April Savoy

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The Building Blocks for Enhanced Technological Literacy
(Indiana Association for Career and Technical Education, 2015) McLeod, Alister; Savoy, April
Many students have experience with smart phones, internet browsing, and social networking. Although exposure to these types of technologies are pure indicators of society’s evolution towards a more integrated and pervasive computing environment, they do not serve as accurate indicators of technological literacy. With the advent and rapid expansion of knowledge and technology intensive industries, these skills do not provide a sufficient core/foundational literacy to the development of characteristics possessed by technologically literate students. Gonzales and Renshaw (2005) identified six computing competency skill areas for pre-engineering majors – 1) Computer use and file management, 2) Word processing, 3) Spreadsheets, 4)Databases, 5) Presentations, and 6) Information and Communications. These competencies, previously the focus of engineers, have now transferred to society at large with 38% of all the value created in the U.S. requiring the skills of a technologically literate workforce (National Science Board, 2010). The widespread use of technology in society and everyday life has forced the need of technological literacy amongst non-Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) majors, hence the need for a comprehensive course that provides the building blocks for technological literacy. However, there is still skepticism on the value of classes that focus on the introduction of computers. These classes lay the foundation that is crucial for non-STEM majors to become technologically literate. The goal of this paper is to show that there is still a need for these types of classes and also that they provide a gateway for these students to become technologically literate before their graduation. By reviewing the performance of 130 students in an introductory level computing course at Indiana State University the need for such a class will be evidenced.
Comparison of Two Electronic Order Forms for Medical Consultation: Think-Aloud Usability Assessment With Referring Clinicians
(Sage, 2017) Savoy, April; Patel, Himalaya; Flanagan, Mindy E.; Medicine, School of Medicine
Systematic Heuristic Evaluation of Computerized Consultation Order Templates: Clinicians’ and Human Factors Engineers’ Perspectives
(Springer, 2017-08) Savoy, April; Patel, Himalaya; Flanagan, Mindy E.; Weiner, Michael; Russ, Alissa L.; Medicine, School of Medicine
We assessed the usability of consultation order templates and identified problems to prioritize in design efforts for improving referral communication. With a sample of 26 consultation order templates, three evaluators performed a usability heuristic evaluation. The evaluation used 14 domain-independent heuristics and the following three supplemental references: 1 new domain-specific heuristic, 6 usability goals, and coded clinicians’ statements regarding ease of use for 10 sampled templates. Evaluators found 201 violations, a mean of 7.7 violations per template. Minor violations outnumbered major violations almost twofold, 115 (57%) to 62 (31%). Approximately 68% of violations were linked to 5 heuristics: aesthetic and minimalist design (17%), error prevention (16%), consistency and standards (14%), recognition rather than recall (11%), and meet referrers’ information needs (10%). Severe violations were attributed mostly to meet referrers’ information needs and recognition rather than recall. Recorded violations yielded potential negative consequences for efficiency, effectiveness, safety, learnability, and utility. Evaluators and clinicians demonstrated 80% agreement in usability assessment. Based on frequency and severity of usability heuristic violations, the consultation order templates reviewed may impede clinical efficiency and risk patient safety. Results support the following design considerations: communicate consultants’ requirements, facilitate information seeking, and support communication. While the most frequent heuristic violations involved interaction design and presentation, the most severe violations lacked information desired by referring clinicians. Violations related to templates’ inability to support referring clinicians’ information needs had the greatest potential negative impact on efficiency and safety usability goals. Heuristics should be prioritized in future design efforts.
