Used correctly, the EHR-S Functional Model and its related profiles significantly reduce the work involved in drafting a Request for Proposal. Rather than trying to think of all the ways in which an EHR-System can support (innovative) clinical work practices, the focus can turn to the envisaged clinical practice itself and the benefits such a new way of working should bring to the organization. Based on such a vision, a specific profile can be developed by refining the importance and timing of certain functions in the EHR-S Functional Model. If necessary, new functions can be added to the model to provide a complete specification of the functional requirements for the future way of working in your healthcare practice.

The use of the EHR-S Functional Model also saves time on the software vendor side. Responding to a Request for Proposal becomes easier, as the specifications are well documented and already familiar to the vendor. Also, the EHR-S Functional Model incorporates a number of advanced functions not generally available in systems today. As such it provides a basis for a development roadmap for software developers.

Internationally, profiles based on the EHR-S Functional Model have been used by a number of healthcare providers, ranging from General Practitioners to acute care hospitals. In addition, it has been used by health authorities and provider associations for certification of software systems and comparison of solutions available on the market. Thus it increases transparency of the market and lowers the barriers to entry for new vendors in a specific niche market.

If you are looking for a fairly complete description of functional capabilities of your future EHR-System, the EHR-S Functional Model is a valuable resource that can inspire innovation and help shape the market of EHR-Systems worldwide.