Project TGH North: A Comprehensive Overview
Huntzinger Management Group General Overview
Huntzinger Management Group specializes in transforming healthcare challenges into impactful strategies and outcomes. With a team of experienced healthcare executives, clinicians, and technologists, supported by Huntzinger Advisors, Huntzinger delivers comprehensive healthcare advisory and consulting services. Committed to driving higher-quality care, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing patient satisfaction, Huntzinger empowers organizations to navigate complex healthcare landscapes with strategic expertise and measurable results. Recognized as a “Best in KLAS” organization, Huntzinger sets the standard in HIT leadership.
Tampa General Overview
Tampa General Hospital (TGH) is a private not-for-profit hospital and one of the most comprehensive medical facilities in West Central Florida serving a dozen counties with a population in excess of 4 million. As one of the largest hospitals in Florida, Tampa General is licensed for ~1,000 beds, and with more than 15,000 team members, is one of the region’s largest employers. Consistently recognized for world-class care, Tampa General Hospital is ranked as the #1 hospital in Tampa Bay by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-24 and is nationally ranked as among the top 50 hospitals in the nation in six specialties. Additionally, Tampa General was ranked as “high performing,” or among the top 10% of hospitals in the nation, in five more specialties along with 12 procedures and conditions.
Client since: 2017
Number of Beds: ~1000
Services Provided: Advisory, Consulting, Management Information Services
Introduction
In this case study, we explore the ambitious undertaking of Project TGH North, a major IT integration and transformation project at Tampa General Hospital (TGH). This initiative was primarily aimed at facilitating the acquisition and integration of three facilities from Community Health Systems (CHS) into TGH’s IT ecosystem. The project was spearheaded by Huntzinger Management Group, recognized for their expertise in providing advisory and consulting services in the healthcare sector.
TGH’s approach to utilizing Huntzinger’s expertise to manage and staff this initiative enabled TGH to focus on other Strategic initiatives aimed at continued growth in their market and their commitment to excellence through innovation and enabling technology. Had TGH decided to complete this initiative internally, it would have delayed many of these initiatives. By having Huntzinger manage this initiative, it also gave TGH time to assess long term impact on staffing and support for these acquired organizations.
Project Overview
Client: Tampa General Hospital (TGH)
Project: Project TGH North – IT Integration and Transformation
Timeline: May 2017 – October 2024
Phase 1: Day 1 Activities
Scope
- Management of the acquisition of three CHS hospitals for all IT functions, inclusive of physician practices, ambulatory centers, and a surgery center.
- Oversight and project management of all IT-related changes required for legal compliance prior to Day 1.
- Operational and technical cutover and command center planning for Day 1.
- Epic Conversion (from Oracle) discovery and current state assessment in specific focus areas.
- Development of Phase 2 implementation, conversion, and activation plans.
Approach
Huntzinger staffed a senior-level team to manage Phase 1 and provided leadership and staffing resources for Phase 2. They performed a thorough crosswalk of CHS to TGH IT ecosystems to identify gaps, conversion options, and costs. The team ensured seamless business system conversions, including HR, payroll, timekeeping, finance, and supply chain.
Resources Provided
- Program leadership – Fixed Fee
- Program director – Full-time
- Project coordinator – Full-time
- M&A project lead – Full-time
- Subject matter experts (8) – Fixed Fee
- Data management & integration
- Departmental third-party systems
- Ancillary systems (lab, radiology, pharmacy)
- Revenue cycle systems
- Ambulatory
- Infrastructure
- Inpatient clinicals
- “Day 1” business system conversions (HR/payroll/timekeeping/finance/supply chain)
Outcomes
Outcomes from this phase positioned TGH to begin conversions to TGH ecosystems with a true understanding of the initiative inclusive of challenges, areas of investment, timeline estimates by milestones and areas of focus. Also, beneficial relationships were established during this Phase that became valuable during Phase 2.
Phase 2: Full IT Conversion to TGH Systems
Scope
Complete IT conversion from CHS systems to TGH clinical, financial, and business systems, inclusive of infrastructure (voice, network, endpoints).
Approach
Huntzinger provided overall planning, established governance, developed success criteria, and executed the program from planning through activation, cutover, and post go-live support. They partnered with Epic and TGH to manage risk and ensure on-time delivery.
Resources Provided
- Program leadership – Fixed Fee
- Program director – Full-time
- Project manager (12) – Full-time
- Project coordinator – Full-time
- Project advisor/auditor – Part-time
- Epic resources – Hourly blended rate under a single SOW
- 40 Certified Epic resources
- 10 Certified and principal trainers
- Data conversion and integration resources – Hourly blended rate
- 2 Data conversion analysts
- 2 Interface analysts
- 2 Report writers/BI
Results & Impact
The project was on time and on budget for the October 2024 go-live. Huntzinger’s extensive planning, resource allocation, and partnership with Epic and TGH ensured a smooth integration process, minimizing disruptions and maximizing the benefits of the new IT systems.
The project was very successful resulting in early shutdown of the Command Center and minimal tickets after the first week. The TGH North team was well trained and through their culture, accustomed to adapting to change.
Through supporting the go live and transition planning with Huntzinger, TGH IT was able to integrate well with the TGH end users and assume support of the environment within 30 days after go-live.
Conclusion
Project TGH North serves as a prime example of successful IT integration and transformation in the healthcare sector. The meticulous planning, strategic resource deployment, and collaborative approach by Huntzinger Management Group, has set a benchmark for future initiatives of this scale. The success of this project underscores the importance of expertise, dedication, and partnership in achieving organizational goals.
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