This is the third in a series of posts regarding how HMS is integrating customers into our product development process. This post focuses on how we are accomplishing this.

Our first step is to identify the projects for which we want additional input. Typically, we focus on larger initiatives that are complex and require an extensive understanding of workflow, such as Physician Documentation.

The second step is to identify participant characteristics. Working with our account management team, we use a variety of criteria to identify candidate organizations, including:

• Bed size
• Geographic location
• Diversity of HMS applications in use
• Length of HMS system use
• Experience with non-HMS systems Number of facilities in the organization (1 versus 10 versus 100…)

This allows us to obtain a cross section of facility types that improve the odds of HMS building and delivering a system that meets the needs of our diverse customer base. Once we select candidates, they are asked to participate in project overviews and demonstrations. From there, they are asked to join online demonstrations to review and provide input at various stages of the development process.

These ongoing relationships allow us to gain insight and feedback over the life of the development project. This also forms an initial pool of potential beta candidates.

As HMS evolves this emerging process, we continue learning how to improve it and make it as effective as possible. Customers who agree to participate are helping us and their peers in other hospitals as we move our product suite to the next level.