From SoftLab® to Epic Beaker: Balancing Legacy and Modernity
“CTG’s support for the legacy system freed up our IT team to focus on staff training for the new Epic Beaker system.”
- Health System Executive
Challenge
A large health system needed to transition from their legacy SoftLab® Laboratory Information System (LIS) to Epic Beaker, presenting a multifaceted challenge. Maintaining the legacy LIS system’s functionality throughout the migration was paramount to ensure uninterrupted patient care. This dual-system environment demanded meticulous management to avoid disruptions and support adherence to healthcare mandates. Furthermore, training staff on the new system while supporting the existing one would have significantly strained the IT team’s resources.
Solution
To navigate the complexities of this IT system migration, the health system partnered with CTG. This partnership ensured continuous patient care by guaranteeing continued support for the legacy SoftLab® LIS throughout the transition. CTG's expertise freed the hospital’s team to focus on staff training for the new Epic Beaker system. We employed a flexible approach, providing the right-sized team with the necessary skills for IT support. This included:
- Configuring instrument interfaces to ensure seamless data integration
- Creating new test codes, providers, and client locations for uninterrupted workflows
- Adding users to the system to maintain operational readiness
- Providing daily LIS maintenance to prevent disruptions
- Maintaining and processing LIS service tickets to resolve issues promptly
This break/fix service model ensured compliance throughout the migration process. Ultimately, partnering with CTG facilitated a smooth transition and positioned the health system for the future with a modern, interoperable healthcare IT system.