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Real-time healthcare enterprise capitalizes on Stratus^® ftServer^® technology

Opened in 1959 in Saint Cloud (near Paris), the René Huguenin Center, under the direction of Professor Jacques Rouëssé, fulfills its mission as a center in the fight against cancer: namely prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and tumor surveillance.

Recognized and renowned for its expertise, the René Huguenin Center has at its disposal, a state-of-the-art technological platform that is indispensable in pathological anatomy, cytology, biology, surgery (endoscopy, laser), medical imaging (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, mammography, scanner), nuclear medicine, immuno-analysis, pharmacology, radio therapy, etc.

More than 3,000 new patients per year are treated annually at the René Huguenin Center. The René Huguenin Center also has a research function: it houses within its walls an INSERM [Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherché Médicale (National Institute for Health and Medical Research)] unit. Research is conducted in collaboration with other French, European and American centers, which allows patients to benefit as quickly as possible from the most recent innovations in clinical research.

The effective use of computer technology has always been a priority in running the René Huguenin Center. The management of appointments is completely automated and carried out in real time. The René Huguenin Center was also a pioneer in automated medical file management. Thanks to complete computer automation, today medical files are accessible in clear language and in real time from any point within the establishment.

The computer automation of the René Huguenin Center was launched in 1960 with an IBM system. This architecture evolved over time into a cluster configuration using Microsoft^® platforms.

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The necessity of reliable high-quality, uninterrupted service

Eric Hirlimann, head of the IT service organization, has set as his first priority the administrative management of each patient, which constitutes the backbone of the IT system at the René Huguenin Center. The creation of a unique ID number for each patient was an essential element of this strategy. All applications developed for patients rest on this administrative management framework.

The automation of medical records was carried out according to two main principles that fulfilled the center's goal of sharing information:

• Computerized text file
  Beginning with the patient ID number, it is possible to access all or part of their information in real time. For example, examination centers and hospital departments can simultaneously read the same information for the same patient without moving the file from one location to the other.

• Computerized image file
  Using the same principle as a paper file, images that were contained in paper files of patients can be accessed online.

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The Ultra high availability of the Stratus server

Without fail, rapid access and manipulation of patient records in real time should be a continuously available service. Moreover, the choice of cluster-based technology is known to provide fairly high levels of performance but is expensive in terms of the IT resources needed to implement the architecture.

The Stratus fault-tolerant ftServer system had all the right features to be chosen as the solution best adapted to the needs of the René Huguenin Center:

• Continuous availability
  Greater than 99.999% uptime (less than 4 minutes of downtime per year).

• Ease of installation and operation
  Unlike clusters, dedicated IT expertise for Stratus server implementation and administration is not required.

• Architecture based on industry standards
  Microsoft Windows^® operating systems and Intel^® processor.

• ActiveServiceT Network architecture
  The Stratus ActiveService Network ensures ease of maintenance through remote support facilities. When a fault is detected, the server isolates the problem and sends an alert to the Stratus Support Center, indicating what action to take. This facilitates the online resolution of problems and ordering of hot-pluggable replacement parts. These components can be replaced by customers themselves or by a Stratus technician while the system continues normal operations.

• Compelling financial advantage
  Competitive priced, Stratus servers also reduce total cost of ownership and, above all, the avoidance of costs related to system interruptions at the René Huguenin Center.

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