What other kinds of problems might crop up when a Electronic Health Records system is too rigidly designed or is geared toward one kind of user rather than another?

Answer 1

The problems will fall into general classes: problems for the patient, problems for the service provider, problems for the product support team, problems for the vendor to name a few. The risk attached to system design can be mitigated using a design review process. What happens if design limitations are discovered after the fact? You under go the expense of upgrading the design. However, attempting to anticipate all usage needs up front can also be counter-productive. Release a design that meets the identified need but allowing for some expansion, and then as use increases to the point that design limitations are approached, then you release an enhanced design using customer experience as a guide. Having an active customer user group or community helps proactively identify areas for enhancements to manage the design limitation problems feared.