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Benchmark RFI for EHR Vendor essay guide: six criteria

Choose an acute or ambulatory setting and a named EHR vendor, then evaluate the vendor against six rubric-mirrored criteria — from the RFI process and rating scale through architecture, interoperability, eCQMs and implementation support — to a recommend-or-not verdict in 1,000-1,250 words.

Aug 11, 2026

Editorial process

Last reviewed · August 11, 2026

Written by

Aaron Bishop

MA, Education

assignment interpretation and research-methods coaching across disciplines

Reviewed by

Dr. Nathan Cole

PhD, Rhetoric & Composition

Argumentation and thesis development

On this page

Interpret the task
Assignment instructions
Deliverables
Proposed outline
Research plan
Reference shortlist
Final review

What does the RFI for EHR Vendor benchmark actually grade?

The assignment is an evaluation, not an explainer, and the distinction is where most submissions bleed points: you choose one care setting — acute or ambulatory — and one named EHR vendor, then run that vendor against the six listed criteria to reach a recommend-or-not verdict. An essay about electronic health records in general, however well sourced, answers a different prompt. The six bullets are the rubric's own sections, and the weighting is visible in the point values: the health care information system criterion — architecture, functionality, and applicability to practice, explicitly including research, administrative reporting, security, and certification — carries the heaviest load, half again the RFI-process section. A cleaning note: this record circulated with a completed student paper (a NextGen evaluation, with its reference list) ahead of the prompt; it is excluded from the brief above, and your setting and vendor choices should be your own.

Work the criteria with public evidence rather than vendor marketing. Certification is checkable: the certified product list maintained under the federal certification program records exactly which vendor modules hold current certification, which turns the certification clause from an assertion into a lookup. Interoperability and electronic clinical quality measures likewise have federal reference points — the standards a certified system must exchange data under, and the eCQM specifications a system must compute — so the 'provide examples' bullet is asking you to name concrete capabilities, not to praise integration in the abstract. The RFI-process section wants the mechanism explained: what an RFI is for, how a vendor evaluation and rating scale converts stakeholder requirements into comparable scores, and why a structured process protects the organization from buying a demonstration. Ground that section in your chosen organization's stated need for a new system, which the first bullet requires you to establish.

The last two bullets are the ones rushed submissions flatten. Implementation support and stakeholder education are a distinct criterion — training models, go-live support, maintenance commitments — and they belong to the vendor evaluation, not to a generic change-management digression. The summary must take a position: recommend or do not recommend the chosen setting-vendor pairing, argued from applicability to practice, education, administration, and research, which mirrors the four-way applicability language the rubric itself uses. At 1,000-1,250 words with six required sections, budget roughly 150-200 words per criterion and resist expanding the introduction; the described organization only needs enough detail to make the need for a new system credible. The rubric also prices documentation as its own criterion, so carry correctly formatted citations through every section rather than clustering them all in the architecture discussion where the reading happens to be densest.

Likely learning objectives

Inferred from the brief — check these against your own rubric.

01
Frame the essay as a vendor evaluation for one named setting rather than a general EHR discussion.
02
Explain the RFI process and how a vendor evaluation and rating scale makes competing systems comparable.
03
Assess system architecture, functionality and applicability — research, administrative reporting, security, certification — against public evidence.
04
Give concrete examples of care coordination, interoperability and electronic clinical quality measure support.
05
Close with a defended recommendation on the setting-vendor pairing across practice, education, administration and research.

Assignment instructionsQuoted verbatim

Read the full question

Review every instruction before using the planning guidance that follows.

