Courtyard Group Ltd.

Courtyard Group

Courtyard Group is a professional services firm that applies information to meet the complex needs of healthcare. We combine a wide range of experience and formal training in health informatics with a host of other disciplines, including engineering, law, finance, business, operations management and clinical practice, as we discover and implement innovative solutions for the challenging, complex issues facing our clients.

In addition to strong strategic and business consulting expertise and tools, we have considerable resources in project management, group facilitation, healthcare operations management, hospital funding formulas and clinical informatics. Our core services fall into four broad categories:

Advisory: IM/IT strategy, process and change management
Management: Project management, PMOs and interim CIO services
Integration: Interface development
Informatics: Clinical and management decision support

Company Details

Year Established: 1994

Number of Employees: 40

Company Information

Suzanne Hodgkinson
Title: Administrator
Telephone: (416) 349-2600
Fax: (416) 349-2608
Email: Click Here

Lien Ly
Telephone: (416) 349-2615
Fax: (416) 349-2608
Email: Click Here

Products

Health Card Validation

Services

Health Information Network HealthLink's Health Information Network facilitates the secure, electronic exchange, integration and organization of clinical information between healthcare providers. This network currently connects over 40 healthcare organizations in Ontario.

Interfacing Services Interfaces are critical to the transfer of patient information because they enable disparate clinical applications to share data. HealthLink provides comprehensive interfacing services to healthcare organizations, such as: Interface Development services: - Implement and upgrade interface engines - Migration of existing interfaces - In-depth expertise with Healthcare.com (HIE) Cloverleaf, SeeBeyond DataGate and e*Gate, Unix Administration, NT - Monk (DataGate), TCL (Cloverleaf), Java, and C/C++ languages for highly specialized integration solutions - HL7 standards Interface Consulting Services: - Vendor-neutral consultations, assessments and evaluations Interface Support Services: - 24/7 second-level help desk support - Automated electronic monitoring

Security Services HealthLink offers an objective, third party evaluation of system security including assessment, penetration testing, and architecture design recommendations. The assessment stage is the most important part of the methodology and identifies: - the network security mechanisms currently in place; and - the potential risks and threats to the integrity of the hospital's network and system resources. Network penetration testing is conducted both to confirm the findings of the security assessment and to identify vulnerabilities in the network perimeter and other crucial systems. An integral part of security is the design of a secure information access architecture. Developed to safeguard network and information system resources, it will provide easier access for authorized users, yet continue to deter potential hackers.

Network Services The HealthLink Network Services group has extensive data communications and telecommunications experience in hospital environments. This includes networks ranging in size from a single site 200 node network to a multi-campus 5500 node network involving routing, switching, Secure Dial-in , Internet, VPN and an assortment of other technologies. Network Services includes: - Network assessments - Network design based on Cisco components - Generic network design - Cisco network component procurement - Network implementation - Basic network component monitoring Network Connectivity includes: - ISDN, T1, Fibre, Lan Extention services. Secure Access Sevices includes: - VPN remote user access - VPN site-to-site access - Dial-in access

Strategic Planning Through collaboration and mentoring with hospital leaders and key stakeholders, HealthLinks strategic planning process establishes competency in information management. To achieve this goal, an Information Management Steering Committee (IMSC) is established to guide the development of the strategy document. Using an iterative planning process, HealthLink will work with the steering committee to: - Assess the current environment: financial, information systems, and staffing; - Define the vision for information management; - Evaluate the strategic options available to achieve the vision; and - Define the principles and implementation priorities which support the selected strategy.

Solutions Engineering The Solutions Engineering Group is comprised of process engineers, clinical staff, information experts, and technology integration experts. This cross-disciplinary mix reflects the necessary skillset required for the complex healthcare environment to ensure suitable, achievable solutions. Our primary strength is our closed-loop process that supports the implementation of our recommendations. This ensures the achievement of our clients organizational goals. Some examples include: - Ensuring effective utilization of staff and system resources; - Improving knowledge of operations through timely capture and delivery of information; - Reducing patient risk through effective processes and quality management information; - Improving patient flow through process analysis and redesign; - Achieving clinical and business stakeholders support; - Leveraging information systems and application investment; - Ensuring on-time and on-budget project delivery.