Case study
Improving VA health information systems
Challenge
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needed support optimizing the usability of its health information systems used across the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Solution
We worked with the VA's human factors engineering team to evaluate the systems and templates used to log and access patient medical history. We conducted heuristic evaluations and in-depth interviews with VA physicians and nurses, identifying key usability challenges. We also carried out literature reviews to inform future iterations.
Impact
Our evaluations revealed areas where the systems caused confusion or inefficiency for clinicians. The contextual research gave the VA's teams a foundation for making practical design decisions.
Bold Outcomes
- Flagged common pain points in logging workflows
- Provided usability benchmarks for iterative testing
- Equipped teams with design recommendations for improved clinician experience
Result
The VA used our input to mitigate user frustrations and improve the overall usability of VHA health information systems.