What are the most important factors to consider when selecting HIT vendors?

2 Compatibility and integration

The second factor to consider is how compatible and integrable the vendor's HIT system is with your existing infrastructure, processes, and data. You should look for a vendor that can provide a seamless and secure integration of their system with your current hardware, software, network, and devices. You should also look for a vendor that can ensure interoperability and compatibility with other external systems, such as electronic health records (EHRs), health information exchanges (HIEs), or third-party applications. You should also consider how the vendor's HIT system can handle data migration, conversion, and storage.

3 Functionality and usability

The third factor to consider is how functional and usable the vendor's HIT system is for your end-users, such as clinicians, staff, patients, or partners. You should look for a vendor that can offer a system that has the features and capabilities that you need, such as clinical decision support, analytics, reporting, or telehealth. You should also look for a vendor that can offer a system that has a user-friendly interface, intuitive navigation, and customizable options. You should also consider how the vendor's HIT system can support user training, feedback, and satisfaction.

4 Reliability and security

The fourth factor to consider is how reliable and secure the vendor's HIT system is for your organization. You should look for a vendor that can provide a system that has high availability, performance, and scalability. You should also look for a vendor that can provide a system that has robust security measures, such as encryption, authentication, authorization, backup, and recovery. You should also consider how the vendor's HIT system can comply with regulatory standards and requirements, such as HIPAA, HITECH, or GDPR.

5 Support and maintenance

The fifth factor to consider is how supportive and responsive the vendor is for your organization. You should look for a vendor that can provide a comprehensive and flexible service level agreement (SLA) that covers the scope, quality, and cost of their services. You should also look for a vendor that can provide timely and effective technical support, customer service, and communication. You should also consider how the vendor can handle updates, upgrades, and enhancements of their HIT system.

6 Reputation and references

The sixth factor to consider is how reputable and trustworthy the vendor is in the HIT market. You should look for a vendor that has a proven track record of delivering successful and satisfactory HIT projects for similar organizations. You should also look for a vendor that has positive reviews, ratings, and testimonials from their previous and current clients. You should also consider asking for references and contacting them to verify the vendor's claims and performance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?