VITAS Case Study
The Overview
“Providing access for the right people at the right facilities at the right time is critical to fulfilling VITAS’ mission of care.”
This is how the director of Mobility & Process Automation at VITAS describes one of their many core technology services that facilitate the company’s mission and provide benefit to patients, families, employees, and shareholders – identity and access management (IAM).
VITAS views IAM as a pillar to providing value for all stakeholders. Faster access means faster care delivery to patients and families, and faster realization of financial benefits for shareholders. Correct access means improved security and compliance, increased protection of patient, financial and other sensitive information, and higher worker productivity.
VITAS needed a solution that could deliver these values, while absorbing the large volume of access changes that typify the hospice industry. Like most hospice providers, the VITAS workforce is substantially mobile. VITAS physicians, nurses, case workers and other mobile professionals require access to various information systems, patient records and facilities before care can be delivered. Additionally, the dynamic nature of the hospice industry necessitates frequent and unpredictable access changes from staff reassignment, transfer, separation, hire, re-hire, and other scenarios. Yet all access changes must be performed in a timely manner, within VITAS’ access governance framework and in compliance with applicable government and industry regulations.
The Opportunity
- Fast Care Delivery
- Efficient Access Compliance
- Reliable Identity Governance
- Reduced Operational Cost
The Results
- Consistent and Accurate User Entitlements
- Automated Provisioning Reduced Risk & Cost
- Maintain Service Levels During Peak Periods
- Efficient and Effective Compliance & Audit
- Improved Operational Efficiency
- Reduced Risk
Critical Success Factors
- Phased Implementation
- Judiciously Introduce Change
- Verify Expected Outcomes
The Benefit
Consistent and Accurate User Entitlements
Reduced Risk & Cost via Automated Provisioning/ De-provisioning
Maintain Service Levels During Peak Periods
VITAS can fulfill access changes automatically and without diverting resources from other projects.
“Fischer makes it very easy to take on an audit.”
- Reduce the effort to comply with applicable sections of SOX, HIPAA and HITECH Act.
- Demonstrate internal control efficacy to auditors: audit log of all identity events and drill-down capabilities enables auditor questions to be answered in minutes vs. hours or days.
- Out-of-the-box compliance and audit reports minimize audit prep work.
Improved Operational Efficiency
- Automation improved process efficiency by 1 FTE, enabling innovation in other areas without adding cost.
- Avoids solution administration and infrastructure cost.
- Fischer’s managed Identity-as-a-Service® Cloud includes all infrastructure and routine solution administration.
Reduced Risk
Automated processes to manage risk exposure:
- Controlled Access to ePHI
- Access Policy Determination
- Provisioning/Deprovisioning
- User Creation/Removal