Clinical Simulation: For what and how can it be used in design and evaluation of health IT

The usability of health information technology (IT) is increasingly recognized as critically important to the development of systems that are both safe to use and acceptable to end-users. The substantial complexity of organizations, work practice and physical environments within the healthcare sector influences the development and application of health IT. When health IT is introduced in local clinical work practices, potential patient safety hazards and insufficient support of work practices need to be examined. Qualitative methods, such as clinical simulation, may be used to support Techno-Anthropologists design and evaluate new technology navigating in the intersection between people and technology and between various interests in forms of experts and stakeholders. This chapter will introduce the reader to clinical simulation, present the general guidelines and recommendation conducting simulations and describe a simulation lab in Copenhagen. Illustrative examples and references to specific projects will be part of the contribution.