Patient Monitoring Technology: Friend or Foe?

Abstract

This symposium presents four viewpoints on the role of patient monitoring technology in supporting care-provider activity in the medical domain. First, observations of care providers in the critical care setting provide an overview of the current state of affairs and the style of interaction that characterizes current technology. Second, task analysis and interface design techniques from a medical device manufacturer are reviewed as an example of how the medical device industry is incorporating human factors considerations into current design decisions. Third, an innovative approach using an ecological, object-based display is offered and systematic tests of its efficacy are presented as alternatives to traditional displays of vital signs for patient monitoring. Lastly, a strong critique of the current philosophy of monitoring technology is presented. The diverse viewpoints of the contributors provide evidence regarding the strengths, weaknesses and possibilities for improvement of patient monitoring technology.