Comments on: Markle gives sound advice on “Meaningful Use of Health IT” to policy makers (again) http://www.healthcareguy.com/2009/12/15/markle-gives-sound-advice-on-meaningful-use-of-health-it-to-policy-makers-again/ Shahid's healthcare IT, EMR, EHR, PHR, medical content, and document managment advisory service. Enjoy. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Steven Deal http://www.healthcareguy.com/2009/12/15/markle-gives-sound-advice-on-meaningful-use-of-health-it-to-policy-makers-again/comment-page-1/#comment-1266 Steven Deal Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:10:28 +0000 http://www.healthcareguy.com/?p=737#comment-1266 I would be glad for the opportunity, Shahid. If you have guidelines for guest articles, please let me know what they are. I will begin to put materials together. I would be glad for the opportunity, Shahid. If you have guidelines for guest articles, please let me know what they are. I will begin to put materials together.

]]> By: Shahid N. Shah http://www.healthcareguy.com/2009/12/15/markle-gives-sound-advice-on-meaningful-use-of-health-it-to-policy-makers-again/comment-page-1/#comment-1265 Shahid N. Shah Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:39:08 +0000 http://www.healthcareguy.com/?p=737#comment-1265 Thank you, Steven, for the kind words. It seems like you have a good deal of experience here -- would you like to create a guest article on human centered design in healthcare and have it published here? Thank you, Steven, for the kind words. It seems like you have a good deal of experience here — would you like to create a guest article on human centered design in healthcare and have it published here?

]]> By: stevendeal http://www.healthcareguy.com/2009/12/15/markle-gives-sound-advice-on-meaningful-use-of-health-it-to-policy-makers-again/comment-page-1/#comment-1167 stevendeal Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:10:28 +0000 http://www.healthcareguy.com/?p=737#comment-1167 I would be glad for the opportunity, Shahid. If you have guidelines for guest articles, please let me know what they are. I will begin to put materials together. I would be glad for the opportunity, Shahid. If you have guidelines for guest articles, please let me know what they are. I will begin to put materials together.

]]> By: Shahid N. Shah http://www.healthcareguy.com/2009/12/15/markle-gives-sound-advice-on-meaningful-use-of-health-it-to-policy-makers-again/comment-page-1/#comment-1162 Shahid N. Shah Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:39:08 +0000 http://www.healthcareguy.com/?p=737#comment-1162 Thank you, Steven, for the kind words. It seems like you have a good deal of experience here -- would you like to create a guest article on human centered design in healthcare and have it published here? Thank you, Steven, for the kind words. It seems like you have a good deal of experience here — would you like to create a guest article on human centered design in healthcare and have it published here?

]]> By: Steven Deal http://www.healthcareguy.com/2009/12/15/markle-gives-sound-advice-on-meaningful-use-of-health-it-to-policy-makers-again/comment-page-1/#comment-1160 Steven Deal Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:03:08 +0000 http://www.healthcareguy.com/?p=737#comment-1160 There are many good points here. Defining what needs to be achieved as opposed to dictating how has long been a recipe for systems engineering success. Markle's comments about "engaging consumers" should be strengthened to "including consumers" when considering any new technology. This is not customarily done. <br><br>For example, human-centered design principles are being used to devise new interfaces for mechanisms such as infusion pumps. This is so providers can better understand what the mechanism is doing and what it has done in the relevant past which would include operations, maintenance and calibration. What designers fail to consider is that the patient and the patient's family will spend far more time with that equipment. When its alarm goes off, a patient's response may range from annoyance to panic. It may take some time for a provider to appear to reset the machine. In the meantime, the patient and their family are helpless. <br><br>So in the foundational principles, measures that matter must include those that matter to patients as well as providers and payors. Consumers should also have timely access to quality and cost information if market forces are to be allowed to improve the system.<br><br>The comment about being able to easily submit data, speaks to product design. I have observed that providers are changing the ways they work to match what their software will support. This may be a good thing if the goal is to extinguish unfavorable procedures. However, it seems just as risky for software designers to constrain the practice of medical expertise as it is to dictate the technical solution from above. Meaningful Use of Health IT has to be based on consumer and provider needs and must support the collaborative activities they perform to achieve favorable outcomes. There are many good points here. Defining what needs to be achieved as opposed to dictating how has long been a recipe for systems engineering success. Markle's comments about “engaging consumers” should be strengthened to “including consumers” when considering any new technology. This is not customarily done.

For example, human-centered design principles are being used to devise new interfaces for mechanisms such as infusion pumps. This is so providers can better understand what the mechanism is doing and what it has done in the relevant past which would include operations, maintenance and calibration. What designers fail to consider is that the patient and the patient's family will spend far more time with that equipment. When its alarm goes off, a patient's response may range from annoyance to panic. It may take some time for a provider to appear to reset the machine. In the meantime, the patient and their family are helpless.

So in the foundational principles, measures that matter must include those that matter to patients as well as providers and payors. Consumers should also have timely access to quality and cost information if market forces are to be allowed to improve the system.

The comment about being able to easily submit data, speaks to product design. I have observed that providers are changing the ways they work to match what their software will support. This may be a good thing if the goal is to extinguish unfavorable procedures. However, it seems just as risky for software designers to constrain the practice of medical expertise as it is to dictate the technical solution from above. Meaningful Use of Health IT has to be based on consumer and provider needs and must support the collaborative activities they perform to achieve favorable outcomes.

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