Usability Evaluations
SHARPC carefully defines three dimensions of usability to avoid confusion with other aspects of an EHR’s usefulness in a way that allows meaningful measurement of usability. Rigorous usability measurement, both reliable and repeatable, enables vendors to respond to the findings and effect appropriate changes to enhance their product’s usability.
SHARPC Approach to Assessing Usability
The Rapid Usability Assessment of EHRs uses two approaches for assessing usability.
- Identification of potential usability problems that users are likely to encounter through an expert inspection.
- Estimate the number of steps and time required to complete a specific task.
Usability assessments are conducted using the same set of clinical tasks for each EHR evaluated, and are based on the core meaningful use objectives.
In addition, other comprehensive usability evaluation and testing tools are used.
SHARPC Services
EHR Usability Evaluation
- Rapid Usability Assessment – determine usability of meaningful use related functions of EHR
- User Testing – testing of product with representative users with recommendations for improvement
- Comprehensive Assessment with recommendations for improvement
Education and Training for EHR Usability
- 3-day short course on EHR Usability
- Customized on-site training
EHR Usability Consulting
- Workflow Analysis
- Software Redesign
- User Interface Design
- Information Architecture
- User Training
- Tools for evaluation process
Contact SHARPC:
phone: 713-486-0123
e-mail: sharpc@uth.tmc.edu
web: SHARPC.org
mail: SHARPC at the National Center for Cognitive Informatics and Decision Making in Healthcare
School of Biomedical Informatics
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Building,
Suite 4320
1941 East Road
Houston, TX 77054
