New books focus on applications of patient ergonomics in real world settings

Technology is constantly generating innumerable important healthcare advances. But there has been significantly less work focused on how patients and clinicians interact with technology to guarantee accessibility, usability, patient safety, enhancement of clinician performance and, ultimately, health improvement.

Regenstrief Institute Research Scientist Richard Holden, PhD, is a national leader in the growing field of patient ergonomics -- the application of human factors engineering and psychology to the design and evaluation of patient-facing technology to enhance health.

He is the co-editor (along with Rupa S. Valdez, PhD, of the University of Virginia) of the newly released two volume "The Patient Factor: A Handbook on Patient Ergonomics," targeted to medical device manufacturers, clinicians, health system administrators, and researchers. The books focus on applications of patient ergonomics in real world settings, exploring, among other elements, four areas of patient ergonomics:

• consumer health information technology;
• patient-professional communication;
• self-care
• patient safety

With the support of $3.5 million in funding from the National Institute on Aging, Dr. Holden currently is developing and testing computer apps to facilitate care for older adults with chronic conditions.