A BUYER'S GUIDE TO PATIENT SAFETY AND IRM SYSTEMS
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Follow these six steps to identify whether you can benefit from a patient safety and/or integrated risk management system, what you want
them to do, who to buy them from, and how to implement them.
DECISION MAKING:
SELECTING THE SYSTEM THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION
IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS
» Discuss requirements with all your internal stakeholders:
the patient safety and risk management teams, IT,
procurement, and senior executives.
» Ask the vendor to assist (for example, arranging
workshops with you to review your requirements in
detail).
RESEARCH THE MARKET
» They may appear similar, but not all systems are the
same—check to see that each provides what you need.
» Check to ensure each vendor's business credentials will
satisfy your procurement department.
» Ask to speak to other customers to find out firsthand about
the vendor's approach and the reliability of their systems.
PLAN YOUR TIMELINE
» Don't rush. Make sure all your requirements are factored in.
» Beware of short timelines—you don't want vendors to cut
corners—and watch out for cost overruns and add-ons.
PICK YOUR TEAM
» Make sure your IT team, procurement group, and
executive sponsor are on board for the long term.
» Determine which vendors will bring specialists to the
team, including specialists with healthcare experience.
Ask also how each vendor brings account managers and
project managers into their implementations.
IMPLEMENT YOUR PATIENT SAFETY AND IRM SYSTEMS
» Technology systems aren't just about technology; they're
also about people and relationships. You need the right
people in place to make the rollouts successful.
» Your vendor should plan to deliver noteworthy wins early
in the implementation. That way, your systems deliver
value quickly and build internal support.
REVIEW AND EVALUATE
» Your vendor should run a detailed process of continuous
reviews so you can monitor benefits against your KPIs.
» Annual reviews should examine potential future
opportunities and keep you abreast of technology
advances and regulatory and compliance changes.
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