What should be the primary focus when choosing a best-of-breed system?

When choosing a best-of-breed system, the primary focus should be on the functionality offered by each vendor. This approach emphasizes selecting individual systems that excel in their specific functionalities rather than relying on a single vendor for all necessary services. By prioritizing functionality, organizations can ensure that they are utilizing the most effective tools for their particular needs, leading to better overall performance and improved outcomes.

Best-of-breed systems tend to provide specialized solutions that can address specific requirements more thoroughly than a one-size-fits-all system could. This means that organizations can tailor their technology stack to best meet their clinical and operational needs, which ultimately supports better care delivery and enhances efficiency.

In contrast, while cost-efficiency and integration capabilities are important factors in decision-making, they should be secondary to ensuring that the systems chosen offer the best functionality for the organization's unique requirements. Vendor loyalty, while it might seem advantageous, does not guarantee the best solution if that vendor’s product does not meet the specific needs of the organization as effectively as a competitor's product could. Hence, focusing on the unique strengths and features of each vendor's offerings is crucial when assembling a best-of-breed system.