Align goals for ePRO use with IT infrastructure
Implementing ePROs can require complex functionality related to the deployment, collection, tracking, reporting, and documentation of PROMs.
Traditionally, efforts made by health systems to develop new digital tools (e.g., new electronic health record [EHR] functionality) begin with the process of gathering functional requirements, which describe how the tool will be used in practice and the technical specifications necessary to support the desired functions and IT standards. As an important planning step, health systems benefit from clarifying their requirements for ePRO tools and how requirements can guide their overall strategy for ePRO projects and system maintenance.
Stakeholder input (please see ePRO Stakeholders in the Introduction section) can inform functional requirements to guide the selection and/or development of ePRO tools. Please see ePRO requirements assessment for system design in the Tools and Resources section. Defining the functional requirements can illuminate limitations or barriers that need to be addressed for system-wide ePRO implementation.