to achieve a harmonized application environment that leverages the strengths of both public and private cloud infrastructures while ensuring scalability and cost-efficiency. This strategic rationalization reflects a keen understanding of the complexities involved in healthcare IT management and underscores Sharp’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Achieving Cost Efficiency and Technological Agility
Cost-Effective Resource Management
A cornerstone of Sharp’s cloud strategy is achieving cost-efficiency through careful resource management and reduced reliance on third-party vendors. By transitioning to self-managed AWS environments, Sharp anticipates a significant reduction in management costs—potentially by half—compared to the expenses associated with outsourcing. The intention is to initially reach cost-neutrality with commercial cloud services, but the long-term outlook is towards realizing substantial cost savings as the IT team becomes more adept at managing the cloud infrastructure independently.
This cost-effective resource management is not purely about savings but also about reallocating funds towards innovation and quality improvements in healthcare delivery. With lower operational costs, Sharp can invest more in cutting-edge technologies and solutions that enhance patient outcomes and streamline medical processes. This strategic use of resources exemplifies a balanced approach toward financial stewardship and technological advancement, ensuring that cost reductions contribute directly to expanding Sharp’s capabilities and improving healthcare services.
Accelerated Technology Adoption
The hybrid cloud model has significantly enhanced Sharp’s ability to swiftly adopt new technologies, exemplified by the rapid deployment of their proprietary version of ChatGPT on AWS. This project, completed within a mere 60 days from conception to rollout, illustrates the agility and innovation enabled by cloud services. Such capabilities translate into faster time-to-value, allowing Sharp to quickly implement advanced technological solutions that can positively impact patient care and operational efficiency.
This accelerated adoption capacity is particularly vital in the healthcare sector, where timely access to new technologies can translate into better patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare delivery. The successful deployment of the ChatGPT version not only showcases Sharp’s technical prowess but also highlights the broader potential for cloud-based solutions to drive rapid innovation. By leveraging the flexibility and scalability of the hybrid cloud model, Sharp is well-positioned to continually integrate new technologies, ensuring they remain at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
Continuous Improvement and Future Prospects
Knowledge Transfer and Ongoing Training
An essential aspect of Sharp’s strategy has been the continuous transfer of knowledge from Ahead to Sharp’s IT team. This persistent mentoring ensures that Sharp’s internal team remains well-equipped to manage their cloud environment and spearhead future initiatives. Training sessions and workshops continue, focusing on fine-tuning skills and integrating the latest best practices in cloud management. As a result, Sharp’s IT staff is becoming increasingly capable of driving cloud projects independently, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to IT autonomy.
This ongoing training cycle also ensures that the IT team can keep pace with rapidly evolving cloud technologies and methodologies. By staying abreast of industry advancements and continuously refining their skills, Sharp’s IT personnel are better prepared to tackle future challenges and leverage emerging technologies effectively. This sustained focus on capability-building not only fortifies Sharp’s current cloud strategy but also lays a robust foundation for future technological ventures, ensuring sustainable growth and innovation.
Strategic Long-Term Planning
Sharp HealthCare, a renowned healthcare provider based in San Diego, is making significant strides in embracing modern technological advancements. Aiming to enhance its IT autonomy and reduce costs, Sharp HealthCare has designed an innovative hybrid cloud environment. This cutting-edge infrastructure strategically integrates both public and private cloud systems, boosting operational efficiency across the board. Their approach involves leveraging the power of the AWS public cloud alongside private cloud resources and an array of applications. By orchestrating these diverse elements, Sharp HealthCare achieves greater technological agility and cost-effectiveness, ensuring they stay ahead in the evolving healthcare landscape. This multi-faceted strategy not only enhances their IT capabilities but also positions them as a leader in utilizing technology to deliver superior healthcare services. The careful planning and execution of this approach reflect Sharp HealthCare’s commitment to modernization and excellence, paving the way for improved patient care and streamlined operations in the ever-evolving digital age.
