Requirements Analysis for the Small Office Practice

Physicians are beginning to automate their office practices and many are not familiar with industry's techniques for evaluating such systems. A number of requirements analysis steps defined in business can be applied to the analysis of an office practice. The procedures suggested may be carried out by a physician and his auxiliary staff (with the aid of a consultant if desired). Our purpose is to help the practitioner define the problems impeding the flow of work in the office. The resolution of these problems will not necessarily justify the installation of a computerized system. For practioners who are acquiring a computer system, a series of cost and quality questions are provided for use in evaluating proposed systems.