title: The role of frontline RNs in the selection of an electronic medical record business partner.
abstract: Frontline RNs knowledgeable in the strategic objectives of their organization made a difference in the selection of an electronic medical record business partner for a large, complex healthcare system. Their impact was significant because of the chief nurse executive's personal articulation of the organization's strategic goals and of her investment in their education. These factors provided the frontline RNs with a foundational base of knowledge about a variety of electronic medical record systems. The preparation and exposure enabled the frontline RNs to make a valuable contribution to the selection of an electronic medical record business partner. The RNs were a major force in affecting philosophical change from the organization's original pursuit of "best-of-breed" interfaced systems to a fully integrated, "best-of-class" vendor business partner. The learning experiences of the frontline RNs are explored to answer the following question: Why must frontline RNs play a key role in this process?
authors.affiliation: Mountain States Health Alliance, Johnson City, TN 37604, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilhoit
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mustain
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D016542:Chief Executive Officers, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003132:Commerce; D003200:Computer User Training; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009096:Multi-Institutional Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D016134:Organizational Policy; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000458:organization & administration; D011682:Purchasing, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018511:Systems Integration; D013714:Tennessee