| The medical profession is slowly but steadily | | | | work surfaces. They could use the device by holding |
| converting to electronic medical records (EMR). The | | | | it as a clipboard. When large amounts of text need |
| latest incentive is a government program that offers | | | | to be entered, the device could be placed on a table |
| to help finance conversion to EMR. Much of the | | | | or desk for easy access to a QWERTY keyboard. |
| resistance to the systems by both doctors and | | | | Custom keypads would be designed so often-used |
| patients comes from how intrusive early EMR | | | | keys such as menu controls would be conveniently |
| systems were to the doctor-patient relationship. To | | | | placed for easy access. In handheld mode, keys |
| improve adoption rates, EMR vendors must design an | | | | would substitute for mouse inputs to make menu |
| interface that is convenient and portable. | | | | selections, turn pages in a report, or check boxes on |
| Dedicated Devices Better Than Laptops | | | | a form. They full keyboard might be hidden, folding |
| Many EMR systems depend on existing desktop and | | | | out when needed by the user. |
| laptop computers for input, but often examination | | | | Handwriting and Voice Recognition Technology |
| rooms don't have the space for these systems. | | | | Many of these devices could be made smaller now |
| Other professionals such as paramedics work in even | | | | that computers can convert handwriting and voice to |
| smaller spaces. Dedicated input devices with custom | | | | text. Although these technologies still have some |
| keypads offer an alternative to make the systems | | | | problems and increase the cost of the system, the |
| easier to use. | | | | convenience they add to a portable device should |
| With a dedicated EMR device, users aren't forced to | | | | not be overlooked. |
| try to remember if they need to press F2 or | | | | Even with these technologies, custom keypads would |
| Ctrl-Shift-Enter to get to the next screen. Custom | | | | be required for common activities such as menu |
| keypads are clearly labeled and are easier to use than | | | | selection. They keypads can be smaller, containing |
| standard computer keyboards. A QWERTY keyboard | | | | only function keys rather than a full keyboard, but |
| will probably be part of the system but a bank of | | | | must be designed for easy access by the user. |
| additional function keys will improve the usability of | | | | Doctors have resisted these systems because they |
| the device. Doctors, nurses, and ambulance | | | | are difficult to learn and use. Simple custom keypads |
| attendants can enter patient information quickly and | | | | with clear labels are likely to see quicker adoption |
| easily. | | | | than more complicated interfaces. The complexity |
| Creating a Convenient Device | | | | should be in the software, where function wizards |
| The ideal EMR input device would work both as a | | | | allow users to enter complex information with a |
| handheld and a tabletop device. People such as | | | | simple interface. Overcoming these design challenges |
| hospital physicians on rounds or emergency medical | | | | could propel an EMR vendor to the top of the |
| technicians at accident scenes don't have convenient | | | | industry. |