The Model Office A Hands-On Environment for End User Technology

The End User Technology Team is delighted to announce the creation of the Model Office, located in Áras Sláinte, Cork. This space has been developed as both a demonstration area and a practical test environment for ICT teams and end users across the HSE. Its purpose is to provide a hands-on, realistic environment where people can explore current technologies, examine future solutions, and gain a clear understanding of what the Technology Office offers.

The Model Office exists to showcase the range of technologies available to end users, including both standard and high-performance devices, as well as accessories from the Portfolio Catalogue. Alongside these, the Model Office features emerging, pilot, and concept technologies.

A prominent example is the Smart Locker system — a remotely managed secure locker that allows users to operate a click and collect workflow.

This emphasis on physical interaction is central to the purpose of the Model Office. Viewing technology in person, understanding how it behaves, and seeing it function in context is often the key to identifying the right solution for a particular challenge.

The Smart Locker, for instance, demonstrates how a simple physical solution can influence workflows in meaningful ways.

Other proof of concept technologies are also available to explore, such as Samsung DeX, Lapdocks, and lightweight Operating Systems suited for disaster recovery scenarios or for extending the usable life of older hardware.

In addition to demonstration technologies, the Model Office includes implementations of key ICT features such as Imprivata Single SignOn and SafeQ FollowMe Printing. These components represent the broader ecosystem of tools and services that the Technology Office continues to refine, with the aim of delivering a modern, secure, and standardised environment across the HSE. Collectively, the technologies on display highlight the organisation’s commitment to modernisation and provide a central point of awareness for staff who may not otherwise encounter these solutions in day-to-day work.

Persona-Based Approach

The Model Office also supports a persona-based approach, helping teams understand how different types of users engage with technology depending on their role and working style. This includes personas such as highly mobile staff, clinical users working in shared access environments, and traditional office-based roles. By viewing technologies through these personas, visitors can more easily identify which solutions best align with needs across the organisation without requiring detailed technical knowledge.

Bringing the vision to life

The development of the Model Office has been a collaborative effort built on the vision set out by Kieran Herron, General Manager and Helen Coughlan, Chief Technology Officer, whose direction shaped the concept from the outset. The practical delivery of that vision — from identifying and preparing the location to coordinating equipment, vendors, and the overall setup — was overseen and managed within the End User Technology Team, with Derek Martin leading the establishment of the space and its ongoing day to day operation. Support for the physical setup and preparation was provided by Aleksandra Gawin-Jedryczka, along with broader contributions from the team as needed.

The project also benefited from the involvement of the Device and Portfolio Leads, who supported device selection and acquisition, and the staff at Áras Sláinte, whose assistance in preparing the physical environment helped ensure the space could be established effectively.

Workshop and Test Lab

Beyond demonstrations, the Model Office incorporates a dedicated Workshop and Test Lab, offering ICT and project teams a controlled space to validate new software, test updates, and assess compatibility across a variety of hardware configurations. The environment contains the most widely used device types in the HSE estate, allowing teams to log in onsite or remotely and test under conditions that closely mirror production. This approach supports a more reliable deployment process, giving teams confidence that their changes will operate effectively across the range of devices commonly found in the field. Whether it involves testing on different operating system versions, validating software against standard and high-performance devices, or simulating user workflows, the Model Office provides a structured and safe place to do so.

The Model Office continues to evolve as technology changes around it. New devices, solutions, and prototypes will be added over time, ensuring the space remains aligned with the needs of the organisation and the direction of the Technology Office.

A booking system is in development for the Model Office, but for demonstrations, testing sessions, or general queries, the team can be contacted at: modeloffice.cork@hse.ie