PPV: Don’t make a hasty decision when selecting an EHR vendor

A hasty EHR vendor selection can lead to frustration at best or a failed implementation at worst, says Michael R. Cohen, MM, president of MRC Consulting Group in St. Charles, IL. Strategy details will vary depending on the type and size of the buyer, but organizations should follow some general steps when selecting an EHR vendor, says Cohen.

 

Review your organization’s strategic plans and vision before you begin the vendor selection process. Determine what you expect from a new system—and be absolutely certain that you actually need one—before shopping for an EHR, says Cohen. Review business and clinical strategic plans already in place to ensure that an EHR will mesh with your organization’s established guiding principles.

 

Begin the vendor selection process by researching the EHR marketplace, says Cohen. First, identify the most popular EHR vendors, as well as the niche vendors. Next, determine what you consider to be reasonable expectations regarding EHR implementation and results. Finally, compare your findings about the EHR marketplace to your organization’s needs and expectations.

 

Click here to learn more about EHR vendor selection.

 

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