Vendor selection checklist
Compare scope, support, fees, implementation, and data access. Includes a worksheet for three candidate companies.
Download vendor selection checklist (PDF)Guide
Credentialing vendor evaluation checklist
Use a practical worksheet to compare services and software, collect evidence, and keep unanswered questions visible before choosing a vendor.
Put this advice to work
Build a comparison →Compare documented options and keep unanswered questions visible.
Updated
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Practical checklists to keep.
Download, print, and use these worksheets with your team. Free to download; no email or account required.
Updated October 8, 2026. The vendor worksheet is a buying aid, not a company rating.
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What should you write down first?
Prepare the same brief for every candidate: your practice type, number of providers and locations, work required, internal owner, and target milestones. Keep confidential provider and patient information out of an initial comparison document.
Describe what a successful engagement would make easier for your team. Choose observable outcomes such as finding the next action or exporting a complete record. Avoid relying on a vague promise of faster results.
What evidence should you request?
Ask for examples that demonstrate how the company would handle your work. Distinguish a marketing claim from a written commitment and a customer’s experience. Record the source and date beside each answer.
- Written scope and exclusions.
- Itemized quote using your provider and location counts.
- Sample status report with next actions and responsible owners.
- Demonstration using a realistic fictional record.
- Implementation plan, training arrangements, and support contacts.
- Sample export and handover process.
How should reviews influence the decision?
Read the date, service used, practice context, and verification explanation alongside the rating. A small number of reviews can identify useful questions, but does not establish what every customer will experience.
Look for specific descriptions of communication and problem resolution. Ask the vendor how it would handle the same situation for your practice. Keep company testimonials separate from independently submitted reviews and do not turn the absence of reviews into a negative score.
How do you use the worksheet?
For each candidate, mark each requirement as confirmed, needs clarification, or outside scope. Add the supporting document and the person responsible for closing the question. Share the worksheet with the staff who will operate the process.
Use the comparison page to select up to three providers, copy a shareable link, print the comparison, or download a text worksheet. The two-page PDF includes selection questions and a three-vendor comparison worksheet. A plain-text edition is also available. Both downloads are free and require no email or account.
When is the shortlist ready for a decision?
A useful shortlist has a clear scope, a comparable quote, an implementation owner, and an understood exit process. Outstanding questions should be visible to the decision-maker, not hidden inside an overall score.
Keep the dated comparison with the final proposal. If the service changes later, the original expectations will be easier to revisit. This checklist is a buying aid and does not certify any company’s performance.
Sources and next steps
Continue with a clear next step
Build a comparison →Use this guide alongside provider profiles and a written comparison.