As part of a two-year plan, Partners Information Systems will be rolling out Windows 2000 to replace Windows 95 as the standard operating system on all workstations (PCs) at the BWH, BWPO, and throughout Partners. Windows 2000 provides a more stable platform than Windows 95, and improves integration of user accounts and applications, desktop security, and memory management for Partners clinical applications. Windows 2000 is also required as Microsoft and other vendors are phasing out support for Windows 95.
Desktop upgrades will begin with clinical machines. A pilot of clinical machines at BWH in the Tower and Connors Center started on May 15. Once the pilot has been successfully completed, all clinical machines will be systematically upgraded. Over 500 clinical workstations will be upgraded in the upcoming months.
Department-specific application testing, and upgrading to Windows 2000 will begin this summer and continue through 2003.The first step is an assessment and an inventory to determine what applications are running on each machine. Many departments run unique applications that are not used Partners-wide and are not maintained by IS. After an assessment, IS will conduct local tests in conjunction with the departments, to make certain that all of these programs can run smoothly under Windows 2000, before implementing the upgrade.
More than 5,000 devices at BWH will be upgraded over the next 18 months. Information Systems is working with senior management to develop an overall plan for prioritization within and across departments and practices, with priority given to applications that are dependent on Windows 2000.