Strategies for successful clinical information system selection.

The CIS market is volatile. With consumer pressure to develop and the current interest in CISs, clinicians recommended reassessing the market again in 18 months. Even without fully mature systems, there are foundational CISs available on the market. Strategies for successful CIS selections are many: Decide to be a developer or buyer early in the process. Entering into a long-term relationship with a vendor to develop customized capabilities will mandate different requirements than purchasing a ready-to-use system. Use a systematic method for evaluating systems, preferably multimethod. Force structure into the evaluation process with vendors, especially for the system demonstration. Structure will ensure that each system function, or lack of function, is exposed and assessed and will allow for consistent and fair evaluations across vendors. Make the vendor commit to distinguishing between existing and proposed functions during system demonstrations. Often, vendors promise the very functions you want to be in the next release. Most vendors will cooperate with structured schedules. However, some vendors may resist structure because it interferes with marketing strategies. If, despite requests for specific materials and schedules, vendors fill the time with unsolicited material, ask yourself why and beware: they may not have the functions you requested. Use a brief clinical scenario as a preview into system functions, integration, and system usability. Ask vendors for conceptual models of system functional and technical architecture. Use an interdisciplinary team. Focus subgroups in specialty areas for efficiency and effectiveness in evaluation. Consider tape-recording the joint group sessions for later confirmation or analysis. Consider application integration as one of the major requirements for future CISs, especially between ambulatory and inpatient arenas.