Tennessee statewide HIE vendor chosen!

I am back to blogging after a hiatus of a few months.  So, what has been going on? 


During this time I have participated in the HIP-TN Technical Workgroup writing the technical requirements for the state-wide HIE RFP (see http://www.hiptn.org/hip-tn-rfp/)  and evaluating the various HIE solution vendors.


We evaluated thirteen vendors based on their experience and response to our RFP (clinical, financial, technical).


A number of the respondents were eliminated in the first round because they could not meet the "mandatory requirements.  In the second round we split in little groups each evaluating a specific vendor.  The vendors that emerged out of the this round  participated in a "face-to-face" meeting in Nashville, where we all descended upon the "Tennessee Health Association" headquarters. 


Even after that we had two vendors that were very closely scored.  After further evaluation of their offering one vendor come out victorious:  Axolotl.  You can view the press release here.


I feel the vendors were evaluated in a fair manner with input from various workgroups which represented a wide range of organizations from the Tennessee healthcare spectrum.  


So who were the software vendors that participated?  Sorry, I cannot tell you.  The general consensus was that we would not divulge the names of those who responded to the RFP in order to avoid negative publicity for those companies.


The HIP-TN Technical Workgroup will continue to meet and provide feedback in the process of state wide HIE implementation.  Stay tuned!