A Collaborative Usability Evaluation (CUE) Model for Health IT Design and Implementation

ABSTRACT

In this article, the authors describe a collaborative usability evaluation (CUE) model based on a participatory ergonomics framework. The model was applied to an organization’s health IT design and implementation processes. Individuals received education on usability evaluation principles and methods and had an opportunity for hands-on experience with usability testing. Actual usability evaluations increased participant confidence in their ability to independently design and lead such evaluations. The CUE model has since been applied to the organization’s iterative process of health IT design, has been institutionalized by the health IT department, and is integrated in its health IT implementation timelines.

Funding

This research was made possible by funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Grant Number: R01 HS15274, Principal Investigator: Pascale Carayon, Ph.D., and was supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, through the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Grant UL1TR000427. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Additional information

Funding

This research was made possible by funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Grant Number: R01 HS15274, Principal Investigator: Pascale Carayon, Ph.D., and was supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, through the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Grant UL1TR000427. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Notes on contributors

Ann Schoofs Hundt

Ann Schoofs Hundt is Research Scientist and Associate Director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Quality and Productivity. Her research applies Human Factors and Healthcare Systems Engineering to patient safety. She earned her PhD at UW-Madison, after serving as director of Medical Records (at the time) and Quality Assurance at UW Hospital and Clinics.

Jean A. Adams

Jean Adams is CNIO for Geisinger Health System where she plans and directs development and expansion of the EHR initiatives, Laboratory, Radiology, and Pharmacy systems, Transcription Services and Health Information Management. Healthcare Administration and IT are her emphasis. She is a Core Faculty member for the Physician Clinical Informatics Fellowship Program.

Pascale Carayon

Pascale Carayon is Procter & Gamble Bascom Professor in Total Quality, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering and Director of the Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement, University of Wisconsin-Madison. She pioneered the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety, received the 2015 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Individual Achievement Award, and is a fellow of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society and the International Ergonomics Association.