A cognitive systems engineering design approach to improve the usability of electronic order forms for medical consultation
(Elsevier, 2018-09) Savoy, April; Militello, Laura G.; Patel, Himalaya; Flanagan, Mindy E.; Russ, Alissa L.; Daggy, Joanne K.; Weiner, Michael; Saleem, Jason J.; Biostatistics, School of Public Health
Background During medical referrals, communication barriers between referring and consulting outpatient clinics delay patients’ access to health care. One notable opportunity for reducing these barriers is improved usefulness and usability of electronic medical consultation order forms. The cognitive systems engineering (CSE) design approach focuses on supporting humans in managing cognitive complexity in sociotechnical systems. Cognitive complexity includes communication, decision-making, problem solving, and planning. Objective The objective of this research was to implement a CSE design approach to develop a template that supports the cognitive needs of referring clinicians and improves referral communication. Methods We conducted interviews and observations with primary care providers and specialists at two major tertiary, urban medical facilities. Using qualitative analysis, we identified cognitive requirements and design guidelines. Next, we designed user interface (UI) prototypes and compared their usability with that of a currently implemented UI at a major Midwestern medical facility. Results Physicians’ cognitive challenges were summarized in four cognitive requirements and 13 design guidelines. As a result, two UI prototypes were developed to support order template search and completion. To compare UIs, 30 clinicians (referrers) participated in a consultation ordering simulation complemented with the think-aloud elicitation method. Oral comments about the UIs were coded for both content and valence (i.e., positive, neutral, or negative). Across 619 comments, the odds ratio for the UI prototype to elicit higher-valenced comments than the implemented UI was 13.5 (95% CI = [9.2, 19.8]), p < .001. Conclusion This study reinforced the significance of applying a CSE design approach to inform the design of health information technology. In addition, knowledge elicitation methods enabled identification of physicians’ cognitive requirements and challenges when completing electronic medical consultation orders. The resultant knowledge was used to derive design guidelines and UI prototypes that were more useful and usable for referring physicians. Our results support the implementation of a CSE design approach for electronic medical consultation orders.
Cognitive requirements for primary care providers during the referral process: Information needed from and interactions with an electronic health record system
(Elsevier, 2019-09) Savoy, April; Militello, Laura; Diiulio, Julie; Midboe, Amanda M.; Weiner, Michael; Abbaszadegan, Hamed; Herout, Jennifer; Computer and Information Science, School of Science
Objectives This study sought to identify and describe the cognitive requirements and associated information needs of referring primary care providers (PCPs) during the referral process as well as characterize referring PCPs’ experiences with current health information technology. Materials and methods We interviewed 62 referring PCPs. Our four-member analysis team used hierarchical task analysis to construct a goal-directed hierarchy. We utilized extensions of the task analysis to describe PCPs’ common experiences with health information technologies throughout the referral process. Results The resultant goal hierarchy includes one main goal (Referral for Additional Care), two sub-goals (Assess Patient’s Condition and Manage Referrals), and four major tasks with respective decisions (What consultation is warranted; What information should I provide; What additional action is needed; and How to integrate specialists’ findings). Approximately 22 information needs were commonly identified and PCPs described their use of various sources - other PCPs, electronic health records, chat software, and paper- to satisfy those information needs. Conclusion Cognitive demand for referring PCPs is high throughout the referral process. They have to search, identify, compose, track, and integrate information across multiple screens, systems, and people. Existing interfaces do not adequately support the communication, information exchange, or care coordination related to the referral process. Results from this study provide an important foundation for developing patient-centered displays that support PCPs’ decision-making process and reduce cognitive challenges.
4227 Closing the cross-institutional referral loop: Applying human factors to improve consultations
(Cambridge University Press, 2020) Savoy, April; Weiner, Michael; Damush, Teresa; Medicine, School of Medicine
OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Although referrals for specialty consultations are a core clinical process, they are prone to coordination and communication breakdowns that have led to adverse clinical outcomes. This project’s objective is to improve timely documentation, transmission, access, and quality of consultation notes across healthcare systems. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: There are two specific aims for this project. In Aim 1, we will characterize clinical workflows and information flow during cross-institutional referrals. In Aim 2, we will develop and test a prototype leveraging electronic health information exchange (HIE) to increase closing the loop for cross-institutional referrals and improve the quality of consultation notes. To accomplish these aims, we will use human factors methods, including data analytics, medical-record reviews, semi-structured interviews of consultants, rapid prototyping, and usability evaluations. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Results will inform the design and integration of clinician-facing technologies into clinical workflows to close the referral loop and improve diagnostic processes. Aim 1 will provide quantitative evidence about the quality of cross-institutional referrals, inform the eventual implementation of our prototype, and identify user interface features required for successful electronic health information exchange. Based on the results from Aim 1, reports and visual representations will be generated to illustrate information flows and clinical workflows. This will prioritize design efforts for the intervention’s prototype. Aim 2 will translate clinicians’ requirements into prototype features and assess clinicians’ experience with the prototype. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The use and usefulness of HIE has been limited due to usability and implementation issues. Cross-institutional referrals are complex and dependent on HIE due to EHRs’ lack of interoperability. This project will provide evidence-based recommendations for the use of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to improve HIE during referrals.
