Competency A
Apply technology informatics skills to solve specific industry data and information management problems with a focus on usability and designing for users.
Introduction and PLO Discussion
Participating in the Informatics program provides numerous opportunities for students to explore various diverse industries including those related to healthcare, finance, cultural heritage preservation, and cybersecurity. While the context in which informatics skills are utilized varies, the unifying factor tying coursework related to Competency A relates to the emphasis on “usability and designing for users.”
Electronic Health Records
From their early beginnings in the 1970s to their increasingly rapid adoption in the modern age, Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have become a veritable source of information that are literally just a few keystrokes and mouse clicks away. While there are hundreds of vendors with an even greater number of templates and designs to suit each healthcare field, an unfortunate yet resounding theme of a lack of human-centered design with such systems frequently crops up regardless of the specific field it is being used in. While the intricacies of each healthcare field necessitate a customized solution, focusing on what could be added, modified, or streamlined to existing EHR templates and systems could prove useful in addressing the broader issue of usability and usefulness.
Information Architecture
With rapid advances in emerging technologies including the increasingly gradual adoption of AI-driven technology, never has there been a better time to adopt a mindset committed to design for enhanced inclusivity and accessibility for all. One key aspect of human-centered design is a keen focus on information architecture (IA). Information architecture is eloquently defined as “the way we arrange pieces of content to make sense when experienced as a whole (Covert, n.d.).” Whether the focus is on an application, website, or another method or system that organizes information in a seamless fashion, a good grasp on information architecture can determine its overall user-friendliness and whether the user will continue to utilize the app/website/system well into the future.
Relevant Coursework, Professional Experience, & Future Goals
Relevant courses that developed crucial skills related to Competency A include Human-Centered Design, Informatics: Fundamentals, and Health Informatics. By completing various writing assignments and projects throughout my Informatics coursework, I learned foundational concepts, gained a more in-depth understanding of industries where such skills are utilized, and most importantly, created user-friendly solutions.
When I worked as an RN, I was exposed to and utilized various Electronic Health Records (EHRs) whether it was to document a change to clients’ health status, update clients’ health history and list of allergies, or administer their medications. As a User Experience (UX) Graduate Student Assistant, I familiarized myself with what constitutes human-centered design and enhances the overall user experience through a variety of UX Design & Research-focused activities including formulating research posters for a conference, conducting usability testing for a VR focused on cultural heritage preservation, and facilitating virtual card-sorting with multiple participants. Though the industries of healthcare and UX differ drastically in terms of scope and practice, I look forward to utilizing the relevant skills acquired through my academic studies and developed through my professional experience to pursue a career such as a UX Designer or an Electronic Health Record Analyst for a healthcare organization.
Evidence #1: INFM 210-11:
Informatics Fundamentals Research Paper
In this research paper written for INFM 200: Informatics Fundamentals, I dove into
various aspects of Electronic Health Records within the mental health field including a brief
history of EHRs and their continuous evolution throughout the years, relevant legislation that
facilitated its widespread adoption, and benefits and challenges related to its growing usage. As
a portion of the paper discusses how EHR usage and the incorporation of Person-Centered Care
Practices (PCCPP) can enhance the quality of care provided as well as the overall client-provider
relationship, I believe it is worthwhile to present this paper as evidence. Denoting an EHR’s
design is especially integral in the mental health field, particularly when paired with holistic
care practices that involve the client and increase client participation and engagement. “[With]
more than 1 in 5 US adults [that] live with a mental illness (NCCDPHP, 2023),” it is imperative
that EHRs in the mental health field are created with providers and their clients in mind. Doing
so would both encourage an increased rapport between providers and their clients as well as
equipping providers and clients to readily access the most helpful resources to improve clients’
overall health, sense of well-being, and quality of life.
Evidence #3: INFM 204 (Critique Report)
References
Evidence #2: INFM 210 (Blog Assignment #3)
This particular blog assignment on The Impact of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) from INFM 210: Health Informatics is another example of coursework directly related to Electronic Health Records. Based on The Key Capabilities of an Electronic Health Record System: Letter Report (2003) by the Institute of Medicine, I further demonstrated my understanding of EHRs in this particular assignment by developing an Electronic Health Record chart broken down into the following five key categories (Health Data/Information, Order Management, Decision Support, Communication & Connectivity, and Administrative), articulating the purpose and function of each distinct main category, corresponding subcategories, and their particular role within the EHR envisioned. In addition to my visual Electronic Health Record diagram, I expounded on the usage of EHRs throughout the years and addressed considerations related to EHRs and their data privacy and confidentiality.
As my final piece of evidence for Competency A, I chose to include this Critique Report from INFM 204: Human-Centered Design. Abby Covert’s 10 Information Architecture (IA) Heuristics (Covert, n.d.), take into account the presence or absence of the following ten characteristics: Findable, Accessible, Clear, Communicative, Useful, Credible, Controllable, Valuable, Learnable, and Delightful. Utilizing Abby Covert’s 10 Information Architecture (IA) Heuristics, I evaluated the used book and media website thriftbooks.com and provided a written evaluation and numeric rating corresponding to each distinct heuristic. Moreover, I expounded upon the website’s strengths and weaknesses in a well-balanced manner. Finally, my critique partner and I offered a number of suggestions based on our prior observations of the website’s strengths and weaknesses. For instance, one of the suggestions I proposed involved selecting and applying a single menu item layout to ensure overall uniformity and consistency throughout the entire website.
Conclusion
I selected coursework from differing courses (INFM 200: Informatics Fundamentals, INFM 204: Human-Centered Design, and INFM 210: Health Informatics) to demonstrate that while courses may differ in topics of interest, broader themes such as those of User Experience (UX) and Human-Centered Design (HCD) can be similarly extracted. As such, these course materials highlight designing solutions that would benefit all users. Electronic health records and IA are integral to creating more user-friendly experiences within their respective fields.
Covert, A. (n.d). Information architecture heuristics. Abby Covert. https://abbycovert.com/ia-tools/ia-heuristics/
Covert, A. (n.d). What is IA? Abby Covert. https://abbycovert.com/practicing-ia/#:~:text=Information%20architecture%20is%20the%20way,is%20information%20architecture%20in%20everything
Institute of Medicine. (2003). Key capabilities of an electronic health record system: Letter report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10781.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health (NCCDPHP). (2023, April 25). About mental health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm#:~:text=More%20than%201%20in%205,a%20seriously%20debilitating%20mental%20illness.&text=About%201%20in%2025%20U.S.,bipolar%20disorder%2C%20or%20major%20depression