Procuring interoperability at the expense of usability: a case study of UK National Programme for IT assurance process.
BACKGROUND
The allure of interoperable systems is that they should improve patient safety and make health services more efficient. The UK's National Programme for IT has made great strides in achieving interoperability; through linkage to a national electronic spine. However, there has been criticism of the usability of the applications in the clinical environment.


METHODS
Analysis of the procurement and assurance process to explore whether they predetermine usability.


RESULTS
Processes separate developers from users, and test products against theoretical assurance models of use rather than simulate or pilot in a clinical environment. The current process appears to be effective for back office systems and high risk applications, but too inflexible for developing applications for the clinical setting.


CONCLUSIONS
For clinical applications agile techniques are more appropriate. Usability testing should become an integrated part of the contractual process and be introduced earlier in the development process.
Krause
Paul
P
Software Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
de Lusignan
Simon
S
D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine; D013597:Systems Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom