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M. G. Faber

Design and Introduction of an Electronic Patient Record: How to Involve Users

Keywords: User-involvement, participatory design (PD), health care, implementation, electronic patient record (EPR)

OBJECTIVES: Two forms of participatory design (PD) management-dominated and end-users focused are described in the design and introduction of an electronic patient record (EPR) for a mental health care centre. METHODS: Qualitative research methods were used to achieve a fine-grained insight into the EPR development process and its impacts. These methods included interviews, document study and observation of project group meetings. RESULTS: Management-dominated PD is highly structured, led by managers and centred around rationalisation of work. End-user focused PD is more bottom-up oriented. Central in this approach are users' working patterns and user needs. In the case described, both forms actually lead to a poorly functioning EPR. It is explained why these results could be expected. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest not to reject PD, but to find a more appropriate balance between the two forms of PD.

Methods of Information in Medicine, Schattauer

Print ISSN: 0026-1270
Volume: 42, 01/2003
Pages: 371 - 375

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