Concentra uses HP's desktop virtualization products

Summary: Desktop virtualization is making it possible for this healthcare organization to meet its goals for flexibility, cost management and regulatory compliance.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Suzanne Kosub, SVP and CIO of Concentra about how her organization is using desktop virtualization products from HP.  I enjoy speaking with customers from time to time to find out how products are really being used and why specific products were selected. Thanks, Suzanne, for taking the time to speak with me.

Please introduce yourself and your organization?

I’m Suzanne Kosub, SVP and CIO of Concentra. Concentra is a national health care company focused on improving America’s health. We offer comprehensive services to injured/ill patients and their employers through more than 310 medical centers in 40 states. We offer services in four main categories: Occupational health, Physical therapy Health and wellness, and Urgent care

What were you doing that needed this type of technology?

Concentra has a very distributed environment. We have 310 medical centers are are growing rapidly. We also have 260 work site medical facilities. The need of desktop virtualization technology was very strong and we needed the proper tools to manage and secure these virtual desktops.

What products did you consider before making a selection?

We considered Wyse, Dell and HP. We found that HP’s capabilities, management platform and cost made it the clear choice.

Why did you select HP?

Concentra has a process for selecting technology. In this case we evaluated the capabilities, the management and the cost. HP was the clear choice in each of those categories.

What tangible benefits have you received through the use of this product?

First benefit is that it supports the companies security posture. We have to be mindful of the requirements of HIPPA and other regulations. The second is the ability to manage the environment.
HP is both efficient and cost effective.
Objective analysis or assessments performed under the categories of desktop and support environments have indicated Concentra has a materially better than average rating when compared to others in their industry.

What advice would you offer others facing similar circumstances?

People should take a serious look at desktop virtualization. They should use a strong process that compares product capabilities to their requirements so that a wise choice can be made. It really is the future if you have a highly distributed organization that requires a high level of security and strict control of costs.