The request for proposal and vendor selection process

The RFP and vendor selection process is critical to the successful acquisition and installation of systems to automate health information management departments. The effort expended in the planning process, through the requirements definition, needs assessment, and conceptual system design are absolutely essential to the development of concise requirements for the RFP document. These requirements are also essential in evaluating vendors during the vendor screening and site visit process. Follow-up documentation evaluating all systems under consideration clarifies each system's utility in terms of the ability to meet or exceed conceptual design requirements. In a competitive vendor environment, these decisions will continue to become more difficult. However, the preparation of clear requirements, and the distribution of a concise RFP will assure the successful acquisition of health information management systems to meet health care needs today and in the future.