I have been incredibly fortunate to work with some very talented individuals in user-centered design and human factors. Together with my colleagues, I am always seeking out opportunities to share what I’ve learned in how to responsibly and responsively apply my skills to make user experiences better. Below, I’ve listed a selection of my more recent publications and public presentations. For my personal musings, check out my blog. If you’re interested in working with me on a publication or a presentation, please connect with me.
Veterans’ Preferences for Exchanging Information Using Veterans Affairs Health Information Technologies: Focus Group Results and Modeling Simulations
Oct 23, 2017 – Journal of Medical Internet Research
Abstract: This study aimed to describe veterans’ experiences using the current VA HIT and identify their vision for the future of an integrated VA HIT system. Two rounds of focus group interviews were conducted with a single cohort of 47 veterans and one female caregiver recruited from Bedford, Massachusetts, and Tampa, Florida. Focus group interviews included simulation modeling activities and a self-administered survey. This study also used an expert panel group to provide data and input throughout the study process. High-fidelity, interactive simulations were created and used to facilitate the collection of qualitative data. The simulations were developed based on system requirements, data collected through operational efforts, and participants’ reported preferences for using VA HIT. Pairwise comparison activities of HIT resources were conducted with both focus groups and the expert panel. Rapid iterative content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Descriptive statistics summarized quantitative data. Data themes included (1) current use of VA HIT, (2) non-VA HIT use, and (3) preferences for future use of VA HIT. Data indicated that, although the Secure Messaging feature was often preferred, a full range of HIT options are needed. These data were then used to develop veteran-driven simulations that illustrate user needs and expectations when using a HIT system and services to access VA health care services. Patient participant redesign processes present critical opportunities for creating a human-centered design. Veterans value virtual healthcare options and prefer standardized, integrated, and synchronized user-friendly interface designs.
Citation: Haun, J. N., Chavez, M., Nazi, K., Antinori, N., Melillo, C., Cotner, B. A., … Noonan, A. (2017). Veterans’ Preferences for Exchanging Information Using Veterans Affairs Health Information Technologies: Focus Group Results and Modeling Simulations. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(10), e359.
Rapid Heuristic Evaluation: Ensuring Fast and Reliable Usability Support
Sep 28, 2017 – Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2017 Annual Meeting
Abstract: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Human Factors Engineering (HFE) office developed a usability testing method called “Rapid Heuristic Evaluation” (Rapid HE) that offers benefits to users of the Agile development process. Rapid HE addresses the need to combine fast, reliable usability support with feedback from clinical subject matter experts (SMEs) during the design and development of an electronic health record (EHR). The Rapid HE process leverages established EHR heuristics to accelerate wireframe review and approval and merges a traditional heuristic evaluation (HE) with an expert review by two SMEs. Our application of Rapid HEs has maximized use of resources and minimized the amount of time needed to provide feedback during Agile development cycles. This paper describes the Rapid HE process, deviations from traditional HEs, and reports on data from 16 HEs that our group conducted on an EHR platform currently being developed by VA.
Citation: Dobre, J., Harrington, C., Herout, J., Weir, C., Cook, A., Carter, T., … Relihan, W. B. (2017). Rapid Heuristic Evaluation: Ensuring Fast and Reliable Usability Support. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 61(1), 610–614.
Applying User Experience Journey Mapping to the Modernization of VHA Health Information Technology Solutions
Jul 19, 2017 – 2017 VHA HSR&D/QUERI National Conference
Presented as a poster at the Veteran Health Administration 2017 HSR&D/QUERI National Conference as part of the Health Promotion, Care Management, and Veterans’ Experience track. This poster highlighted our work to visualize a series of outpatient clinical encounters, identify innovative solutions to pain points and provide this information to development teams and executive decision makers to help them understand how opportunities or compromises in Health Information Technology (HIT) investment could affect the vision of the ideal to-be experience, specifically the prioritization of the modernization of VA’s Electronic Health Record (EHR).
Fact Not Fiction: Building Evidence-Based Personas at VHA
Apr 28, 2015 – Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2015 International Health-Care Symposium
Presented as a poster at the HFES 2015 International Health-Care Symposium, this publication covers how personas were developed at the Veteran Health Administration based on user research data to support the creation of usable health information technology products.
Citation: Kabel, M., Cook, A., Brown, J., Robbins, J., & Noonan, A. (2015). FACT not FICTION: Building Evidence-Based Personas at VHA. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2015 International Health-Care Symposium
Crossing The Empathetic Bridge: Using Evidence-based personas to improve Health Information Technology (HIT) tools for VA Clinicians, Veterans and their Caregivers
Apr 28, 2015 – Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2015 International Health-Care Symposium
Presented as a poster at the HFES 2015 International Health-Care Symposium, this publication covers how personas are being used to support the creation of usable health information technology products at the Veteran Health Administration.
Citation: Brown, J. W., Cook, A., Robbins, J., & Kabel, M. (2015). CROSSING THE EMPATHETIC BRIDGE: Using Evidence-based personas to improve Health Information Technology ( HIT ) tools for VA Clinicians, Veterans and their Caregivers. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2015 International Health-Care Symposium
Developing a Usability Ranking System for Findings in Health Information Technology Products
Apr 27, 2015 – Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2015 International Health-Care Symposium
Presented as a poster at the HFES 2015 International Health-Care Symposium, this publication covers how a usability ranking system was developed to facilitate the resolution of usability issues identified in health information technology products at the Veteran Health Administration.
Abstract: Resources for addressing usability issues identified by practitioners are often limited and teams look to usability professionals for help in prioritizing the issues. Health Information Technology (HIT) products face an additional level of complexity due to the intertwined relationship between usability issues and potential patient safety issues. Human Factors Engineering (HFE) team within the Office of Informatics and Analytics of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA OIA) developed a usability ranking system, sensitive to the specific challenges of HIT products, to help teams prioritize resolution of usability findings. The system considers factors concerned with the findings themselves, including user experience impact, organizational impact, and frequency of the problem. Constructed with “checklist style” definitions for each level, the system helps practitioners more consistently select the appropriate initial ranking.
Citation: Cook, A., & Herout, J. (2015). Developing a Usability Ranking System for Findings in Health Information Technology Products. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, 4(1), 23–28.