Modern computer-based hospital information systems are mostly distributed with several information subsystems connected together by communication services. A single subsystem may be developed or purchased ("make" or "buy"). Before the purchase of hard- and software it is necessary to check out whether the product fits the requirements concerning the functionality and especially the integration in the hospital information system. This selection process is difficult and tedious and requires thus a simple and flexible technique. An appropriate approach for the comparison of clinical information systems before implementation based on the SMARTER method is described here, in hospital and its practicability is demonstrated with an example.