Rapid tour around electronic health record (ehr) usability definition, importance and main principles.

1. Electronic health record (EHR) usability
b
By: Hatem Mohammad Hussain

2. Agenda
•
What is Usability ?
•
Why usability is Important?
•
The EHR Promise
• Usability definition, importance.
• Usability principles
• Usability challenges
• Usability and ergonomics
• Usability Evaluation
• Usability and security
• Organization Involved.

3. What is EHR Usability ?
[HIMSS
Conference]
• It Means that I can use the electronic health record (EHR)
easily , which achieved when EHR is Effective ,Efficient and
Satisfying for users.
• Usability Means:
EHR is Learnable , Efficient , Memorable , Error Free , and
Satisfying.

4. Why Usability is Important ?

5. The EHR Promise

6. Why Usability is Important ?
• EHR Adoption Barriers [User Centric]
1- Cost of implementation.
2-Security and privacy.
3-Usability issues
E.g.
- System is difficult to learn.
- Data Entry time.
- Workflow and information processing problems.

7. Usability Types
[NIST EMR / EHR Usability Workshop]

8. key principles that directly impact
EHR usability [HIMSS]
1- Simplicity
Simplicity means inclusion of only those functionalities,
features and information that is relevant for the user in
the context of completing a task.
2-Learnability:
Learnability is critical to clinical applications since it is
extremely difficult to provide extensive
training, especially to clinicians whose time is limited.

9. key principles that directly impact
EMR usability - 2
3- Consistency:
Using themes, navigational models, or icons which users are
already familiar with, or have used somewhere; so that it’s easier
for users to relate.
4- Minimizing Cognitive Load:
In simple terms it means “don't make users think”. This is even
more important for clinicians, as they are almost always
performing under significant time pressure and in environments
bursting with multiple demands for their attention. So provide
them appropriate guidance and instruction about the task in
hand.

10. key principles that directly impact
EMR usability - 3
5- Efficient Interactions:
efficient user interactions to minimize the number of
steps it takes to complete tasks and to provide shortcuts
for use to frequent and/or experienced users.
6- Error Handling and Feedback:
The application should provide appropriate feedback to
the users to minimize the chances of critical error
7- Effective Use of Language:
All language and terminology used in an EMR should be
concise, familiar and meaningful to the end users in the
context of their work.

11. key principles that directly impact
EMR usability - 4
8- Information Architecture, Data
Visualization and Presentation:
reduce information overload by providing
summary with drill down option wherever
possible.
Research shows that 80% of the time, the
information (if well organized) is adequate for
clinical decision making.

12. Usability Challenges
- Administrative, Financial, medical data and clinical
information from different physicians disciplines in
one system which often use different software
interfaces.
• “Good EHRs include the user from the beginning,
from concept development through all stages of
the design cycle until the end,”
• User + designer + developer
Reference:http://www.poweryourpractice.com/practice-management/ehr-usability-defined-designed/

13. Usability and ergonomics

14. Usability and Security
- Usability interference with security issues
should be considered under information
security department supervision.
E.G
Long and complicated passwords is more secure
than short passwords but on the other hand it
is difficult to be remembered.

15. Usability Organizations involved
• HIMSS
• CCHIT
• NIST (national institute of standards and
technology)
• Private sectors

16. Usability Evaluation
One size doesn't fits all
Evaluate as a :
1. Vendor
2. Buyer
3. Implementation stage
4. Go live stage

17. Thank you for your attention
We Welcome your questions, comments and Suggestion at
hatemhussain@yahoo.com