Analyzing EHR User-Centered Design Philosophy in Health Informatics

This assignment discusses the importance of user-centered design in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, drawing parallels with Boeing's design processes to emphasize the need for EHR vendors like Cerner, NextGen, and Epic to prioritize user needs. It argues that EHRs should be designed to enhance healthcare delivery by empowering patients and reducing the reliance on traditional medical roles. The assignment supports the adoption of user-centered design to ensure that EHR systems align with user preferences and improve usability. It also briefly touches on the future of healthcare, emphasizing the role of technology and strategic planning in achieving maximum investment in Health Information Technology (HIT).

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Student’s name
Institutional Affiliation

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Question
What do you think of EHR vendors using the philosophy of “user-centered design”? If
Boeing can use this technique for designing airplanes, should Cerner, NextGen, Epic, or
other vendors? Are the author’s reasons for not using this design process valid?
The rate of usability of the Electronic Health Records is likely to remain a primary point
of contention for a long time among health care providers. Since they are created to serve
humanity and not to be a service unto their selves, I believe they need to be modeled to appeal to
the medical needs of the patients for the enhancement of healthcare needs. To understand factors
that lead to poor usability requires looking into the origins of the applications. The future of
healthcare is oriented towards empowering the patient as the primary user of health care
innovations. We need a future in which the role of the nurse and the physician is reduced to self-
help care.
The use of “user-centered-design” by EHR vendors is a great trajectory because it keeps
the users at the center of the innovation and hence the product of the change fits user preferences
(Boyle, 2017). Global information is universally available. This is due to satellite technology,
which at low cost is delivered directly into healthcare facilities, despite regulations that may
prohibit such arrangements (Lakea, et al., 2017). In fact, with the current trade banning specific
medical procedures is a synonym for making it accessible. If the Boeing Company can use the
technological innovation, the healthcare industry can borrow a leaf from the same (Lakea, et al.,
2017).
The future of nursing and medical practice lies in the successful implementation of
technological processes and innovations. A strategic plan for the future needs to be set to aid in

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the planning process and successful implementation HIT for maximum investment. Methods like
foresight in HIT and forecasting the future of HIT, can be applied to achieve these aims. The
method of forecasting is used in cases where the objectives are modest.
References

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Boyle, D. (2017). Nursing Specialty Certification and Patient Outcomes: What We Know in
Acute Care Hospitals and Future Directions. Journal of the Association for Vascular
Access, 22(3), 137-142.
Lakea, D., K.Engelke, M., A.Koskoa, D., Roberson, D. W., Fany, J., Feliciana, J., et al. (2017).
Nicaraguan and US nursing collaborative evaluation study: Identifying similarities and
differences between US and Nicaraguan Curricula and Teaching Modalities Using the
Community Engagement Model. Nurse Education Today, 51(1), 34-40.