In the context of initiating an EHR project, which activity is typically included in the initial planning?

• A. Identifying stakeholders
• B. Installing a data center
• C. Hiring vendors for marketing
• D. Conducting patient surveys

Answer: (A)

Starting an EHR project effectively begins with identifying who will be involved and affected. Recognizing stakeholders early helps establish governance, clearly define roles and decision rights, and build a shared understanding of goals. This cross-functional view brings together clinicians, nurses, IT staff, administrators, compliance, finance, and other key players, ensuring that the requirements capture reflects real workflows and needs. When stakeholders are mapped and engaged from the outset, it sets up informed planning, smoother communication, and stronger buy-in, which are essential for a successful implementation.

The other options are more aligned with activities that typically come after planning: installing a data center is an infrastructure task that follows the defined architecture and requirements; hiring vendors for marketing isn’t part of an EHR rollout; conducting patient surveys might be used later for needs assessment or post-implementation feedback rather than as an initial planning step.