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Success Story
Choosing the Right Partner to Prepare for an Unforeseen Disaster
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Success Story Snapshot
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Signature Healthcare partnered with ELLKAY to securely archive critical clinical and financial data, reduce the burden of legacy infrastructure, and ensure essential patient information remained accessible through its transition to MEDITECH Expanse.
That partnership proved especially valuable when a devastating ten-alarm fire severed the hospital’s network, allowing Signature Healthcare to trust that patient data was safeguarded while teams focused on safely evacuating and transferring 176 patients.
Organization Overview
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Size
Signature Healthcare is Southeastern Massachusetts’ largest integrated healthcare system, including Brockton Hospital and Signature Medical Group, one of the largest multi-specialty, multi-site physician group practices on the South Shore. Brockton Hospital is a private, not-for-profit, 245 licensed bed community teaching hospital, emphasizing community based, locally owned care. With over 2,700 employees and 18 office locations, the hospital is the largest non-governmental employer in Brockton, serving an area population of approximately 418,000 in a primary service area of 22 communities.
Recognition
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital has earned multiple prestigious recognitions for its exceptional commitment to patient safety and healthcare excellence. The hospital has achieved 18 consecutive "A" safety grades from The Leapfrog Group, ranking among only four Massachusetts hospitals and 39 nationwide with such distinction. Additionally, all Signature Medical Group Primary Care locations received NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition, reflecting their patient-centric approach. The Lown Institute recognized Signature Healthcare as #57 in the nation and #1 in Massachusetts for patient safety, with Grade A ratings in social responsibility, value of care, health equity, cost efficiency, and inclusivity. Moreover, the hospital received the 2022 Women's Choice Award for being among America's Best Comprehensive Breast Centers and Mammogram Imaging Centers, focusing on both patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.
The Challenge
Building Resilience Beyond the EHR
As Signature Healthcare prepared to move forward from its previous EHR, the organization faced an important question: how could it preserve essential and legally required information without continuing to maintain costly legacy infrastructure? The team needed a centralized home for clinical and financial data that would keep historical information accessible while reducing backend infrastructure, maintenance, and support costs—and shifting the ongoing responsibility of archive management to a trusted partner.
"Above all else, the decision to go with ELLKAY went beyond their exceptional technology; it was rooted in their unwavering commitment to being a true long-term partner, not a sell then leave vendor."
Nicholas Syzmanski
Former VP & CIO
The Solution
A Partnership Built for the Long Term
In 2019, Signature Healthcare began its search for an archive vendor to address several crucial goals. They aimed to retain essential and legally required information from their previous EMR while creating a central repository for all clinical and financial data. Additionally, their objectives included reducing backend infrastructure, minimizing maintenance and support costs, and offloading the responsibility of managing an archive. After careful consideration, Signature Healthcare chose ELLKAY, a seasoned data management software vendor with over 20 years of experience in the archive business, including 15 years of expertise in migrating clinical and financial data. ELLKAY's centralized, cloud-based solution, accessible web-based dashboards, and their commitment to extracting data even in complex scenarios made them the ideal choice. As a fellow north-eastern residing organization, Signature Healthcare valued ELLKAY's New Jersey headquarters.
In 2020, Signature Healthcare underwent a significant transition by switching EHR vendors from Allscripts to MEDITECH Expanse. ELLKAY played a crucial role in facilitating the smooth conversion process during this transition. Fast forward to the present, ELLKAY continues to collaborate closely with Signature Healthcare. They are currently in the process of completing a Financial Archive, transitioning data from IDX to Archive
"ELLKAY's accessible leadership, deep passion for the industry, and dedication to innovation was apparent throughout our decision-making process and to this day have made them an invaluable asset to our organization.”
- Nicholas Syzmanski, Former VP & CIO, Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital
THE INCIDENT
Keeping Patients & Patient’s Data Safe
On February 7, 2023, a ten-alarm fire erupted, originating from critical electrical closets. Fire statistics showcasing the sheer magnitude of the event:
- 176 Patients Safely Evacuated & Transferred
- 10 Alarm Fire
- 77 Ambulances
- 38 Firetrucks
- 3 State Response
- Quarter Mile Radius Blocked Off
- Dozen News Crews & Helicopters
- Network Severed
- 20 Locations Impacted Outside of Hospital
While the primary concern was ensuring the safety of all the patients, the next immediate thought that occupied their minds was the accessibility and security of patient data and how to ensure seamless sharing with the organizations where these patients were being transferred. This was the moment when the value of their partnership with ELLKAY truly shined. The foresight to archive patient data with ELLKAY proved invaluable. In the midst of the chaos, Signature Healthcare could rest assured that their patient data was safeguarded, allowing them to focus on the safety and well-being of the 176 evacuated and transferred patients amidst the tumultuous ten-alarm fire response. The incident, with its extensive response team, blocked-off radius, and severed network, underscored the critical importance of data security and accessibility, especially in moments of unforeseen crisis.
The Impact
Resilience When It Mattered Most
ELLKAY’s partnership with Signature Healthcare delivered value well beyond legacy data management. When a fire severed the hospital’s network, having patient data securely archived gave the organization confidence that critical information was protected while teams focused on safely evacuating and transferring patients.
Safeguarded Critical Patient Data
Preserved essential patient information in a secure archive, independent of Signature Healthcare’s affected network infrastructure.
Reduced Legacy Infrastructure Burden
Created a centralized repository for clinical and financial data while reducing backend infrastructure, maintenance, and support requirements.
Supported Crisis Readiness
Ensured archived patient data remained protected when a ten-alarm fire severed the hospital’s network and impacted 20 additional locations.
Facilitated EHR Transition
Supported Signature Healthcare’s conversion from Allscripts to MEDITECH Expanse while preserving access to historical information.
Enabled Patient-Focused Response
Gave teams confidence in the security of their data so they could prioritize the safety and well-being of 176 evacuated and transferred patients.
Extended Enterprise Archiving
Continued the partnership beyond clinical data to include financial archiving, further centralizing historical information across the organization.
