Southeastern Virginia Health System boosts the quality of patient care on Windows 11 Pro

Healthcare nonprofit modernizes on a new technology foundation

In the Hampton Roads area of the state of Virginia, SEVHS delivers high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable healthcare, wellness services, counseling, and health-related education to the entire community. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit serves more than 25,000 patients a year in its 15 healthcare centers.

Technology is a key element in enabling SEVHS to fulfill its mission. Peter Stephens, the CIO at SEVHS, says, “We’re always working with our stakeholders to identify opportunities for technology to help improve patient care and operational efficiencies.” In a process that will take less than a year, the lean SEVHS IT team is transitioning the organization’s technology users from Windows 10 to Windows 11 Pro. Close to 75 percent of them work on desktop computers and the others use laptops at multiple SEVHS clinics or other locations.

Diverse user groups find themselves working more effectively

Windows 11 Pro users at SEVHS include accountants and administrative roles who welcome technology as part of their everyday routine and appreciate the essential enablement it provides. On the other hand, executives and physicians tend to be more cautious in adopting new technology tools. With these interests and sensitivities in mind, the IT team communicated early and often to set clear expectations for the Windows 11 Pro rollout, highlighted features people could look forward to, and familiarized users with their updated Windows environment in brief training meetings.

These efforts paid off: SEVHS team members already using Windows 11 Pro have shared positive experiences with IT. Stephens says, “Feedback tells us that people are satisfied with Windows 11 Pro. They find that application performance is better and that they can accomplish more in less time.” On their Windows 11 Pro devices, SEVHS employees securely access cloud applications like Microsoft 365 and Teams, and the organization is about to deploy cloud-based electronic health record software from Epic Systems for caregivers.

Employees boost their productivity

Several Windows 11 Pro features play prominent roles in delivering productive, rewarding user experiences to SEVHS team members. “Search in Windows 11 Pro is a favorite, especially for executives and others who work at several SEVHS locations and interact with many other team members,” says Stephens. “It makes it so much faster to find your files and information.” 

Employees also like the ease with which Windows 11 Pro supports multiple monitors, prompting the organization to acquire more. Joseph Brucato, Systems Analyst at SEVHS, comments, “Instead of switching back and forth among applications and tabs, people can view all their windows at the same time. That definitely helps their productivity.” In addition, laptop users find that their batteries last longer on Windows 11 Pro. “We’ve noticed that batteries drain more slowly on the Windows 11 Pro devices, which means users can enjoy a larger range for their mobile work,” Brucato observes.

An operating system for empowering the workforce

At SEVHS, Windows 11 Pro features like Windows Studio Effects[1], with AI-enhanced image processing and video editing[2], support the organization’s strategy for developing its workforce and empowering physicians and caregivers to deliver outstanding patient services. Stephens describes, “Windows Studio Effects helps people work more productively, and for job candidates and new team members, it’s also an indicator that SEVHS is moving in the right direction. They see that we enable them to grow their skills and proficiencies, and sometimes point out that we provide superior technology tools compared to what they’ve had elsewhere.”

The best of modern security for users, applications, and systems

Like all healthcare providers, SEVHS must safeguard confidential patient data and comply with regulatory mandates for information protection. Stephens explains, “I have dedicated many years of my career to becoming a cybersecurity expert. My number one reason for moving to Windows 11 Pro is security. Windows 11 Pro includes robust security capabilities that help us protect the organization against ever-changing threats, protect and manage patient data in a compliant manner, and simplify endpoint management.”

Windows 11 Pro gives IT greater visibility and control of the organization’s technology environment. “We can identify potential security risks in our endpoints before they cause damage,” says Stephens. “That makes it easier for us to be proactive in securing our digital assets. With automatic scanning and monitoring of threats and risks, we can continuously strengthen endpoint security.”

Physicians, caregivers, finance managers, and others can perform their work in confidence that their technology is highly secure. In addition to the security built into Windows 11 Pro, they benefit from such features as Windows Hello for Business, which enables two-factor, certificate-based authentication. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen provides alerts and prevents technology users from falling prey to malware, phishing, or malicious software, websites, or files. “I definitely recommend Windows Hello for Business and Microsoft Defender SmartScreen,” says Stephens. “These capabilities make a real difference in helping us protect sensitive data and counter cyberthreats.”

