Usability is the ease of use and learnability of a human-made object. The object of use can be a software application, website, book, tool, machine, process, etc.
The efficient and effective use of Electronic Health Records are essential, as these systems are increasingly becoming a central tool for patient care.
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act provided providers with a significant financial incentive to increase the adoption and use of EHRs. EHR vendors were required to conduct and report on a summative usability evaluation of their system as part of the Stage 2 Meaningful Use program (The ONC 2014 Edition Certification) and beyond. However, a recent report funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), identified several “issues” with the certified EHR vendors in the processes, practices and use of standards and best practices with regard to usability and human factors.
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User Experience Forum Improving User Experience: A Roadmap to Safer, More Effective Health IT
This forum will explore the HIT user experience (UX) and the impacts of UX on efficient quality care delivery. A diverse assembly of vendors, administrators, and clinicians will share their perspectives and prescriptions. The forum will conclude with an expert panel who will discuss future steps to increase the effective use of user-centered design (UCD) principles in HIT hardware, software, practices and processes across the continuum.
The test procedures offer objective guidance to Accredited Testing Laboratories (ATLs) as they conduct Health IT module testing in the ONC Health IT Certification Program, to provide traceability from the certification criterion or criteria to testing activities, and to ensure consistency throughout the certification process.
The new Test Procedures format includes a grid of testing components that the ATLs would use as the test approach for that particular criterion.
The Final Test Method outlines the requirements for evaluating conformance of health IT Modules to the certification criteria defined in the ONC 2015 Edition Final Rule (45 CFR Part 170 Subpart II) published in the Federal Register on October 16, 2015.
Here is a direct link to the Safety-Enhanced Design (aka Usability) portion of the 2015 edition certification:
It was a pleasure to work with you, as you and your team made this process a more pleasant experience for our team and the participants.
Karen Perry
I just want to tell you that I value people relations more than money. I remember how you were friendly and helpful not going against policies and contractual obligations at the same time, not using your power to make us feel stupid and small. It was a very rare and big experience for me. Really. I will always remember this.
Alex
The Usability People are all individuals that you can become friends with very easily. They have a lot of different interests and are a pleasure to work with. I was writing a PRD/MRD for a billing solution and worked with The Usability People in defining the user interface. They are receptive to ideas and are able to mold the user interface from an end-user's perspective. I really liked the idea of putting end-user photograph & short biography around the office to help understand the users
