A group of doctors have decided to join together and purchase the local hospital based on a partnership agreement.

A group of doctors have decided to join together and purchase the local hospital based on a partnership agreement. Among the decisions involved in making this partnership successful is the agreement that they should work from a fully integrated health information technology (HIT) system. Several of these doctors have already implemented an outpatient version of an electronic health record (EHR) but others are still running their practice with paper charts. The hospital is currently using a PeopleSoft ERP system to run their operations and a dozen silo systems to support admission, discharge, and transfer, and clinical specializations, including emergency room, cardiology, medical imaging, and clinical laboratory systems. Discuss the entire range of factors that will contribute to the decision as to what technology will be appropriate to support this new partnership. Factors would include technical, cultural, procedural, social, and financial considerations.