Sunday, March 8, 2009
"Everyware" Health Care: A Personal Focus
For the next few weeks, I'll be focusing some on my experiences with technology and health care.
This time, my posts will be on a more personal level. As I write this post, I am sitting in the family waiting area of the cardiac ICU at the Cleveland Clinic. My dad's surgery was Tuesday, and it is now Sunday, so I have had plenty of time on my hands to observe how technology is used to deliver his care, monitor his progress, and support his recovery.
Since I view things from a broader human-computer interaction perspective, I've decided to share some of my thoughts the"Hospital UX" picture, putting myself in the shoes of patients, family members, and medical professionals.
This is the new lounge where families wait while their loved ones undergo cardiac surgery. The old family waiting area at the Cleveland Clinic had a cozy, home-like feel, with comfortable chairs and cheery art. The new waiting area has a very sterile, minimalist feel. The chairs are NOT comfortable, especially if you are middle-age or older and have the usual aches and pains!
Corridor to Nowhere?
Some of the corridors at the hospital have a surreal, institutional feel.
Hospital Corridor Eye Candy
You are.... where?!
It is still quite difficult to figure out where you are and how to get to where you are going.
Microsoft Health Common User Interface: Patient Journey Demonstrator
via Martin Grason: Adventures of a 'Devigner'
Future Hospitals form Designit 12/30/08
"How can hospitals offer a better service – for patients and visitors? And improve working conditions for staff? Designit has been asked to find the answer by applying explorative, user-driven innovation at the heart of public sector delivery: Odense University Hospital, Denmark's largest hospital."
"The project, which starts in January, aims to deliver groundbreaking service innovation that could serve as a blueprint for future public healthcare improvements – in Denmark and abroad."
Obama's Plan to Digitize Medical Records Draws Criticism from Doctors
Dan Nosowitz, Gizmodo, 3/7/09
Computer Will See You Now
Anne Armstrong-Coben, New York Times, 3/5/09
"Now that I’ve been using a computer to keep patient records — a practice that I once looked forward to — my participation with patients too often consists of keeping them away from the keyboard while I’m working, for fear they’ll push a button that implodes all that I have just documented...Room is provided for text, but in the computer’s font, important points often get lost. I have half-joked with residents that they could type “child has no head” in the middle of a computer record — and it might be missed....The personal relationships we build in primary care must remain a priority, because they are integral to improved health outcomes. Let us not forget this as we put keyboards and screens within the intimate walls of our medical homes.."
Note: Anne Armstrong-Corben is a clinical professor of pediatrics at Columbia.
Obama's Big Idea: Digital health records
David Goldman, CNN Money 1/12/09
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Internet of People, Things, Surfaces, and Interactions: Insights from UX 2008 & Adaptive Path
Adaptive Path is a company full of forward-looking, creative people who focus on user experience, interaction design, and information architecture. It sponsors UX Week each year, which provides participants with a refreshing update on current trends in the field. The following videos are a sample of what was presented at UX 2008. I plan on updating this post soon with a few brief notes and comments.
If you are interested in learning more about all things related to UX, take some time to go through Adaptive Path's reading list!
Don Norman
Don Norman | UX Week 2008 | Adaptive Path from Adaptive Path on Vimeo.
Dennis Wixon
Dennis Wixon | UX Week 2008 | Adaptive Path from Adaptive Path on Vimeo.
Dan Saffer
Dan Saffer | UX Week 2008 | Adaptive Path from Adaptive Path on Vimeo.
Dave Wolf
Dave Wolf | UX Week 2008 | AdaptEDive Path from Adaptive Path on Vimeo.
Dave discusses his company's philosophy of software design process: "Right Software, Right Device, on the Right Area on the Network, or Not on the Network at All". He highlights how this philosophy was incorporated into his company's contribution, "Ben", to the Microsoft Phizz Pop Design Challenge competition. The visualization about on-line news is interesting, incorporating the little video comments, which enriches the understanding of commentary.
