Abstract
Recent developments in biomedical informatics research have afforded possibilities for great advances in health care delivery. These exciting opportunities also present a number of challenges to the implementation and integration of technologies in the workplace. As in most domains, there is a gulf between technologic artifacts and end users, which compromises the culture of safety in the workplace. Because clinical practice is a human endeavor, there is a need for bridging disciplines to enable clinicians to benefit from rapid technologic advances. This, in turn, necessitates a broadening of disciplinary boundaries to consider cognitive and social factors related to the design and use of technology. The authors argue for a place of prominence for cognitive science in understanding nursing factors associated with patient safety. Cognitive science provides a framework for the analysis and modeling of complex human performance. Studies of clinical cognition can meaningfully inform and shape design, development and assessment of information systems. Furthermore, they have a decisive impact on whether information technology has a positive influence on human performance and are especially important in understanding and promoting safe practices. These issues are discussed in the context of clinical informatics with a focus on nursing practice.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 869-885 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | International Journal of Medical Informatics |
Volume | 74 |
Issue number | 11-12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2005 |
Keywords
- Clinical cognition
- Decision-making
- Informatics
- Nursing
- Patient safety
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Informatics