The Tradeoffs and Side-Effects of Migrating from Wireless Computer to PDA-Based Support for Medication Administration

Abstract

This research involved evaluating a PDA application developed to provide a more mobile version of an existing Veterans Administration software program called BCMA (Bar Code Medication Administration). The original application was designed to be operable from a wireless desktop or laptop computer situated on a cart and connected with a bar code scanner to scan patient wristbands and medication labels. The primary goals of this system are to verify the medications about to be given to a particular patient are those ordered and to document the process. The PDA version is intended to meet the same goals utilizing a scanner built into the PDA itself, but also offer the benefits of a small, light-weight, mobile system. The evaluation involved usability inspection, usability testing, and structured interviews. The results describe (1) how the operating system's virtual keyboard display interacted with critical data in the application; (2) how the application software developers dealt with the challenge of a small screen size and the implications of those decisions; and (3) how users adapted their workflow attempting to maximize the benefits of greater mobility, while compensating for a loss in visibility.

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