Discussion-HIT Usability and Design Challenges
NURS 8210 Week 6: Health Information Technology Systems
NURS 8210 Week 6 Discussion
Discussion – HIT Usability and Design Challenges
Reflect on your experiences with the integration of new technology. How have these implementations affected the procedures that you perform at work? As the end user, it can be easy to overlook all of the important decisions that went into the finished product that you see before you. In looking at the final data management screens, you may find yourself at the crossroads of two options. You may either 1) be ecstatic about the needed change that this system brought, or 2) frustrated because you feel the system brings new hurdles into your already busy day. If you have ever experienced the latter option, the comment “I could have implemented a better system than this” may resonate strongly with you. Though research agrees that user input assists HIT designers, the development and implementation of new systems is not as straightforward as it may appear. HIT development teams find themselves in constant phases of trial and error as they strive to meet the needs of all users within the proposed development timeline. Failure to achieve promised usability benefits can lead to increased costs and job complications. Applying effective strategies to overcome usability challenges is essential.
In this week’s Discussion, you move from the standpoint of the “ outsider looking in” (end user) and place yourself into a real-world implementation example. To complete this Discussion, you evaluate a case study to determine where the implementation process took a wrong turn. Use this week’s Learning Resources to propose changes that could have put this operation on the road to success.
To prepare:
- Review the Learning Resources, focusing on the TIGER Usability and Clinical Application Design Collaborative.
- Consider the “Best Practice Exemplars” provided in the course text Nursing Informatics: Where Technology and Caring Meet.
- Review “Case Study 1: A Usability and Clinical Application Design Challenge” presented on page 238 of the course text Nursing Informatics: Where Technology and Caring Meet.
- Determine the causes of the noted usability challenges (i.e., human factors, ergonomics, human-computer interaction), as well as potential usability concerns experienced by staff during implementation. Consider the possible design failures that lead to the usability challenges.
- What strategies might you employ to overcome these HIT usability challenges and concerns?
By Day 3 post a cohesive response to the following:
- Place yourself in the role of the clinical administrator tasked with implementing the case study’s new health information technology system.
- Evaluate the usability challenges that you faced during implementation as well as the factors that caused these challenges.
- Determine whether these challenges were a result of implementation or design.
- Formulate strategies for overcoming these usability challenges.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
By Day 6 respond to at least two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
- Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
- Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
- Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
- Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
- Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
- Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments made by your colleagues.
Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and any additional sources.
Click on the Reply button below to post your response.
NURS 8210 Week 6: Health Information Technology Systems
When changes are implemented or new information technology systems are adopted, organizational leaders have a responsibility to make the transition as seamless as possible. When a system is easy to learn and utilize, this transition is more easily accomplished. When a system is less “user friendly,” this can become a barrier and impede acceptance. By focusing on user needs while developing system designs, those involved in HIT can promote efficacy and buy-in throughout the organization.
This week, you examine how nurses identify and address usability and design challenges in information technology systems.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Formulate strategies for overcoming usability challenges of health information technology systems
- Analyze the overall usability and design of a health information technology system or application
Photo Credit: [teekid]/[E+]/Getty Images
Learning Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
Course Text: Ball, M. J., Douglas, J. V., Hinton Walker, P., DuLong, D., Gugerty, B., Hannah, K. J., . . . Troseth, M. R. (Eds.) (2011). Nursing informatics: Where technology and caring meet (4th ed.). London, England: Springer-Verlag.
- Chapter 14, “Usability and Clinical Application Design”. This chapter begins by defining the terms usability and application design as they are used in the field of nursing informatics. The authors then describe the literature review and analytic process that the TIGER Collaborative group underwent to positively transform the development of HIT systems.
Gruber, D., Cummings, G. G., LeBlanc, L., & Smith, D. L. (2009). Factors influencing outcomes of clinical information systems implementation: A systematic review. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 27(3), 151–163. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. The authors analyze the outcomes of prior IT implementations to determine if certain strategies can guarantee success when launching new clinical information systems.
Kaufman, D., Roberts, W. D., Merrill, J., Lai, T., & Bakken, S. (2006). Applying an evaluation framework for health information system design, development, and implementation. Nursing Research, 55(2, Suppl. 1), S37–S42. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. This article emphasizes the indispensable role of continuous evaluation throughout the development and real-time application of new information systems into the workplace.
Schlotzer, A., & Madsen, M. (2010). Health information systems: Requirements and characteristics. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 151, 156–166. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. Use this article to examine the importance of focusing on sound design, interoperability of systems, and fulfillment of user needs when developing an effective database.
Discussion: Welcome to the Week 6 Discussion area!
Post your responses to the Discussion based on the course requirements.
Your Discussion postings should be written in standard edited English and follow APA guidelines as closely as possible given the constraints of the online platform. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure your in-text citations and reference list are correct. Initial postings must be 250–350 words (not including references).
