Patients Should Be Consulted When Designing Health Information Technology

Want better health information technology? Ask patients how they want it. 04/06/2010. Hopes are high that health information technology will support care between office visits, boost efficiency and convenience, and help patients lead healthier lives. An evaluation in the April Health Affairs suggests how to make the most of this new approach: Routinely ask patients how they like it and what they want. "It's crucial to ask patients whether the health information technology they use is meeting their needs promptly and appropriately and honoring their values and preferences," said lead author James Ralston, MD, MPH, an associate investigator at Group Health Research Institute and an internist at Group Health Cooperative. Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies via Eurekalert!