Assessment Description The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate an EHR vendor by analyzing key criteria that would be used to develop a request for information (RFI). You will choose an acute care or ambulatory setting and an EHR vendor to determine if the EHR vendor meets the needs of the setting. In a 1,000-1,250 word essay, describe the considerations that need to be addressed during the EHR vendor evaluation process using the key criteria below. Evaluate your selected EHR vendor based on the research you have done on the key criteria. Include the following: Describe the organization, services provided, and the need for a new system. Explain the RFI process and the significance of a vendor evaluation and rating scale. Describe the health care information system architecture, functionality, and applicability to health care practice (include research, administrative reporting, security, and certification). Provide examples of how the EHR supports care coordination, interoperability, and electronic quality measures. Explain the vendor implementation support and stakeholder education process. A summary of the findings and whether or not to recommend the chosen health care setting and EHR vendor, based on applicability to health care practice, education, administration, and research RUBRIC RFI Process and Significance of Vendor Evaluation and Rating Scale 5. 5: Excellent 12 points The description of the significance of the vendor evaluation and rating scale is thorough. 4. 4: Good 10.44 points The description of the significance of the vendor evaluation and rating scale is present but lacks detail or is incomplete. 3. 3: Satisfactory 9.48 points The description of the significance of the vendor evaluation and rating scale is present. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 8.88 points The description of the significance of the vendor evaluation and rating scale is detailed. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points The description of the significance of the vendor evaluation and rating scale is not present. Health Care Information System 18 points Criteria Description Health Care Information System Architecture, Functionality, and Applicability to Health Care Practice (includes research, administrative reporting, security, and certification). 5. 5: Excellent 18 points The description of the health care information system, architecture, functionality, and applicability to health care practice is thorough. 4. 4: Good 15.66 points The description of the health care information system, architecture, functionality, and applicability to health care practice is detailed. 3. 3: Satisfactory 14.22 points The description of the health care information system, architecture, functionality, and applicability to health care practice is present but lacks detail or is incomplete. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 13.32 points The description of the health care information system, architecture, functionality, and applicability to health care practice is present. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points The description of the health care information system, architecture, functionality, and applicability to health care practice is not present. Care Coordination, Interoperability, and Electronic Quality Measures 12 points Criteria Description Care Coordination, Interoperability, and Electronic Quality Measures 5. 5: Excellent 12 points The explanation of how EHR supports care coordination, interoperability, and electronic quality measures is thorough. 4. 4: Good 10.44 points The explanation of how EHR supports care coordination, interoperability, and electronic quality measures is detailed. 3. 3: Satisfactory 9.48 points The explanation of how EHR supports care coordination, interoperability, and electronic quality measures is present. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 8.88 points The explanation of how EHR supports care coordination, interoperability, and electronic quality measures is present but lacks detail or is incomplete. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points The explanation of how EHR supports care coordination, interoperability, and electronic quality measures is not present. Vendor Implementation Support and Stakeholder Education Process 12 points Criteria Description Vendor Implementation Support and Stakeholder Education Process 5. 5: Excellent 12 points The description of the vendor implementation support and stakeholder education process is thorough. 4. 4: Good 10.44 points The description of the vendor implementation support and stakeholder education process is detailed. 3. 3: Satisfactory 9.48 points The description of the vendor implementation support and stakeholder education process is not present. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 8.88 points The description of the vendor implementation support and stakeholder education process is present. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points The description of the vendor implementation support and stakeholder education process is present but lacks detail or is incomplete. Summary of Findings and Recommendation (B) 18 points Criteria Description Summary of Findings and Recommendation of Chosen Health Care Setting and EHR Vendor Based on Applicability to Health Care Practice, Education, Administration, and Research (C1.2, 6.2) 5. 5: Excellent 18 points The summary of findings recommendation of chosen health care setting and EHR vendor based on applicability to health care practice, education, and research is well developed. 4. 4: Good 15.66 points A summary of findings and recommendation of chosen health care setting and EHR vendor based on applicability to health care practice, education, and research is detailed. 3. 3: Satisfactory 14.22 points A summary of findings and recommendation of chosen health care setting and EHR vendor based on applicability to health care practice, education, and research is present. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 13.32 points A summary of findings and recommendation of chosen health care setting and EHR vendor based on applicability to health care practice, education, and research is present but lacks detail or is incomplete. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points A summary of findings and recommendation of chosen health care setting and EHR vendor based on applicability to health care practice, education, and research are not present. Thesis Development and Purpose 8.4 points Criteria Description Thesis Development and Purpose 5. 5: Excellent 8.4 points Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear. 4. 4: Good 7.31 points Thesis is clear and forecasts the development of the paper. Thesis is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose. 3. 3: Satisfactory 6.64 points Thesis is apparent and appropriate to purpose. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 6.22 points Thesis is insufficiently developed or vague. Purpose is not clear. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim. Argument Logic and Construction 9.6 points Criteria Description Argument Logic and Construction 5. 5: Excellent 9.6 points Clear and convincing argument that presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative. 4. 4: Good 8.35 points Argument shows logical progressions. Techniques of argumentation are evident. There is a smooth progression of claims from introduction to conclusion. Most sources are authoritative. 3. 3: Satisfactory 7.58 points Sufficient justification of claims is lacking. Argument lacks consistent unity. There are obvious flaws in the logic. Some sources have questionable credibility. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 7.1 points Statement of purpose is not justified by the conclusion. The conclusion does not support the claim made. Argument is incoherent and uses noncredible sources. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points Argument is orderly, but may have a few inconsistencies. The argument presents minimal justification of claims. Argument logically, but not thoroughly, supports the purpose. Sources used are credible. Introduction and conclusion bracket the thesis. Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use) 6 points Criteria Description Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use) 5. 5: Excellent 6 points Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. 4. 4: Good 5.22 points Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. The writer uses a variety of effective sentence structures and figures of speech. 3. 3: Satisfactory 4.74 points Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct and varied sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are employed. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 4.44 points Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register) or word choice are present. Sentence structure is correct but not varied. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or sentence construction is used. Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment) 6 points Criteria Description Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment) 5. 5: Excellent 6 points All format elements are correct. 4. 4: Good 5.22 points Appropriate template is fully used. There are virtually no errors in formatting style. 3. 3: Satisfactory 4.74 points Appropriate template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken. A lack of control with formatting is apparent. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 4.44 points Appropriate template is used. Formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points Template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed correctly. Documentation of Sources 6 points Criteria Description Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style) 5. 5: Excellent 6 points Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct. 4. 4: Good 5.22 points Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error. 3. 3: Satisfactory 4.74 points Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present. 2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory 4.44 points Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors. 1. 1: Unsatisfactory 0 points Sources are not documented.

