01.05.2010
Andrew Wirtanen /
Medical /
User Research
A checklist is one of the most useful tools during a usability study. It may seem trivial to check a box every time one starts or stops a video recording, but even the brightest researchers will forget at some point.
NPR’s Morning Edition did a great piece with surgeon and author Atul Gawande. Gawande discussed his own experience where doctors were hesitant to use checklists, probably because of perceptions that it was admitting weakness. After requiring a group of doctors to use checklists, 80% of them said they thought they were useful. When the same group was asked if they would want checklists used if they were having an operation, 94% said yes.
One of the most powerful statements in the interview:
I have not gotten through a week of surgery where the checklist has not caught a problem.
11.23.2009
Sean Farres /
Creativity /
Design Inspiration /
Graphic Design /
Green Technology /
Human Factors /
Industrial Design /
Medical /
Trends
One medical brand incorporating good design is Help Remedies. The simplicity is genius. The greatest feature of the medicine is no use of excessive fillers. What stands this product out even more is the packaging. Its main message is how it can heal me. What I like even more is that the packaging can go in the compost. Does your Advil do that?
In-Store Display
10.13.2009
Corinna Proctor /
Medical
We are hanging out at Medtrade 2009′s semi-annual conference in Atlanta, October 12-15. Come join us!
Brian Chiarizia and Alex Hussain are roaming the floor, attending keynotes and chatting up their friends in the home medical equipment (HME) industry.
Medtrade is celebrating its 30th anniversary and has a large following of HME manufacturers, vendors and suppliers.
08.08.2009
Mark Dezelon /
Consumer Products /
Industrial Design /
Medical /
News
HumanCentric is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership formed today with Stander, Inc. Founded by Jan Miller in 1998, Stander is a manufacturer of innovative mobility solutions for beds, bathrooms, couches, and automobiles. The new partnership brings together the core disciplines of human factors, product design and usability, which help create desirable and easy-to-use assistive products such as bed rails, walkers, canes and grab-bars.
“The aging baby boomer generation will soon need (and demand) assistive devices that are well-designed, attractive and able to fit into their active lifestyles. Stander’s commitment to excellence in product design and customer service makes it a natural choice to form a partnership. Our collective product design teams and researchers help fine-tune designs that are in the planning stages, so that the best designs are ultimately put into the hands of millions,” said Barry Beith, Ph.D., CEO and Chief Technical Officer, HumanCentric.
“Stander is committed to bringing new assistive technologies to the aging community. Our customers, ‘the baby boomers,’ demand high quality products that are functional and aesthetically pleasing. HumanCentric’s researched-based designs give a focus to safety and usability. Combined with Stander’s commitment to excellence and listening to our customers needs, this joint venture is a recipe for success. We are honored to be in partnership with HumanCentric,” said Jan Miller, President of Stander Inc.
06.10.2009
Barry Beith /
Medical
In 1998, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) conducted a study of healthcare in America. In their published report of 2000, entitled “To Err is Human,” they reported that at least 98,000 deaths occurred annually in U.S. hospitals primarily due to infections, diseases, and medication errors that resulted in avoidable death. Avoidable death that was caused within the very healthcare system that was “dedicated” to saving lives and restoring health. All of us who read the report and two subsequent reports by the IOM were struck by the critical nature of this finding and the need to immediately address it.
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