One of the recurring challenges we see with new clients is insufficient dedication to initial project scoping. Virtually all major—and even some “minor”—HIT projects have complex dependencies that involve in-house IT resources, time and budget realities, essential inputs from other busy departments, and the vagaries of third-party vendors and consultants.
Navigating these inter-dependencies is not easy—even for veteran IT leaders, let alone organizations that may be facing these projects for the first time.
Some of the most difficult—but critical—tasks during what we call “Phase Zero” can include:
- Accurate assessment of organizational readiness including robust participation of clinical, administrative/financial, and IT stakeholders
- Candid and comprehensive communications with leadership, ensuring that everyone understands—and agrees to—the full extent of time/investment/resources required to bring a project to fruition
- Careful negotiations and meticulous documentation with vendors to fully (and honestly) define mutual expectations, deliverables, and contingencies
- Smart (advanced) preparation for your organization’s future-state needs, ensuring that the IT investments you make today will support tomorrow’s plans and strategies
S&P clients benefit from our unique InTegritySM blueprint for implementations—which draws on decades of real-world experience to provide a comprehensive framework for success that encompasses organizational, vendor and consultant responsibilities.
Learn more about InTegritySM and “Phase Zero” Planning here
