Transcript

Capstone Video: Selecting a Master Patient Index

[ Music ]

[ Background Sounds ]

[ Knocking ]

>> Come in.

>> Hi Barbara.

>> Hi Bill.

>> Well you look jolly.

>> Oh I’m having way too much fun.

>> Can I play?

>> Please be my guest. We’re picking a new master patient index for the new electronic health records systems, and we’re going in on it with three other hospitals, so we all have to agree on which system to get.

>> And who’s choosing for the other hospitals? Or let me guess, four wonderful mature adults?

>> No, four stubborn opinionated HIM directors. No wait, that’s not fair, three stubborn opinionated HIM directors and me.

>> And since there are four of you, there’s no one to break the tie?

>> It’s a two-horse race. One of the other HIM directors and I want this vendor system, and the other two HIM directors want this vendor system; there’s got to be a way to choose which system is best without you know flipping a coin or playing rock-paper-scissors.

>> Now that’s a creative approach.

[ Silence ]

May I make some suggestions?

>> Please.

>> And I don’t want to say I told you so because I didn’t, but I’d say that you could have used a larger team in on the research, and on the decision. And I know that you HIM directors are the real experts, but I can’t help think that you could have used the input from information systems and from physicians and other users of the medical records just for a broader perspective.

>> You’re right. You’re right, but since you didn’t tell me any of this, this is your fault, okay?

>> did you set up evaluation criteria?

>> No, not exactly.

>> Did you do site visits, get our fees, references, get demonstrations? You could have weighted each of the criteria and use those weights as the basis for your objective critique.

>> You know I admire your attention to detail; we didn’t do any of those things.

>> Well, it could have helped you with this problem.

>> I get it. So we will start the appropriate evaluation using the right criteria so that we can all agree on which system would be the best to choose.

>> Thank you, and let me know who wins rock-paper-scissors.

>> Wise guy.

After you have watched the video entitled, “Selecting a Master Patient Index”, and answer the following questions.

1. Can you identify problems with the way the decision is being handled?

2. What evaluation criteria could have been used?

3. What strategies could have been employed to prevent decisions being made based on opinions?