HIS (healthcare information systems) consultants: when are they necessary, and why?

The rapid escalation of consulting fees for the installation of healthcare information systems and the potential abuses associated with consulting relationships has prompted some to question the need to hire consultants for systems installation. Consulting arrangements were considered cost effective when information systems were first being automated, but the rising cost of consulting services along with the increasing sophistication of hospital personnel regarding computerization suggest that the use of consultants receive close scrutiny. Following some simple guidelines may limit potential abuses and allow hospitals to obtain maximum service for their investment.