Evaluation of Consultation Notes Within and Across Institutions: A Preliminary Study
(Indiana University Medical Student Program for Research and Scholarship, 2020) Sangani, Amee; Savoy, April; Medicine, School of Medicine
Background/Objective: Patients with multiple chronic conditions require specialty consultations both within and across institutions for effective co-management of comorbidities. Poor communication during the referral process increases physician workload, patient burden and risks. Successful co-management relies on bi-directional information flow that supports interpersonal communication and establishment of clear tasks and responsibilities among physicians. However, flow of health information is often limited to specific health network access, phone calls, or faxes. Interpersonal communication is dependent on limited encounter notes. In this preliminary study, our objective was to understand how consultants’ notes support physician collaboration within and across health care institutions. Project Methods: To assess consultants’ notes, outpatient charts were randomly selected from the Indiana Network for Patient Care database representing consultations with five different specialties within the IU Health network, including referrals from within and outside of IU Health. The Quality of Consult Assessment tool was adapted to assess content of notes, emphasizing clinical recommendations, distribution of tasks and responsibilities, and communication plans. Results: Our sample included ten charts for patients who had comorbidities. All notes contained clinical recommendations that included an assessment and plan. 70% of notes contained explicit responsibilities of the consultants. Conversely, only one contained explicit responsibilities for referrers. Charts denoted reliance on support staff to send messages between referrers, consultants, and patients via phone and fax. Phone calls and faxes were more prominent in referrals across institutions. Conclusion and Impact: Our preliminary findings indicate that current clinical documentation supports specialty referrals for transitions of care rather than co-management of care. Difficulties in accessing patient charts across institutions leads to a lack of clinical context and workflow inefficiencies when attempting to co-manage care. These findings demonstrate negative implications in health outcomes for patients with multiple comorbidities that require more care coordination within and across institutions.
Building Cohesion in Distributed Telemedicine Teams Findings from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Telestroke Program
(2020-07-16) Patel, Himalaya; Damush, Teresa M.; Miech, Edward J.; Rattray, Nicholas A.; Martin, Holly A.; Savoy, April; Plue, Laurie; Anderson, Jane; Martini, Sharyl; Graham, Glenn D,; Williams, Linda S.; Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center
Background: As telemedicine adoption increases, so does the importance of building cohesion among physicians in telemedicine teams. For example, in acute telestroke services, stroke specialists provide rapid virtual stroke assessment and treatment to patients at hospitals without stroke specialty care. In the National Telestroke Program (NTSP) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a virtual (distributed) hub of stroke specialists throughout the country provides 24/7 consultations nationwide. We examined how these specialists adapted to distributed teamwork, and we identied cohesion-related factors inprogram development and support. Methods: We conducted a case study of the stroke specialists employed by the NTSP. Semi-structured, condential interviews with stroke specialists in the virtual hub were recorded and transcribed. We explored the extent to which these specialists had developed a sense of shared identity and teamcohesion, and we identied factors in this development. Using a qualitative approach with constant comparison methods, two researchers coded each interview transcript independently using a shared codebook. We used matrix displays to identify themes, with special attention to team cohesion, communication, trust, and satisfaction. Results: Of 13 specialists with at least 8 months of NTSP practice, 12 completed interviews; 7 had previously practiced in telestroke programs in other healthcare systems. Interviewees reported high levels of trust and team cohesion, sometimes even more with their virtual colleagues than with local colleagues. Factors facilitating perceived team cohesion included a weekly case conference call, a sense of transparency in discussing challenges, engagement in NTSP development tasks, and support from the NTSP leadership. Although lack of in-person contact was associated with lower cohesion, annual in-person NTSP meetings helped mitigate this issue. Despite technical challenges in establishing a new telehealth system within existing national infrastructure, providers reported high levels of satisfaction with the NTSP.Conclusion: A virtual telestroke hub can provide a sense of team cohesion among stroke specialists at a level comparable with a standard co-located practice. Engaging in transparent discussion of challenging cases, reviewing new clinical evidence, and contributing to program improvements may promotecohesion in distributed telemedicine teams