A platform for mastering compliance

In Virginia, the Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) sets and enforces standards for the quality and cost-efficiency of healthcare. JCHC performs rigorous audits of healthcare providers, including two auditing cycles per year at SEVHS. In addition, the state government’s nonprofit auditors closely review the organization’s use of grants, and some partnering hospitals and healthcare providers audit its documentation and care practices. SEVHS contracts with independent auditors to gain assurance that it meets these complex, layered compliance demands.

With Windows 11 Pro, maintaining compliance and achieving smooth audits is less challenging than it used to be. Stephens describes, “On a Windows 11 Pro foundation, we can streamline our tasks of securing devices and data while aligning security measures with policies and enhancing device security. The operating system also helps us be more efficient at documenting our security management and refining policies.”

Greater manageability at every stage of technology lifecycles

For SEVHS IT, Windows 11 Pro offers many ways to save time and minimize routine administrative tasks related to technology users and applications. The IT team relies on Zero Touch Deployment to accelerate the Windows 11 Pro rollout. Stephens says, “My team loves Zero Touch Deployment.” Brucato adds, “We use Zero Touch Deployment whenever we can. It doesn’t place demands on technology users and keeps things simple and efficient.” 

When it comes to ongoing endpoint management, Microsoft Intune is the key tool for IT managers. “Microsoft Intune gives my team a unified platform for managing software deployments and updates quickly and consistently,” Stephens explains. “It also helps them resolve support tickets efficiently by signing in to Windows 11 Pro devices remotely.”

Windows Update for Business keeps devices current with operating system enhancements as soon as Microsoft makes them available. “We used to manually initiate and deploy updates for each device, which meant close to 10 minutes of IT intervention, followed by installation and, typically, a restart,” Brucato says. “With Windows Update for Business, we can set updates to happen automatically during off hours. IT doesn’t have to spend time on them, and our colleagues do not need to interrupt their work.”

Efficiencies free IT for more strategic work

Recommended device settings for power usage and carbon-aware updates, automatically scheduled by Windows 11 Pro for times when more renewable sources generate power, help SEVHS operate more sustainably and economically. “Thanks to Windows 11 Pro, we can minimize power consumption and costs even when device users are not paying attention to it,” Brucato shares. “It’s a significant benefit for the organization.”

Overall, Windows 11 Pro automations and efficiencies in combination reduce the need for IT user support and free up productive time for everyone. “We already see that the number of help-desk tickets is declining,” notes Brucato. “For IT, that means we can spend a larger part of our day improving workflows or undertake other efforts that help SEVHS fulfill its healthcare mission.”

Excellent patient experiences during in-person and remote appointments

Following the move to Windows 11 Pro, physicians and caregivers increasingly take advantage of the Voice Recorder app during patient appointments instead of interrupting conversations and diverting their attention to type notes on their screen. “Care providers want to focus completely on patients, but taking and working with transcripts from recordings were interfering with the quality of their services,” Stephens says. “With Voice Recorder, they can talk and automatically document the conversation without being distracted, so they can be completely present to their patients. Following an appointment, they can take advantage of AI to automatically draft comprehensive, accurate reports about patient interactions.”

Across the Hampton Roads area, SEVHS provides telehealth appointments to patients who cannot or need not visit a clinic. Windows 11 Pro helps achieve superior service levels in these care conversations. “The quality of voice and image transmission in remote patient appointments has hugely improved with Windows 11 Pro,” Stephens comments. “The capture and transmission of voices and images are extremely clear. And for patients who may be hard of hearing or who may not be proficient English speakers, Windows Live captions allow them to have an effective telehealth appointment without missing anything caregivers say.”

On a highly secure Windows 11 Pro foundation, SEVHS can confidently improve the experiences of patients, caregivers, and office employees while keeping technology management efficient. In closing, Brucato comments, “Security in Windows 11 Pro has vastly improved and become easier to manage, even compared to Windows 10. Application performance is fast and responsive while extensive security measures are in place.”

1. Videoconferencing apps and services sold separately.
2. AI neural processing unit (NPU) camera effects. Hardware dependent. Experience may vary based on application. An NPU is a specialized processor designed to optimize AI capabilities. NPU will be available on select devices; check device specifications or ask your OEM for information.