Evaluation of a clinical simulation-based assessment method for EHR-platforms

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Procurement Science

Background:

• Assessing human factors in technology procurement, particularly Electronic Health Records (EHRs), presents significant challenges.
• Effective evaluation methods are crucial for ensuring technology meets end-user needs and enhances patient safety.
• Public procurement processes require robust tools to evaluate complex systems like EHR platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a clinical simulation-based method for assessing human factor issues during the procurement of an EHR platform.
• To compare the effectiveness of clinical simulation against traditional procurement assessment methods.
• To identify the advantages and disadvantages of using clinical simulation in large-scale public procurement.

Main Methods:

• A clinical simulation-based method was developed and applied within a large public procurement of an EHR platform in Denmark.
• The method focused on evaluating human factors and the interaction between technology and end-users.
• The evaluation encompassed user satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and patient safety aspects.

Main Results:

• Clinical simulation proved beneficial for assessing user satisfaction, usefulness, and patient safety.
• The method facilitated the evaluation of qualitative aspects during the procurement process.
• While resource-intensive, clinical simulation provided a strong foundation for user involvement and feedback.

Conclusions:

• Clinical simulation is a valuable, albeit resource-demanding, method for evaluating human factors in EHR procurement.
• The approach enhances user involvement and provides critical insights into user satisfaction, usefulness, and patient safety.
• This method offers a practical solution for addressing complex human-factor challenges in public technology procurement.