OSHEAN eCurrent Fall 2019 | Page 38

students with the flexibility to work from technology allows up to 8 to 16 concurrent anywhere, on any device through a virtual users to share one GPU. With this desktop infrastructure (VDI). VDI has the configuration, rCloud can support up to 96 potential to let students grow comfortable to 192 concurrent graphics users. RWU with real-world practices, and to eliminate architecture students now have the ability cumbersome desktops from the architecture to access graphic-intensive applications like lab, freeing up more space for classrooms. AutoCAD outside the lab — and see the same However, the biggest hurdle in RWU’s high level of performance on any device. transition to a virtual desktop infrastructure Approximately 1,000 RWU students (about was the ability to effectively provide access to a quarter of the student body) currently the graphic-rich applications that its students have access to rCloud, with varying levels of require, such as Autodesk’s AutoCAD ® and graphics power allotted based on their area of Revit ® , and Adobe ® Creative Suite ® 6. study. After achieving great success with the essential to drive huge improvements in patient To accomplish this, an extraordinary amount new VDI in the architecture program, RWU safety and outcomes while reducing waste of data needs to be shared among numerous is now in the process of rolling out rCloud to and errors. providers. For example, on average, individual “During our initial VDI testing, we were seeing numerous problems with solutions that didn’t work well with the intense graphics and video environment that an architecture department needs,” explained James Galib, IT Director at other departments as well, beginning with engineering. The ultimate goal is to make it accessible to all students. Enter The Rhode Island Quality Institute (RIQI). RIQI’s mission is to significantly improve the quality, safety and value of healthcare with Roger Williams University. “As soon as we had what they call a “Triple Aim”: better health, more than 8-10 people connected, the frame better care, better costs. Its CurrentCare rates in 3D renderings would go way down and get jumpy. The software applications became very clunky to use and students weren’t able — 2015 Life or Death Data Exchange to maintain a good project flow. It just wasn’t program is the sole Rhode Island statewide health information exchange (HIE), whose purpose is to aid RI in achieving Triple Aim and help providers succeed under value-based primary care providers interact with 229 physicians and 17 different practices to coordinate care for their patients. CurrentCare is building a complete clinical record across geographic, proprietary and payer boundaries. It serves as a single repository for electronic medical records that can be accessed by pa- tients and their providers anywhere, anytime they need them. This will significantly reduce miscommunications and resulting errors, conducive to architecture work at all,” added “The only thing that is constant is change,” payment models that support system Ryan Tiebout, Systems Operations Manager said the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. transformation. Not to be confused with the at Roger Williams University. Nowhere is this a more glaring fact of life than state’s Insurance Healthcare Exchange, RIQI’s In order to facilitate a virtual desktop in our nation’s healthcare system. Costs are out CurrentCare HIE is about patient records. infrastructure robust enough to support of control and yet, we are all at risk – especially Years in development and a leading national these high-powered applications, RWU those over the age of 65 – for complications model, CurrentCare is beginning to positively implemented a custom VDI system dubbed and death caused by adverse drug interactions impact coordination of care in Rhode Island, a Data is important in all of modern life, of “rCloud” featuring Dell EqualLogic storage, or unnecessary hospitalizations. Think of it; change that will have a profound impact on the course, but it’s hard to imagine any application Dell PowerConnect™ switching, and Dell our healthcare system is the #1 contributor state’s healthcare system. For example, we are where it is more critical than in health care – PowerEdge servers running a total of 12 to sickness and death in the US! A reliable, now seeing 13% lower readmission rates for literally life or death hanging in the balance NVIDIA GRID™ K2 boards through Citrix integrated information network coupled with participating patients reinforcing the higher with this kind of critical information instantly XenServer 7. NVIDIA’s GRID vGPU™ the emerging science of big data analytics is quality care, lower cost mission. accessible to those who need it. With RIQI’s 38 | 2019 eCURRENT as well as costly waste and duplication. Pharmacies, doctors’ offices, hospitals, insurance providers, other tertiary care providers and the patient themselves are all connected. Stronger Together | 39