Turn the brief into deliverables

01
A 1,000-1,250 word essay evaluating a chosen EHR vendor for a chosen acute or ambulatory setting.
02
The six required elements: organization and need; RFI process and rating-scale significance; architecture/functionality/applicability including research, administrative reporting, security and certification; care coordination, interoperability and eCQM examples; vendor implementation support and stakeholder education; and a summary recommendation.
03
Citations documented per style throughout — the rubric prices documentation as its own criterion.

How should the six vendor-evaluation criteria be sequenced?

The organization and its need

Describe the chosen acute or ambulatory organization, its services, and the concrete gaps driving the need for a new system — the baseline every later criterion evaluates against.

The RFI process and the rating scale

Explain what a request for information does in procurement, and how a vendor evaluation and rating scale converts stakeholder requirements into comparable vendor scores.

Architecture, functionality, applicability

Evaluate the vendor's system against the four named dimensions: research support, administrative reporting, security, and certification status under the federal program.

Coordination, interoperability, eCQMs

Give named examples of how the system supports care coordination, exchanges data under interoperability standards, and computes electronic clinical quality measures.

Implementation, education, verdict

Describe the vendor's implementation support and stakeholder education model, then deliver the summary recommendation across practice, education, administration and research.

Which federal sources verify certification, interoperability and eCQMs?

Recommended databases

HealthIT.gov (ONC)
CHPL (Certified Health IT Product List)
eCQI Resource Center
Vendor documentation for the chosen EHR

Search sequence

1.
Read the Health IT Playbook's EHR section for the procurement and contracting frame the RFI discussion needs.
2.
Look the chosen vendor up in the certified product list to verify current certification for the modules you evaluate.
3.
Pull the interoperability topic page for the exchange standards the examples bullet should name.
4.
Check the eCQM resource center for how certified systems report electronic clinical quality measures.
5.
Only then read the vendor's own materials, treating claims you cannot verify federally as claims.

Reference shortlist

These are authoritative starting points, not a ready-made bibliography. A qualified reviewer must confirm that each source fits the assignment and supports the claim beside which it is cited.

Nothing here is cleared for citation until you have read it.

01
Electronic Health Records - Health IT Playbook
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT · 2024
The procurement frame — selecting, contracting and switching EHRs — that grounds the RFI-process section in actual federal guidance rather than assertion.
02
Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL)
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT · 2025
The lookup that turns the certification clause into evidence: which of the chosen vendor's modules hold current certification under the federal program.
03
Interoperability
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT · 2024
The exchange-standards reference the interoperability examples should name — what certified systems are expected to send, receive and use.
04
Get Started with eCQMs
eCQI Resource Center · 2025
The electronic clinical quality measure specifications behind the eCQM bullet — what a system must compute and report, with the current measure sets.

Review before submission

Common mistakes

Writing about EHR systems in general instead of evaluating one named vendor for one named setting — the prompt's verb is evaluate.
Treating the six bullets as themes rather than sections; the rubric scores each one separately and an absent section scores zero.
Asserting certification or interoperability instead of checking it — the certified product list makes those claims verifiable, and assessors know it.
Flattening implementation support and stakeholder education into a sentence; it is a weighted criterion, not a courtesy mention.
Ending with a summary that summarizes but does not recommend — the final bullet demands a position on the vendor and setting.
Reusing the NextGen evaluation that circulates with this prompt; it is a completed submission and exactly what originality screening will match.

Submission checklist

Setting (acute or ambulatory) and vendor both named early, with the organization's need for a new system established.
RFI process and the significance of a vendor evaluation and rating scale explained.
Architecture section covers research, administrative reporting, security, and certification explicitly.
Concrete examples given for care coordination, interoperability, and eCQMs.
Implementation support and stakeholder education process described.
Summary recommends or declines the pairing across practice, education, administration and research; 1,000-1,250 words; sources documented per style.

Use this guide to plan and review your own work. Follow your institution's rules and read our academic-integrity policy.