Roaming Epic EHR Delivered via VDI and Application Virtualization to ProveID Embedded Thin Clients

This configuration can be used in most clinical settings:

  • A shared workstation with a roaming virtual desktop lets users move from workstation to workstation and automatically connect to a full Windows desktop that is delivered via VDI.

  • As users authenticate to different shared workstations, they reconnect to their desktop virtualization session, which makes it appear as if the their desktop – and all applications that are running within it – are "roaming" with them.

NOTE:

This configuration is not recommended for settings where patient medical records must remain persistent on the workstation for different users to access. For example — an exam room.

This topic details how each component in the following environment is configured.

Click to enlarge.

In this workflow:

  • The Epic EHR (Epic) is delivered to a shared Imprivata ProveID Embedded thin client (thin client) via an Omnissa Horizon or Citrix DaaS VDI image (virtual desktop).

  • Epic is delivered to the virtual desktop via Citrix DaaS application virtualization.

    The virtual desktop is automatically launched after the user successfully authenticates.

This type of configuration is also known as a double hop. For a summary of this architecture and Imprivata license requirements, see Epic EHR Delivered via VDI and Citrix to Thin Clients.

Before You Begin

Review the following before you begin:

  • Verify that your thin clients are supported. For more information, see " ProveID Embedded" and "Endpoint Device Matrix" in the Imprivata Enterprise Access Management Supported Components guide.

  • If you are using both Citrix Virtual Desktops and Citrix Virtual Apps, at least two Delivery Controllers are required.

    One to manage access to the virtual desktop; and the other to manage the delivery of Epic.

  • The following steps assume that ProveID Embedded has been installed and configured.

    For more information, see "Configuring ProveID Embedded on Linux Thin Clients" in the Imprivata Enterprise Access Management Online Help.

Enterprise Access Management Configuration

In this section you configure the Imprivata user and computers policies:

  • An Imprivata user policy is the means by which you define authentication methods and rules to a specific group of users.

  • An Imprivata computer policy is the means by which you define security parameters to a specific set of workstations. This workflow requires three computer policies:

    • The first policy is assigned to the shared thin clients.

    • The second policy is assigned to the virtual desktops.

    • The third policy is assigned to the Citrix servers that are delivering Epic.

NOTE:

The following steps detail the required settings to achieve this workflow. For complete details on user and computer policies, see the Imprivata Enterprise Access Management Help.

Thin Client Configuration

In this section, you:

  • Configure Citrix Workspace app or the Omnissa Horizon client to connect to and deliver the desktop.

  • Import the Citrix or Omnissa SSL certificate into your thin clients to establish trust between both environments.

NOTE:

In addition to the registry settings that are configured on the virtual desktop, USB redirection is managed from the thin client, independent of Enterprise Access Management. Configure devices to support the USB redirection of your proximity card readers, as well as any other required devices.

Virtual Desktop Configuration

In this section, you:

  • Install the Imprivata agent on the virtual desktop.

    Installing the Imprivata agent enables Imprivata to communicate between the virtual environment and the shared workstations.

  • Install Citrix Workspace app on the virtual desktops.

    Citrix Workspace app uses the explicit user credentials to connect to the Citrix server that is delivering Epic.

  • Configure registry settings.

    NOTE:

    If you are using both Citrix Virtual Desktops and Citrix Virtual Apps, at least two Delivery Controllers are required. One to manage access to the virtual desktop; and the other to manage the delivery of Epic.

Citrix Server Configuration

In this section, you install the Imprivata agent and the Imprivata Connector for Epic Hyperdrive on the Citrix servers that are delivering the Epic EHR.

  • Installing the Imprivata agent on the Citrix Servers enables Imprivata to communicate between Citrix environment and the shared workstations.

  • Installing the Imprivata Connector for Epic Hyperdrive enables access to Epic Hyperdrive.

Epic Configuration

In this section, you configure the Imprivata Connector for Epic Hyperdrive.