A BUYER'S GUIDE TO PATIENT SAFETY AND IRM SYSTEMS
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DECISION MAKING:
SELECTING THE SYSTEM THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION
In addition to patient safety and risk
management, some suggested internal
partners include:
» Nurses and Physicians
» Legal/General Counsel
» Information Technology
» Purchasing/Procurement
» Project Management
» Finance
» Facilities/Properties
» Claims
From these partner-functions within your organization,
select forward- thinking contributors who are actively
conversant with the details of the business and its strategic
direction. Work to have these contributors focus beyond
today's needs as they assess the functionalities that will
help to move the organization forward. Bear in mind that
your investment in patient safety and integrated risk
management systems is a strategic investment.
It is often best for the project leader, often a patient safety
or risk management expert, to meet with each proposed
member of the needs-assessment team to explain the
proposed project, and to describe how the organization
as a whole, would derive value from the adoption of
these systems. Engaging each potential member prior
to the first formal meeting sets the stage for productive
discussions at the outset. It also gauges the interest and
understanding level of each group member and aids the
leader in managing the process to a successful outcome.
It's important to have a cross-functional team of potential users from across the organization
involved in the development of a needs assessment for your patient safety and integrated risk
management systems.
