Why did that happen? Exploring the proliferation of barely usable software in healthcare systems
Open accessAbstract
Clinicians and support staff are faced with increasingly complex computer applications. This complexity stems partly from the integration of heterogeneous systems ranging from computerized patient records to theatre management and dosage planning applications, and also from the increased functionality offered by the new generation of IT systems. Many members of clinical staff are bewildered by the vast array of configuration options and operating modes supported by computer based systems, while manufacturers often feel compelled to offer more and more software features to retain market position. These factors combine to create “usability” problems that have had a direct impact on patient outcomes as well as a number of indirect effects—for example, the costs of replacing and upgrading inadequate computer systems carry significant opportunity costs in terms of services that might otherwise have been funded. In the future we need to educate staff to reject substandard computer interfaces early in the acquisition process; encourage the use of human computer interaction techniques in health care; and train staff to recognize the dangers of “working around” poor interface design.
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HIT software has commonly been identified as among the least reliable.
“HIT software has commonly been identified as being among the least reliable. 45”
From Health information technology: fallacies and sober realities (2010) · cites this paper as [45]
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- Authors
- Johnson, C. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Johnson, C W
- Venue
- Quality in Health Care
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- suppl 1
- Pages
- i76-i81
- ISSN
- 1475-3898 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-3901
- PMC
- PMC2464864
- OpenAlex
- W2120810355
- Cited by
- 61
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 5.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- BMJ Quality & Safety (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Electronic Health Records Systems
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
- Keywords
- software usability, health information systems, user interface design, system integration, electronic health records, employee training, human-computer interaction, patient safety
- MeSH terms
- Attitude to Computers, Consumer Product Safety, Delivery of Health Care, United Kingdom, Hospital Information Systems, Humans, Medical Informatics Applications, Safety, Software, Software Design, Software Validation, User-Computer Interface
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