ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on one particular innovation—clinical reminders—intended to act as a decision aid to primary care providers. Computerized clinical reminders are intended to highlight aspects of preventative care and disease management that might be overlooked in the context of a busy exam. The chapter describes three methods, including a taxonomy development exercise, a survey, and ethnographic observations. Data from these three sources were used to triangulate on a set of findings framed around barriers to the use of computerized clinical reminders. Barriers to reminder use identified via ethnographic observation were sorted into five categories including workflow, coordination, workload, lack of flexibility, and usability. The goal of the reminders software is to support and aid the healthcare team, leaving issues of clinical judgment to the provider. This software-based tool addresses support of key macrocognitive functions; supporting planning activities for an individual exam, as well as real-time decision making and replanning that occur during the patient exam.
