Timing & Basics

After you assess your electronic health record (EHR) needs, set EHR goals, make key decision about must-have EHR capabilities, and narrow the vendor field, you should draft a request for information (RFI) or a request for proposals (RFP) to collect information from vendors about their products and services. As you transition to health IT, make sure to ask potential vendors for the following information at minimum¹:

• Organizational profile
• Implementation and training model
• Estimated total cost of ownership
• Availability for demonstrations

Information Providers Should Get from Vendors

To learn about the specific information you should solicit from vendors in your RFI or an RFP, see the following resources.

• It is important to use your RFI or RFP to acquire information you can use when selecting an EHR. The Vendor Evaluation Matrix Tool, the Vendor Meaningful Use Compare Tool, and the Vendor Pricing Template provide considerations for EHR selection.
• Stratis Health's Health Information Technology Toolkit for Clinics provides a Request for Proposal template you can customize to meet your unique needs and use when selecting an EHR system.
• The Health Resources and Services Administration's EHR Selection Guidelines tool provides a list of several EHR features that can be customized to your implementation.