ARRA, System Selection and Vendor negotiation

[JimLeo]

In everyone's rush to get systems on board and begin to demonstrate "meaningful use", don't overlook the need for a stringent system selection process, involving all stakeholders. Implementations tend to go much easier, and utilization is much higher, when the skids are greased with a proper system selection process involving a good representation of end-users.

A second benefit of a System Selection process is the various vendors you engage all know there is competition for the business. Done correctly, a solid system selection process can save as much as 25% on purchase and implementation costs as vendor costs come down due to the competition.

We purchased a Physician Portal implementation for 25% of the original proposal by properly applying a system selection process.