Usability testing in the hospital

It is not unusual for hospitals to purchase equipment, devices, and materials based on preferences expressed by staff, based on economics and the best offer, or based on the promise of improvement by a new version. However, routinely subjecting potential purchases to basic usability testing provides valuable information upon which to base the decisions. Responsible manufacturers are interested in knowing of needed improvements to their products. Usability testing will also guide training for implementation. Usability testing is included in an introductory human factors engineering (HFE) session as part of a patient safety training course for physicians. Clinicians equipped with this skill are able to build evidence to support purchase decisions, make demands for improved design, and encourage a more thorough HFE evaluation by experts. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.