Usability and EHRs

adj. Capability of Being UsedAltaf Prasla, Brenda Wilson, Mandi Taveechai, Michael Yao

Why Usability?"Practitioner's Take Away"

Everyone says EHRs are possible, but it's not happening

Lack of usability in EHRs is one reasonIncorporating usability is hard in any system (which is why we have "Usability Professionals")

EHR difficultySkilled users: PhysiciansComplex Functionality: Clinical Decision SupportCritical Tasks: Don't Kill the Patient

Who's Doing The Research?

UPA: The Usability Professionals Associationhttp://www.usabilityprofessionals.org/

AHRQ hired two research organizations to evaluate how vendors integrate usability in their products and published a report in May 27, 2010.

Other than the AHRQ report, there are not standards on design or monitoring usability of EHRs. Therefore research is primarily done by universities and consumers.

What Has Been Discovered

Yildiz Technical University, Department of Communication Design

Further Benefits

Clinical Decision Support that will actually workSplit Second Decisions by ProvidersHeavy Burden of "Don't Kill the Patient"The Threat of Malpractice Lawsuits

Address the challenge of empowering the clinician with benefits of HIT while not forcing them to think like a machine.

Positive attitudes, less frustration for those using the EHR

Expansion and Opportunities

Steal Ideas from Other SoftwareEHRs being an "Over-glorified Microsoft Word"Internet Browsers

Web DesignWeb Development methods for InterfacesGoogle Style Search (unified search boxes)

Office 2007 Interface

Office 2003 Style Interface

Google Chrome and Tabs

Conclusion

If your program is not usable, then it won't be used properlyEHRs are not meant to replace doctors. Meant to HELP doctorsFuture research needed:

Usability for patients (PHRs and Portals)Cognitive support without cognitive overloadStandards on design

Using an EHR shouldn't be like finding Waldo

Works Cited

John B. Smelcer, Hal Miller-Jacobs, Lyle Kantrovich. "Usability of Electronic Medical Records" http://www.upassoc.org/upa_publications/jus/2009february/smelcer1.html (2009)Tasa, Umut Burca, et al. "A case study on better iconographic design in electronic medical records' user interface." Informatics For Health & Social Care 33.2 (2008): 125-138.