Gains, losses, and uncertainties from computerizing referrals and consultations
(Elsevier, 2020-11) Weiner, Michael; Savoy, April; Barker, Barry C.; Medicine, School of Medicine
Consultations entail transitions in care between referrers and consultants, as patients visit different clinicians and care sites. This complex process has been consistently prone to communication breakdowns. Despite expectations and benefits of electronic health records (EHRs), incomplete, vague, or inappropriate referrals continue to hinder consultations; referrals can be sent to the wrong specialty service; and consultation findings frequently fail to reach referrers. Due to the inadequate support of interpersonal communication afforded by EHRs, these issues persist. Important aspects of ergonomics and human factors engineering frequently appear overlooked during the design and implementation of EHRs. Usability issues have contributed to delays in medical diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Some of these delays contribute to patient harms. Our multidisciplinary team of clinicians and ergonomics professionals reflects on referral and consultation. We describe how computerization in healthcare should benefit from approaches informed and developed through applied ergonomics and human factors.
Building cohesion in distributed telemedicine teams: findings from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Telestroke Program
(BMJ, 2021) Patel, Himalaya; Damush, Teresa M.; Miech, Edward J.; Rattray, Nicholas A.; Martin, Holly A.; Savoy, April; Plue, Laurie; Anderson, Jane; Martini, Sharyl; Graham, Glenn D.; Williams, Linda S.
Background As telemedicine adoption increases, so does the importance of building cohesion among physicians in telemedicine teams. For example, in acute telestroke services, stroke specialists provide rapid remote stroke assessment and treatment to patients at hospitals without stroke specialty care. In the National Telestroke Program (NTSP) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a virtual (distributed) hub of stroke specialists throughout the country provides 24/7 consultations nationwide. We examined how these specialists adapted to distributed teamwork, and we identified cohesion-related factors in program development and support. Methods We studied the virtual hub of stroke specialists employed by the NTSP. Semi-structured, confidential interviews with stroke specialists in the virtual hub were recorded and transcribed. We explored the extent to which these specialists had developed a sense of shared identity and team cohesion, and we identified factors in this development. Using a qualitative approach with constant comparison methods, two researchers coded each interview transcript independently using a shared codebook. We used matrix displays to identify themes, with special attention to team cohesion, communication, trust, and satisfaction. Results Of 13 specialists with at least 8 months of NTSP practice, 12 completed interviews; 7 had previously practiced in telestroke programs in other healthcare systems. Interviewees reported high levels of trust and team cohesion, sometimes even more with their virtual colleagues than with co-located colleagues. Factors facilitating perceived team cohesion included a weekly case conference call, a sense of transparency in discussing challenges, engagement in NTSP development tasks, and support from the NTSP leadership. Although lack of in-person contact was associated with lower cohesion, annual in-person NTSP meetings helped mitigate this issue. Despite technical challenges in establishing a new telehealth system within existing national infrastructure, providers reported high levels of satisfaction with the NTSP. Conclusion A virtual telestroke hub can provide a sense of team cohesion among stroke specialists at a level comparable with a standard co-located practice. Engaging in transparent discussion of challenging cases, reviewing new clinical evidence, and contributing to program improvements may promote cohesion in distributed telemedicine teams.

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