title: Techniques for identifying the applicability of new information management technologies in the clinical setting: an example focusing on handheld computers.
abstract: This article describes techniques and strategies used to judge the potential applicability of new information management technologies in the clinical setting and to develop specific design recommendations for new features and services. We focus on a project carried out to identify the potential uses of handheld computers (i.e., the Palm Pilot or a small WinCE-based device) in the ambulatory practice setting. We found that the potential for a robust handheld computing device to positively affect the outpatient ambulatory clinical setting is enormous, and that the information derived from the exploratory research project is useful in creating specific design recommendations for further development.
authors.affiliation: Knowledge Technologies Group, Healtheon/WebMD, Inc. Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Sittig
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Jimison
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hazlehurst
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lyman
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mailhot
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Quick
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003625:Data Collection; D004867:Equipment Design; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D008838:Microcomputers; D009922:Oregon; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000458:organization & administration; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*