Before You Build a Healthcare Communication Subsystem
Initial Questions for Healthcare Vendors to Consider
Introduction
Within the walls of any talented software team is the belief that any piece of programming, server, or program can be handled “in-house” rather than purchased. This point of view is understandable and often the case for vendors in the healthcare industry.
When the need for adding any functionality to your product, service or program arises, there can be a natural inclination towards building the tools internally rather than purchasing them.
This is especially true in regards to conquering the hurdles of connecting disparate clinical applications within healthcare entities, which is why the healthcare communication system (interface engine) market is so specialized.
Before venturing into the waters of healthcare data interfacing, history has demonstrated that it is critical to fully understand the litany of items that must be accounted for and constantly managed.
Many vendors have discovered that in the end, the talented teams within any software vendor or medical device manufacturer will be better served by dedicating time to your product, program or service, and allowing healthcare communication subsystem specialists to help them do so.
This paper presents a few questions that should help healthcare vendors better understand the value in purchasing a healthcare communication subsystem rather than expending the resources to build, modify and maintain one.
Question 1: How Is Your Time Best Spent?
The buy vs. build issue is a regular one for any business. Just as your customers have decided to purchase your product or service, decisions have to be made on a regular basis regarding numerous business issues. Is it more cost effective to:
- Print collateral in-house or outsource?
- Hire a web designer or outsource?
- Build a communication subsystem internally or purchase one?
There is not a universal answer to any of these questions. In each case, there is a threshold, or pain-point that each organization will approach that ultimately determines which route to take.
Considering a healthcare communication subsystem, like many other products, it is critical to understand the long term goals and potential future opportunities a particular medical device or application will have.
If there is certainty that a product’s sales potential will remain static over time, then a scaled-down communication subsystem built internally might suffice.
However, if it is important to be competitive by offering functionality such as logging features, or the ability to connect to multiple devices or facilities (that all utilize different messaging standards), the time and investment spent building a simple interface engine in order to solve a perceived small need might have been wasted due to the more robust interfacing needs of your customers.
Ultimately, the question of how your organization wants to build differentiation in the marketplace must be answered. If the ability to exchange clinical data across multiple platforms, while accommodating multiple messaging standards is the desired differentiator, the next question to answer is whether the expertise and passion rests internally, or whether partnering with established interfacing experts makes more business sense.
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To download a complete version of Before You Build a Healthcare Communication Subsystem, follow the PDF link below.
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