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 6
To participate in this Discussion:
Assignment 1: Application 2: Meaningful Use Paper
Continue working on Assignment 2: Meaningful Use Paper, assigned in Week 5.
By Day 7
Submit your Assignment.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
- Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK6Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
- Click the Application 2 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
- Click the Week 6 Assignment You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
- Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer Find the document you saved as “WK6Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
- If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
- Click on the Submitbutton to complete your submission.
Grading Criteria
Document: Week 6 Application 2 Rubric (Word document)
Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity
To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 6 Assignment draft and review the originality report.
Submit Your Assignment by Day 7
Assignment 2: Application 3: Health Information Technology Project [Major Assessment 5]
Continue working on Application 3: Health Information Technology Project [Major Assessment 5], assigned in Week 4.
By Day 7 of Week 9
Submit your Assignment.
Grading Criteria
Document: Week 9 Major Assessment 5 Rubric (Word document)
Week in Review
This week you analyzed overall usability and design of a HIT system/application and formulated strategies for overcoming challenges. Next week you will explore the use of decision support systems along with cutting-edge technologies that seek to improve patient care and health outcomes.
SAMPLE APPROACH
Discussion – HIT Usability and Design Challenges
For enhanced usability of clinical systems at the point of care, there is a need to address the challenges of integrating new technology. End-users can be happy about the changes brought by a system or frustrated when the system becomes a challenge to them. The development and implementation of new HIT systems are not straightforward, and developers find themselves in successive phases of trial and error so that they can meet the needs of the end-users within the given timeline (Ball et al., 2011).
Usability Challenges Faced
As a clinical administrator responsible for the implementation of the case study’s new health information technology system, there are several challenges faced in the implementation process. The challenges include complex user interface that makes users unable to use it, lack of proper use of online assistance with context searching on various topics, as well as poorly designed command menu that failed to account for the utilization of short-cut keys especially for experienced end-users (Ball et al., 2011). The cause of the implementation challenge of sophisticated user-interface was a failure of the system developers to account for all the design specifications given by the end-users. The challenge of inefficient use of online assistance with context searching could be attributed to the lack of comprehensive staff training on how to use the online tools available on the HIT system. The challenge of having a system with poorly designed command menu that did not support the use of short-cut keys was a failure on the part of the designers to foresee such a problem when developing the HIT system.
Challenges as a Results of Implementation or Design
The challenges experienced during the implementation phase of the new health information technology system were partly related to implementation and partly on the design. The issue of complex user-interface and poorly designed command menu options are related to design issues that could have been addressed during the development and testing phases of the system. The developers are required to perform constant trial and error phases so that they meet the needs of the users and avoid implementation challenges (Schlotzer & Madsen, 2010). If there were issues that were overlooked during the design phase of the HIT system, it becomes challenging to address them during the implementation phase. The challenge of a lack of proper use of online help can be attributed to the implementation phase laxity since there ought to be staff training on the working of the system and how best to benefit from it. The different functionalities of the system are meant to assist the hospital staff in carrying out their operations, hence necessary to train them on their uses (Gruber, Cummings, LeBlanc & Smith, 2009).
Strategies for Overcoming these Usability Challenges
The challenges experienced during the implementation of a new HIT system can be overcome through several measures. The purpose is ensuring that the system is effective, efficient, and satisfies the user (Ball et al., 2011). To overcome usability challenges, it is essential to emphasize on the input of users at an early stage of design, development, and purchase of a system in addition to staff training (Schlotzer & Madsen, 2010). It is also crucial to consider the observations of users and information systems during the implementation phase. In choosing the right technology and implementation methods, it is important to consider usability as part of the value assessment by having a testing phase. Next is considering the patient demographics and socio-economic status to understand patient behavior and ease of using the technology. It is also appropriate to have professional teams that can evaluate the needs of the organization and establish a roadmap for product integration (Kaufman, Roberts, Merrill, Lai & Bakken, 2006).
Discussion – HIT Usability and Design Challenges References
Ball, M. J., Douglas, J. V., Hinton Walker, P., DuLong, D., Gugerty, B., Hannah, K. J., . . . Troseth, M. R. (Eds.) (2011). Nursing informatics: Where technology and caring meet (4th ed.). London, England: Springer-Verlag. Chapter 14, “Usability and Clinical Application Design”
Gruber, D., Cummings, G. G., LeBlanc, L., & Smith, D. L. (2009). Factors influencing outcomes of clinical information systems implementation: A systematic review.CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 27(3), 151–163.
Kaufman, D., Roberts, W. D., Merrill, J., Lai, T., & Bakken, S. (2006). Applying an evaluation framework for health information system design, development, and implementation. Nursing Research, 55(2, Suppl. 1), S37–S42.
Schlotzer, A., & Madsen, M. (2010). Health information systems: Requirements and characteristics. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 151, 156–166.
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