Moving is never easy. This is especially true when you manage IT for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). With limited staff and resources, the work required for a smooth transition of your IT equipment and services can quickly become overwhelming.
Whether you’re responsible for opening a brand new office location or moving an existing center, setting up a new location requires careful planning, attention to detail, and technical expertise. So to help your FQHC plan for a successful move, we’ve assembled this IT moving guide.
By following these essential tips you can minimize downtime, avoid disruptions in patient care, and maintain productivity during the relocation process.
Ultimate IT Moving Guide
1. Plan ahead
When planning a move, the first step is developing a thorough, detailed project plan. That’s because good project management is key to ensuring a smooth and successful transition. The truth is, each individual task required to move your IT equipment and services isn’t all that complicated on its own. But if every step is not planned and tracked appropriately, missed deadlines and delivery dates will result.
Begin prepping for your move well in advance to allow ample time for planning and execution. Create a comprehensive checklist that includes all IT equipment, software, and services that need to be moved. Then, assign responsibilities and set deadlines to ensure a smooth transition. If all that sounds like too much to manage, consider calling in an expert – like the team at MyConnectSolutions.
2. Contact service providers
As soon as you know a move is in the works, reach out to your current service providers. You’ll want to verify the new service address with your carriers to confirm that they’ll be able to provide the level of data and telecommunications service your FQHC network requires.
Sometimes, it can take several weeks – or even months – to get your new service established. By providing plenty of advance notice to the carrier, you can get your project on the installation schedule. And if service is not available at your new address, you’ll have enough time to find an alternative.
3. Assess the IT Infrastructure
When moving to a new location, there will be plenty of unknowns when it comes to the existing IT infrastructure. Is the building wired correctly? Does it use Cat5 cable? Are the MDF and IDF closets set up correctly?
To answer these questions and more, you’ll need to conduct an onsite assessment of the current IT infrastructure. After gaining a better understanding of how the building is wired, you can begin to make any changes needed to upgrade the network. Then, you can coordinate with your service provider to ensure a seamless network transition.
4. Conduct a thorough inventory
Before packing up, conduct a detailed inventory of all your IT assets that will need to be moved. Identify and document each piece of equipment, including serial numbers, configurations, and
associated peripherals. This information will be invaluable when it’s finally time to set up up your IT infrastructure at the new location.
5. Move your IT equipment
When it’s time to physically move your IT equipment from one location to another, make sure everything is accurately labeled and carefully packaged. Not only will this avoid damaging your equipment during transit, but it will save time and effort during reinstallation.
6. Test and verify functionality
After you arrive at the new location, it’s time to reconnect your IT equipment – including phones, switches, and computers. Once this work is complete, conduct thorough tests to ensure all of your IT equipment and services are functioning properly. This includes checking your network connectivity, network speeds, hardware performance, and software functionality. If you encounter any problems, address them immediately. Failing to do so can result in slow network speeds and dropped calls, which will ultimately impact patient care.
Know when to call in an expert
By following the steps above, you’ll be well on your way toward setting up a new office for your FQHC. But if the thought of moving IT equipment and services to a new location on your own sounds like too much to handle, it may be time to enlist help from a professional.
At MyConnectSolutions, our team has the skills and experience needed to manage your move from start to finish. We start by creating a customized project plan to ensure no steps are overlooked. Then, we assign a dedicated project manager to execute your move – on-time and on-budget. Meanwhile, you’ll have access to a dashboard view that provides visibility into the real-time status of every task.
To learn more about how we can help with your upcoming move, schedule a free consultation with our team today.
