Scott Joslyn, Memorial Health Services’ chief information officer, admits he’s sleeping better at night thanks to his organization’s relationship with EclipsysÒ for outsourcing services.

“The efficiencies and economies made possible through Eclipsys’ support of our IT operations not only are helping us hold the line on our IT budget, but  are also producing direct cost savings that can be allocated to other mission-critical areas of the organization,” said Joslyn, Memorial Health’s senior vice president and CIO.  “This enables Memorial Health to compete more effectively in southern California’s extremely cost-constrained healthcare environment.”

Benefits achieved to date by the five-facility regional integrated delivery system include a 29-percent reduction in outsourcing costs (help desk, mainframe and mid-range) from Memorial Health Services’ previous outsourcing arrangement, resulting in the organization’s ability to reallocate an estimated $1.8 million annually to other mission-critical IT initiatives.  In addition, a comparative analysis of in-sourcing the same IT services demonstrated an estimated six percent or $270,000 in annual savings.  Furthermore, consolidation of peripheral hardware-support services into a single-vendor Eclipsys solution has provided cost savings, a higher level of on-site support and improved budgeting of expenses due to the flat-fee contract.

An Eclipsys software customer for the last decade, Memorial expanded its relationship with Eclipsys by outsourcing major components of its information-technology operations to the company in July 2000.  The partnership includes remote hosting and management of Memorial’s software at Eclipsys’ Technology Solutions Center in Mountain Lakes, NJ; facilities management of MHS’ on-site data center, supporting its mid-range systems; on-site desktop-maintenance services; and management of the health system’s IT Help Desk service.  Among the Eclipsys software products utilized at 1,430-bed Memorial Health Services are the heritage Eclipsys 7000 clinical-information system and the company’s management decision-support system.

A unique approach to outsourcing

The Eclipsys outsourcing model and brand of outsourcing is truly unique in the healthcare industry.  Offering a range of services  from remote hosting to full onsite facilities management, Eclipsys provides an OutcomeSourcing^Ô solution tailored to each customer’s needs ¾ a flexible solution that closely aligns with the customer’s strategic objectives and  ability to share risk.

“From 1993 to 2000, Memorial Health had outsourced its IT operations to another vendor with less-than-satisfying results,” Joslyn noted.  “The organization felt it had lost control over the direction and quality of what it saw as an increasingly critical resource.  Given our successful relationship with Eclipsys on the software side, it was natural to consider the company as a possible outsourcing provider.  Because of Eclipsys’ ability and willingness to create an agreement tailored to our unique situation, we’ve established an outsourcing relationship that is extremely flexible and fair to both sides and positions us both for continued success.  Since teaming with Eclipsys for our outsourcing needs, I now can focus on strategic decisions and not worry about some of the things that previously kept me awake at night.”

Joslyn stated that Memorial continues to see value from the relationship and is considering expanding it into other areas of the organization’s IT operations as well.  “By outsourcing major IT functions and responsibilities to Eclipsys, we are seeing dramatic savings and 70% improved speed in mainframe processing, improved online performance and response time, a substantial reduction in outsourcing and software fees, and significant value from our increasing use of Eclipsys’ wireless technologies,” he reported.

“Eclipsys has also brought extensive resources to the table,” he continued, “ranging from the use of best practices to economies of scale, disaster-recovery capabilities, smooth implementation of new software and hardware technologies, and depth of expertise in hard-to-find IT resources, such as senior application programmers, database administrators and software-development staff.  Because of our Eclipsys relationship, we know we can now successfully implement new technologies as we have the ability to integrate them into our operations, while retaining control over the IT process.”

About Eclipsys Outsourcing Services and the Technology Solutions Center

Eclipsys provides a full range of IT-related outsourcing services specifically tailored to each customer’s individual needs.  Solutions include hardware and network support, help desk and partial, transitional or full on-site IT outsourcing.

Through its Technology Solutions Center, Eclipsys provides comprehensive remote hosting and management services for both Eclipsys and non-Eclipsys software and hardware.  Services include remote processing; remote help desk; remote network management; remote desktop management; remote database management; and disaster recovery.

For more information, see Eclipsys’ Web site at www.eclipsys.com or email info@eclipsys.com.

Customer Profile

Memorial Health Services/MemorialCare, based in Long Beach, CA, provides a comprehensive range of services through its women’s, children’s, rehabilitation and medical/surgical hospitals at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital, Long Beach, and community hospital facilities; Anaheim Memorial Medical Center, Anaheim; Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, Fountain Valley; and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, Laguna Hills.

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