ed-informatics.org

  When designing a computer screen, we have to keep in mind one of the defining elements of the computer monitor: its ability to display many colors. Having desktop publishing software does not mean we know how to design a magazine, and just because we have color monitors does not automatically mean that we know […]

It is said, usually by vendors, that installing an EDIS (Emergency Department Information System) will negatively impact ED efficiency for a short time, and then efficiency will increase to levels higher than before, thus: But ED Information Technology pundit Dr. Todd Taylor (emergency physician, past Speaker of the national Council of the American College of […]

  Meaningful Use has become a less-meaningful phrase in the USA over the past year or so, at least to those of us who work in the ED. Intentionally or no, politicians twist and deform the English language like no others. Their latest target, at least as far as Emergency Department computer systems are concerned, […]

Make things visible: bridge the gulfs of execution and evaluation. Use technology to make visible what would otherwise be invisible, thus improving feedback and the ability to keep control. –Donald A. Norman, The Design of Everyday Things Norman states: Mapping is a technical term meaning the relationship between two things, in this case between the […]

“Downtime.” What an ugly word. Wiktionary defines it as The amount of time lost due to forces beyond one’s control, as with a computer crash. Just the thought makes one down, makes one depressed. Most “niche” (best-of-breed) Emergency Department Information Systems (EDISs) are justly proud that they don’t go down. That is, unless there is […]