Part B - Information Systems and Information Technology Solutions

B.4.6. Implementation Phases

One of the most crucial decisions faced by health services managers is the selection of applications
for a phased implementation. In fact, the ingredients of each phase will almost certainly vary from one
institution to the next, and therefore defy generalization. On the other hand, it is expected that the
health services institutions deriving the most benefit from this manual are those still in the early-tointermediate stages of application automation. For this very reason, the focus herein is on providing
information specific to these basic applications.
Regardless of the specific applications, each implementation should adhere to a number of welldefined and proved steps to maximize the opportunities for success. In general, implementation takes
place in two phases: pre-decision and post-decision. As with other sections of this document, there is
ample literature available that details implementation planning. A brief summary of key activities in
these two phases includes, but is not limited to, the ones displayed in Table 2.

Table 2. Information Systems and Technology

Implementation Phases
Pre-decision Phase
Information systems plan
Education
Assessment of user needs
Request for information
Obtain vendor information
Link user needs to system specifications
Establish "make or buy" criteria
Determine need for process reengineering
Request for Proposals
Site visits
Cost/Effectiveness-Benefit analysis
System selection

Post-decision Phase
Human resource assignment
Infrastructure installation
Hardware/software installation
Application installation
User training
System testing
System phase-in / pilot
System roll-out
Evaluation

One of the most important instruments in IS&T systems design and selection is the Request for
Proposals (RFP). For more detailed information and guidelines on the productive use of the RFP,
refer to Section C.2.
Specific plans for application module implementation are extremely difficult to generalize. Variables
include the number and complexity of planned applications, their source, the current state of
readiness of the health services institution, and the relative amount of work to be performed by the
vendor versus the user. For this reason no specific guidelines for timetables can be made. As

Part B - Information Systems and Information Technology Solutions

always, users should plan carefully with the appropriate vendors, consultants, and internal
management when planning implementation timetables.