Applying human factors analysis to the design of the electronic health record

The healthcare industry is automating clinical documentation at the point of care - taking us from paper documentation to an electronic health record (EHR). Designing user-friendly, intuitive systems is challenging, and has motivated hospitals to evaluate and adopt new and safer practices to help reduce the contribution that technology plays in healthcare error. To accomplish this, healthcare is evaluating how other industries, like aviation, have successfully applied human factors to system design. Recent healthcare research has demonstrated the potential value of human factors in information technology (IT) projects. This article provides a synthesis of research on the application of human factors to the design and development of the electronic health record and makes apparent the need for human factors education for nurses and IT professionals involved in EHR design.