Which of the following would NOT be a strategy when purchasing an electronic health record system?

• A. Broaden the vendor field and select several vendors of choice.
• B. Narrow the vendor pool to a single vendor.
• C. Involve end users early in the evaluation.
• D. Assess interoperability with existing systems.

Answer: (A)

Evaluating an electronic health record system should be focused and organized, not sprawling. A practical approach starts with clear, non-negotiable requirements and a short list of vendors that can meet them, while actively involving the end users who will use the system to ensure the solution fits real workflows. It’s also crucial to check interoperability so the new EHR can exchange data with existing systems and external partners. Expanding the field to include many vendors makes apples-to-apples comparisons difficult, with more demonstrations to review, more stakeholders to involve, and a longer decision timeline. This extra complexity can dilute requirements and increase risk without delivering better outcomes. For that reason, broadening the vendor field and selecting several vendors of choice would not be a practical strategy in this purchasing process.