Optimizing EMR User Experience: A Human Factors Approach to Hardware Assessment and Design for Inpatient and Emergency Units

Many factors contribute to the successful implementation and adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs). Easy access to the EMR, where and when required by clinicians, is a key component of adoption and end-user satisfaction with the system. A pediatric hospital implementing an integrated EMR used multiple methods within an iterative human-centered design (HCD) framework to develop hardware and access solutions supporting future EMR workflows in Inpatient and Emergency Departments. Context of use analysis, participatory design methods, preliminary analysis of evaluative simulations and tacit knowledge of the project team led to the development of guiding principles for hardware implementation and solutions supporting just-in-time documentation within the constraints of existing facility design.