THE C-LEVEL DILEMMA
The acquisition of a vendor typically thrusts healthcare decision makers into unknown territory. While the original vendor is a known quantity, new vendor ownership raises a host of questions:
What will happen to the relationships we have developed with the executive leadership and support staff?
Will the culture we have come to count on be maintained, changed, or outright demolished?
Is our product still the go-forward plan, or is it in danger of being supplanted in favor of a product marketed by the new vendor?
Are we safe if we sit tight, or should we consider other vendor options right away?
What should we watch for to predict whether or not our current relationship will be maintained?
The answers to these questions affect millions of dollars of investments and the quality of patient care, as well as physician and clinician satisfaction.
Healthcare Informatics 2009 August;26(8):12