Nursing participation in computer vendor selection

Automation in hospitals has been steadily increasing since the 1980's, but only recently have clinical applications been given similar weight to the business side of the hospital industry. With the increased concentration, a tend is now developing in having the primary users of hospital information systems directly involved in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of all facets of such systems. This involvement will produce applications which more readily meet the needs of the clinical areas than the first generation of products which were designed primarily by vendors whose experience had been with interrelating financial models.