Selecting patient accounting systems that stand out from the rest.

How satisfied is the average finance executive with the performance of his institution's patient accounting system? Not very. What causes this dissatisfaction? A variety of factors: Not enough flexibility, the inability to modify or expand the system, the lack of system interfaces, and inadequate support. These are all leading contributors to the finance executive's dissatisfaction. How much information does he have about the alternative patient accounting system vendors in the marketplace? On average, limited information. Many vendors who offer patient accounting systems have not done enough to disseminate information about their products to hospital decision makers. If the finance executive were more knowledgeable about the alternatives available, would he then be able to select a patient accounting system that fully meets the institution's needs? It would improve the odds. However, merely knowing about the alternatives is only the first step. He must be able to fully evaluate the institution's near and long-term needs to create the best match possible. The finance executive must also accept the possibility that there may not be a single system in the marketplace that can accommodate every perceived need. Only by knowledge of the marketplace will he be in a position to fully evaluate the potential benefits of the available systems.