Select a Product
Time to Complete: 6 months
Difficulty: Requires careful consideration, exploration
Outcome: Secure messaging solution
Steps
Consider the Workflows You've Established
If you haven't already talked as a team about how to integrate email into the workflow, you might want to do that at the same time you're selecting a product. Differences in how technology products represent workflow will influence how, and when, the humans on your team do their jobs.
Investigate Vendors, Check Out References
For any product you're considering, ask the vendor for a list of family medicine practices that are using the product. Download this form (1-page Word document; About downloading files) to structure the feedback those references offer -- expect that this step to take a fair amount of time, since the information's coming from busy practices like your own.
Discuss as a Staff and Decide
Keeping in mind the new processes and changes to the team's workflow, discuss as a staff the various products and vendors.
What You'll Need
- Time to investigate vendors
- References from other family medicine offices
- Time to discuss as a team
Example
Download this form and make several copies. Make arrangements for some other family medicine practices to complete the form and fax it back to your office (1-page Word document; About downloading files).
When to Ask for Help
Hiring a consultant to facilitate the process might be the way to get this done if you and your staff don't have the time or the desire to:
- Research secure messaging products,
- Interview other family medicine practices, or
- Talk with vendors about your practice's needs,
The AAFP Buyer's Guide can help you find consultants and attorneys.
Join a free collaborative online network committed to practice transformation. Learn more about Delta-Exchange.
This Patient-Centered Medical Home section of the AAFP web site was supported in part by a grant from Merck & Co.
This Patient-Centered Medical Home section of the AAFP web site was supported in part by a grant from Merck & Co.
