Practice Problem: Prescription Interface
Design a simplified interface for prescribing common medications. Note: this exercise makes many simplified assumptions. See this guide for real-world design issues.
Requirements
- Medical provider needs to indicate medication, dosage, frequency, count and an optional explanatory note.
- Interface should allow for multiple prescriptions to appear on the page.
- Interface should allow for review of all prescriptions before they are authorized.
- User may delete any prescription before authorization
Use assumptions
- Uses desktop with keyboard and mouse
- Task repeated dozens of times a day, every day
- Ability to review for accuracy is critical
- Medical provider has already authenticated
- Patient has already been specified
Sample list of medications with typical doses (mg)
- Amoxicillin (500, 875)
- Azithromycin (250, 500)
- Lisinopril (2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40)
- Prilosec (10, 20, 40)
- Zocor (5, 10, 20, 40, 80)
Sample list of frequency texts
- at bedtime
- in the morning
- twice a day
- four times a day
Discussion questions
- Which design goals should have priority: learnability (minimal training needed), efficiency (minimize task time), reliability (minimize errors)?
- Which design elements help address efficiency?
- Which design elements help address reliability?
- Which design assumptions are oversimplified?