My husband is a product manager/analyst in the healthcare industry (although he is currently "between opportunities")and so he sends me things he comes across about usability and user experience.

This article Bedside Manner and Hardware Choices is a fascinating look at what patients want when they are with their doctor and the doc is using a computer to communicate with them about something.

The context of use is a critical factor when assessing audience tasks and goals. A surprising finding in this study was that patients want to see the same screen their doctor does more than they want to maintain eye contact with the doctor.

The Obama Administration has made development and use of electronic medical records (EHR) a high priority for healthcare reform. Although the government has not yet issued its guidelines for electronic medical records (at least what they will pay for), let's hope that the usability of any EHR for both patients and health care practitioners is a keystone of these guidelines.