Colfax Health and Rehabilitation Center (“Colfax”) has been providing care to the elderly for over 50 years. Colfax is a long-term care facility that is located in rural Wisconsin and is best known for its caring culture and focus on serving local area residents.
Situation
Wipfli has assisted Colfax with minor technology projects in the past, though in 2012 Colfax embarked on a new building project to replace its current facility with a modern and more functional facility. Planning for the new building was a significant undertaking, and in conjunction with that effort Colfax selected Wipfli to assist them with the planning and design for a new technology environment. Wipfli was engaged to design the network infrastructure and server environment and also assist with the implementation.
Strategy
In order to design a suitable solution for Colfax, Wipfli first performed a thorough assessment of the organization’s infrastructure and network. It included reviewing Colfax’s present and future needs in support of its departments, staff, and resident care processes. Wipfli also determined specific needs with regard to e-mail accessibility and mobile access. Issues surrounding data backup and recovery planning were further identified and addressed.
After zeroing in on Colfax’s needs, Wipfli:
- Reorganized the infrastructure to better support the organization.
- Implemented cloud-based e-mail and calendar functionality with the Microsoft Office® 365 solution.
- Installed a cloud-based backup service.
- Assisted in moving the computers and other equipment to the new facility.
- Upgraded the financial accounting software system to the latest version.
- Post-implementation, Wipfli continues to provide help desk support and general technology management services.
Colfax transitioned from one building to another without missing a beat. The new building is open for business, and the staff is effectively utilizing the new technology environment. Worries over downtime, backups, and lost data are a thing of the past. The computer system is faster and more reliable, and employees enjoy consistent e-mail access and stability. The leadership team feels secure and protected knowing the integrity of its data is ensured. By having a proper archive system, Colfax can also maintain its compliance.
With the project complete, Colfax maintains a strong relationship with Wipfli and relies on them for ongoing advice and support of its information systems.
Relationship Executive(s)
Michael T. Pynch, CPA, CMA, Chief information officer, Partner
