ABSTRACT
Laboratory information systems (LISs) have become an essential part of an efficient and effective laboratory. In the past, selecting an LIS was a relatively simple procedure because there were only a few candidates to select from. Now, however, selecting an LIS from the myriad available has become a time-consuming and complex process. This article presents a multi-attribute utility (MAU) method for selecting an LIS. This MAU method has four phases: identifying LIS vendors and disseminating requests for proposals (RFPs), analyzing RFP responses and selecting the top three vendors, validating responses of the top three vendors, and selecting a primary vendor and preparing a formal recommendation. By following this four-phase process, laboratories will simplify the complex LIS selection process and increase their chances of selecting the best LIS for their needs.
