Healthcare IT & Transformation

Achieving patient-centricity with LEAN and enabling technologies

Enterprise Software Selections



Many healthcare organizations still don’t consider the “enterprise” when they choose new software. Many CIOs are completely dependent on the offerings of their vendors instead of making vendors comply with their standards and integrate with their enterprise layers. My favorite is an enterprise reporting tool that can only be used with the same vendor’s suite of products. That’s not enterprise! 
The days of proprietary software in healthcare are ending and vendors will need to support enterprisewide interoperable solutions. Many of them offer this capability now but they don’t tell you. They’ve seen the writing on the wall. Have you?
 
Do you have multiple pieces of software to report data, fax information, interface data, publish web content or capture scanned documents?

 

Enterprise layers are the foundation of your application offerings. The basic technology enabled functions of any business like reporting, faxing, integration, scanning, etc. Just as in building a house, the completeness of your foundation contributes to the solidness of your offerings. 

 

 

Do an inventory of your basic functionality such as reporting, faxing, scanning, etc. Any function that you find is done by more than one piece of software is a candidate for an enterprise solution. Choose enterprise solutions that are robust and flexible… best of breed.

 

Enterprise solutions put you in the position of power when negotiating with vendors. Make complying with your layers a prerequisite for winning your business. You’ll be surprised to see how many vendors can comply. Those that can’t are behind in technology and you don’t want them as a partner for the future.

 

 

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    Susan McClafferty, is the founding partner of Katsu Partners Inc.

    As an information systems strategist with twenty years of experience solving industry challenges with innovative solutions, Susan has held numerous senior executive roles across diverse industries and has been recognized for her ability to connect local, regional and national communities through enabling technology.

    In partnership with the State of Washington, Susan created the award-winning multi-state AMBER Alert Portal to save the lives of abducted children.