Microsoft is working with the NHS in England to construct a Common User Interface (CUI) which will give a consistent look and feel to all of its clinical systems, making them easier and safer to use.

System Concepts, as a Microsoft User Experience partner, has worked with the CUI user experience team since January 2006 providing a range of expertise including:

• user experience research
• design and prototyping
• usability and accessibility evaluations
• usability and accessibility testing.

Why is a consistent interface important?

The NHS currently has a range of clinical systems, provided by independent software vendors, each with a different user interface, interaction model and architecture.

A consistent interface for all systems is easier to learn and use and should help to:

• improve patient safety by reducing mistakes
• improve clinician effectiveness
• reduce training costs.

For example, at the moment, dates can be recorded in many different ways, such as 05-01-08, which is potentially confusing.  Eventually, all dates generated by NHS systems will use the format 01-May-2008. This is not only clearer but much safer, given that a missed treatment could have life-threatening consequences.

Two tools for software developers have been developed so far; a Design Guide and a Software Development Kit.

The Design Guide

The Design Guide describes the user interface standards that clinical applications should use, whatever supplier actually builds them.  For example, it will specify how a medication should be described, how the dosage should be displayed, and how a label should be formatted so it can be read clearly.

The Guide was constructed by following a User Centred Design (UCD) approach.  The team interviewed health care practitioners and held workshops with clinicians to understand:

• who would be using the software
• the tasks they would be doing
• when and where they would be doing the tasks.

They then built up typical scenarios of the software’s use and established the interface requirements.  The application developers' requirements were established in a similar way.

The team then explored a range of design options using an iterative design, prototype and test program to identify the best solutions.  Finally, they tested the designs for compliance with the latest international standards, ultimately leading to Interface Standards Board (ISB) submission.

The Software Development Kit

The NHS Software Development Kit is a set of platform independent guidelines and software components that NHS suppliers will be able to use in their own clinical applications for free.

Over time, all clinical systems built using this kit will look and feel familiar, regardless of where they are installed and who developed them.  Both developers and the NHS will benefit from applications which are easier to develop and use.

System Concepts’ consultants provided usability and accessibility research, advice and testing throughout the design and construction of the Development Kit ensuring it complied with the Design Guide.
 
 Susan Brown, Engagement Manager at Microsoft UK, is delighted by the contribution made by System Concepts.  She explains:

We chose System Concepts as a Microsoft User Experience Partner because of their highly qualified and experienced consultants, their contribution to development of standards and their flexible approach which allows them to deliver innovative business solutions on time and to budget.

Up to date copies of the Design Guide and the Software Development Kit are available free at www.mscui.net.