Technology Wellness Program

Verteks Consulting ensures the good health of vital voice and data systems for Integrity Home Health Care.

In ancient China, physicians were paid only when their clients were well, encouraging them to take proactive measures to ensure good health rather than to reactively treat disease. Verteks Consulting takes a similar approach to the wellbeing of its clients' voice and data systems. Verteks doesn't just resolve technical problems but works hard to keep networks healthy.

Integrity Home Health Care can attest to the business benefits of this wellness program. When Integrity outgrew its network in 2006, Verteks worked with the firm to develop a technology plan that would serve Integrity's needs for several years. The plan included a new server, a new backup solution, some new desktops and a new telephone system.

It wasn't as simple as ripping out the old and putting in the new, however. Verteks had to keep the old systems running during the planning and budgeting process, and implement the new systems without impacting Integrity's day-to-day operations.

"Toward the end we had maxed out our server hard drive, which made the system increasingly unstable. Verteks came in periodically to clean off the old server and keep it running," said Sherry Teague, CFO and co-owner of Integrity Home Health Care. "I can't stress enough how helpful they were throughout the whole process, particularly from a small business perspective. It takes time to line up your financing and get all of your ducks in a row, but Verteks brought in technicians to make sure that we stayed up and running through the switch."

Taking the Pulse

"Verteks said on top of everything, and it was seamless .” Sherry Teague , CFO and co-ownder of Integrity Home Health Care

The new server brought Integrity Home Health Care up to date with the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating system, and the new tape backup system made nightly backup processes much more efficient. Teague says that network performance has improved and the systems
are much more stable. What's more, Integrity was able to take advantage of these benefits immediately thanks to Verteks' strong project planning and hands-on approach.

"They took care of everything, and provided training before the install, during the install and then afterwards," Teague said. "I'm not a computer person by background, but they were very straightforward in how they explained everything ahead of time and made it very user-friendly for us. And the best part was, we were never down."

Achieving that healthy outcome required not only technical know-how but keeping a finger on the pulse of Integrity's needs. Verteks took the initiative to keep the project plan on track so that Integrity's management team could focus on their growing business.

"During the time of the switchover we went from 35 to 45 employees and I was pretty fractured," Teague said. "Verteks stayed on top of everything, and it was really seamless."

The Right Prescription

After the new server was in place, Verteks implemented a new 3Com NBX phone system for Integrity Home Health Care. Integrity had a traditional phone system but had maxed out its voicemail system. The 3Com IP telephony system gives everyone in the organization voicemail and provides other key features.

"Verteks showed us the 3Com system, and it was everything that we needed. Plus it was an easy switch for our staff. All the information you need is right there on the desktop," Teague said. "One of the hardest things about learning a new phone system is to have to read a book in order to figure out a feature.With this system you just pull up the help right on the computer."

The IP phone system has a computer interface that makes administration very easy. It also provides reports that enable management to track things such as voicemail usage.

"Our staff had not been using voice mail at all since we didn't have enough voicemail boxes. Now we're trying to encourage them to use it," Teague said. "One of the nice features of this system is the ability to track voicemail usage. We can see who has voice mails in their box and when was the last time they checked it."

Of course, anything that makes things easier for patients is of primary value to Integrity Home Health Care. Co-owner and Patient Care Liaison Cara Fitzgerald says that the new system makes paging and call management much easier.

"Before, our on-call system was just a straight call forward. Now we're able to set up a directory that gives the patients more choices when they call in after hours," she said. "All of our decisions are based on what's good for our patient and our employees. The new technology Verteks has implemented for us saves our patients and employees time and aggravation."

Ensuring Good Health

The story doesn't end with the implementation.Verteks has maintained Integrity's systems since 2002 and continues to provide ongoing support.

"They've been Johnny-on-the-spot, literally, anytime we've needed them," Teague said. "Everyone from Verteks who's come out here has been extremely friendly and oriented toward customer service. We've worked with them since 2002 and I have nothing but positive things to say about them."

The Verteks team has even gone above and beyond the call of duty, troubleshooting problems that had nothing to do with the technology or the implementation.

"Our phone system has gone down twice since it's been installed, and in both cases it was caused by a cut wire due to construction on State Route 40," Teague said. "It wasn't Verteks' problem but both times they took the lead in calling our telecom service providers and making sure we were top priority."

Ocala, Fla., is a long way from ancient China's imperial court. However, the philosophy of wellness that guided the doctor/patient relationship back then serves well to illustrate Verteks' approach to technology. With Verteks as a partner, businesses can count on the good health and longevity of their voice and data systems.