EMR have to many buttons, what a mess

http://mobihealthnews.com/2917/kibbe-successful-emrs-will-be-like-the-iphone-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-5771

Answer to this request for "iPhone like" EMR

What is being asked for, is a well designed system. Many EMR systems available today have been hacked together, not designed with Engineering principles. I hear these complains from both HIT and from Domain/caregivers experts. What is needed when creating any system is tried and true engineering process. Start with the domain experts, doctors, nurses, lab tech, etc. add an group of software system architects and develop the requirements. Then design a system based on requirement and build system. The domain experts and system architects also develop a test and acceptance plan that is used to determine if the system works per design. It takes both sides of the equation to build a good system, domain expertise and engineering.

This is the first generation of real EMRs. Like most new technologies the domain expert has a great idea and learns how to program a prototype (a few buttons) which evolves into a product. The products are introduced to the market, many more functions and more buttons are added until you have a mess. Second generation, the idea's are taken to the next level, this usually comes after an influx of money. Some companies start over using standard engineering practices. Other companies keep the original system and keep hacking away. Look how long it took Microsoft to get rid of DOS. Almost all software companies face these problems from time to time. Ebay started as a small program that was written in a guy's garage to sell his wife figurines.

The good new is that Enterprise system in HIT are relatively new and the market will wash out the bad EMR or they will redesign to meet the needs of their customers. The problem is that these systems are very expensive and it will cost us all to flesh them out. Make sure that when selecting such an important system that you have done your due diligence.

Jeff Brandt
CTO motionPHR mobile Personal Health Record for the iPhone
MyMobileMedBox for Android