3 Tips for HIT Success
Ensuring your success as a customer in new technology ventures mainly rests on three key issues.
1. Selecting an appropriate solution.
It's important to have a good understanding of your current processes in order to identify the type of change and the value that a new technology can bring. In essence, you need to know what you are trying to accomplish through the use of technology. Perform an introspective assessment of your current environment to determine current areas of need. Externally, you need to look at the products available on the market; once you identify potential solutions and get in touch with the vendors, it's good practice to test drive the products. Involve representatives from all areas of your facility to evaluate the products and to start building buy-in from your staff.
2. Selecting the right vendor. A good vendor will quickly be able to deliver you a list of references that operate in environments similar to yours. When you follow up with the references, ask not just about the product you're interested in, but the implementation process as well as the training and level of support provided by the vendor to get a feel for its services. Equally important, a vendor should answer any and all questions about implementation honestly – some parts of the process will be rough, and any vendor who doesn't brief you on those isn't telling you the whole story.
3. Creating a high level of commitment in your staff. Even with the best software solution, it takes a strong commitment from the customer as well as the vendor to realize an efficient and successful implementation. Your vendor can help – when you hit bumps or see potential ones coming, share them. The vendor wants its product to succeed, and it should help you through challenges, engendering in your staff a sense of comfort and positive feelings as a result.
Mr. Riemenschneider (sriemen@schedulesurgery. com) is the president of Focal Point Health's ScheduleSurgery.com.
Ensuring your success as a customer in new technology ventures mainly rests on three key issues.
1. Selecting an appropriate solution.
It's important to have a good understanding of your current processes in order to identify the type of change and the value that a new technology can bring. In essence, you need to know what you are trying to accomplish through the use of technology. Perform an introspective assessment of your current environment to determine current areas of need. Externally, you need to look at the products available on the market; once you identify potential solutions and get in touch with the vendors, it's good practice to test drive the products. Involve representatives from all areas of your facility to evaluate the products and to start building buy-in from your staff.
2. Selecting the right vendor. A good vendor will quickly be able to deliver you a list of references that operate in environments similar to yours. When you follow up with the references, ask not just about the product you're interested in, but the implementation process as well as the training and level of support provided by the vendor to get a feel for its services. Equally important, a vendor should answer any and all questions about implementation honestly – some parts of the process will be rough, and any vendor who doesn't brief you on those isn't telling you the whole story.
3. Creating a high level of commitment in your staff. Even with the best software solution, it takes a strong commitment from the customer as well as the vendor to realize an efficient and successful implementation. Your vendor can help – when you hit bumps or see potential ones coming, share them. The vendor wants its product to succeed, and it should help you through challenges, engendering in your staff a sense of comfort and positive feelings as a result.
Mr. Riemenschneider (sriemen@schedulesurgery. com) is the president of Focal Point Health's ScheduleSurgery.com.