Case Study: Healthcare IT Overhaul for a Community Mental Health Hospital

Case Study.

Project Overview

Market: Behavioral Health
Primary Service: IT Leadership

John Lynch & Associates partnered with a not-for-profit Community Mental Health Hospital in Northern Arizona to lead a comprehensive IT infrastructure overhaul. The engagement focused on preparing the organization for a successful Electronic Health Record (EHR) implementation, improving network performance, and designing a robust disaster recovery solution. The hospital serves a wide demographic, providing mental health services to children, adults, and families across inpatient and outpatient settings.

Objectives

  • Modernize the hospital’s IT infrastructure to support a new EHR system.
  • Assess cloud migration feasibility.
  • Resolve network latency and bandwidth challenges.
  • Implement a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.
  • Strengthen organizational readiness and support for IT transformation.

Challenges

  • Outdated hardware incapable of supporting modern systems.
  • Limited internal IT staffing for project support and daily operations.
  • Cultural resistance to technological change across the organization.

Solutions Implemented

To overcome these challenges, the following solutions were implemented:

Interim CIO Leadership & Strategic Guidance

  • Deployed an interim CIO to lead IT transformation efforts and serve as a bridge between executive leadership and technical teams.
  • Established regular communication protocols with senior leadership to align goals, secure buy-in, and track progress.

Comprehensive IT Assessment & Strategic Planning

  • Conducted a full assessment of infrastructure, staffing, and IT operations.
  • Developed a phased infrastructure refresh plan, aligning with organizational goals and operational constraints.
  • Created a strategic roadmap for EHR readiness and long-term IT sustainability.

Project Management & Staffing Support

  • Provided project management for EHR implementation, supplementing internal capacity with consulting resources.
  • Adjusted staffing levels to improve support capabilities and resource availability during critical project phases.

    Cost Optimization & Contract Management

    • Identified outdated or redundant contracts and negotiated improved terms, generating cost savings and increasing service value.

    Hybrid Infrastructure & Network Redesign

    • Designed a hybrid IT environment incorporating on-premises servers, private cloud, and public cloud elements to meet privacy and compliance requirements.
    • Redesigned the network to resolve latency issues and ensure consistent, reliable access across departments.

    Disaster Recovery & Security Enhancements

    • Implemented a comprehensive disaster recovery plan to ensure business continuity and minimize data loss.
    • Upgraded security protocols and infrastructure protections across the organization.

    Results

    • A fully modernized, resilient IT infrastructure was successfully implemented.
    • The EHR system was deployed on time and met all functionality requirements.
    • Internal IT performance improved through staffing adjustments and better support structures.
    • Contract renegotiations and system consolidations resulted in measurable cost savings.
    • Network performance significantly improved, resolving longstanding latency issues.
    • Disaster recovery and data protection capabilities were elevated to meet modern standards.

    Conclusion

    This engagement demonstrates John Lynch & Associates’ ability to lead complex healthcare IT transformations—from infrastructure modernization to strategic EHR implementation. Through expert leadership, collaborative planning, and tailored solutions, we helped this community hospital create a secure, scalable, and future-ready technology environment that empowers staff and enhances patient care.

    Client Feedback

    “Our collaboration with John Lynch & Associates exceeded expectations. Their leadership and execution throughout this complex project resulted in a dramatically improved IT environment and stronger organizational performance. We’ve since engaged them for additional projects and continue to see impactful results.”
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