When Electronic Devices Outnumber Flower Bouquets in the Hospital Room

Today's hospital room is dominated by electronic devices that monitor, control, and document a patient's condition. The devices do what machines do best: tedious, repetitive tasks such as cardiac and respiratory monitoring requiring unerring accuracy. However, the proliferation of the devices, fueled by technological advances and the application of computers, is causing environmental and usability problems. Innumerable controls, displays, and alarms produce sensory overload. The devices congest the workspace, present tripping hazards, and produce unwanted noise, heat, and light. Using the equipment is not intuitive and requires substantial training. As a result, nurses and physicians spend more time working with the equipment and less time providing direct patient care. Reversing this trend requires better design and integration of equipment through the application of a usability engineering approach to product design and a commitment to design standards.