Using human factors methods to design a new interface for an electronic medical record.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is a leader in development and use of electronic patient records and clinical decision support. The VHA is currently reengineering a somewhat dated platform for its Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). This process affords a unique opportunity to implement major changes to the current design and function of the system. We report on two human factors studies designed to provide input and guidance during this reengineering process. One study involved a card sort to better understand how providers tend to cognitively organize clinical data, and how that understanding can help guide interface design. The other involved a simulation to assess the impact of redesign modifications on computerized clinical reminders, a form of clinical decision support in the CPRS, on the learnability of the system for first-time users.
Saleem
Jason J
JJ
VA HSR&D Center on Implementing Evidence-Based Practice, Roudebush VAMC, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Patterson
Emily S
ES
Militello
Laura
L
Asch
Steven M
SM
Doebbeling
Bradley N
BN
Render
Marta L
ML
D003198:Computer Simulation; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D017010:Reminder Systems; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014584:User-Computer Interface