Digital audio, images, and videoSounds, images, and video clips Chapter 8

New Century Health Clinic c

Description:

New Century Wellness Group offers a holistic approach to healthcare with an emphasis on preventive

medicine as well as traditional medical care. In your role as an IT consultant, you will help

New Century develop a new information system.

Background

Based on your presentation to New Centurys partners, they decided to move forward with in-house development of a new business support system. They liked the idea of a vertical software package, but they want to be able to customize the user interface because New Centurys business functions are more varied. However, it is very important that the new system allow future integration with vertical packages such as electronic health records, computerized provider order entry, and a clinical decision support system. Using the information you gained in the systems planning and analysis phases of the SDLC, you sit down to begin designing the user interface of the New Centurys business support system. Before you begin, you decide to review the case studies, DFDs, and object-oriented diagrams you prepared in Chapters 5 and 6.

Tasks

1. Using the guidelines and suggestions in this chapter, design a user interface. Draw storyboards,

then use Microsoft Access or another form-designing application to create the

screens.

2. Determine the data required for a new patient. Design an input source document that will be

used to capture the patients data and a data entry screen to enter the information into the

system.

3. What control features will you use in the input screens to aid in data entry? Give a

specific example of how you will use at least eight different control features in the design of

the user interface.

4. In addition to printed reports, what other output technologies could be used by New

Century?

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Solution :

Tasks

1. Using the guidelines and suggestions in this chapter, design a user interface. Draw storyboards, then use Microsoft Access or another form-designing application to create the screens.

Answers will vary, but they should include the New Century system components discussed in previous chapters. The UI should include a variety of control features and follow the guidelines:

• Create an interface that is easy to learn and use.
• Enhance user productivity.
• Make it easy for users to obtain help or correct errors.
• Minimize input data problems.
• Provide feedback to users.

• Create an attractive layout and design
• Design a transparent interface.

• Use familiar terms and images.

Good user interface design based on a combination of ergonomics, aesthetics, and interface technology. Also, the designer can include control features, such as menu bars, toolbars, dialog boxes, text boxes, toggle buttons, list boxes, scroll bars, drop-down list boxes, option buttons, check boxes, command buttons, and calendar controls, among others.

2. Determine the data required for a new patient. Design an input source document that will be used to capture the patients data and a data entry screen to enter the information into the system.

If students developed a list of data elements in Chapter 5, they should refer to it now. Otherwise, they can use the sample list provided. Each data element should link to an item in the input source document. A sample list of data elements follows:

Patient Data:

PATIENT FIRST NAME

PATIENT LAST NAME

PATIENT DATE OF BIRTH

RELATIONSHIP CODE

LAST EXAM DATE

Household Data:

HOUSEHOLD FIRST NAME

HOUSEHOLD LAST NAME

HOUSEHOLD ADDRESS

HOUSEHOLD CITY

HOUSEHOLD ZIP

HOUSEHOLD HOME PHONE

HOUSEHOLD WORK PHONE

EMPLOYER GROUP NUMBER

In addition to these data elements, a typical input form might request a Social Security number, and information on medical history, allergies, insurance, and other data necessary to set up a patients medical file. In laying out the new patient form, students should follow the guidelines for source document design.

They should pay particular attention to designing the forms captions, document zones, and information flow. The data entry screen should follow the guidelines in the chapter. The screen form should resemble the paper source document, so it will be easy for a user to transfer the information from the paper form to the computer-based screen form.

3. What control features will you use in the input screens to aid in data entry? Give a specific example of how you will use at least eight different control features in the design of the user interface.

Answers will vary but they should the following controls:

Control	Example
Menu bar	A menu bar displays the main options at the top of the screen.
Toolbar	A toolbar contains icons or buttons that represent shortcuts for executing common commands.
Command button	Command buttons initiate an action such as printing a form or requesting Help.
Dialog box	A dialog box allows a user to enter information about a task that the system will perform.
Text box	A text box can display messages or provide a place for a user to enter data.
Toggle button	A toggle button is used to represent on or off status clicking the toggle button switches to the other status.
List box	A list box displays a list of choices that the user can select.
Scroll bar	A scroll bar allows the user to move through the available choices.
Drop-down list box	A drop-down list box displays the current selection; when the user clicks the arrow, a list of the available choices displays.
Option button	Option buttons, or radio buttons, represent groups of options. The user can select only one option at a time; selected options contain a black dot.
Check box	A check box is used to select one or more choices from a group. Selected options are represented by a checkmark or an X.
Spin bar	A spin bar allows a user to flip through various choices that appear in a window.
Calendar control	A calendar control allows the user to select a date that the system will display and store as a field value.

4. In addition to printed reports, what other output technologies could be used by New Century?

Answers will vary but they should contain a variety of creative answers from the following technologies:

• Internet-based information deliveryMillions of firms use the Inter-net to reach new customers and markets around the world. To support the explosive growth in e-commerce, Web designers must provide user-friendly screen interfaces that display output and accept input from customers.
• E-mail is an essential means of internal and external business communication. Employees send and receive e-mail on local or wide area networks, including the Internet. Companies send new product information to customers via e-mail, and financial services companies use e-mail messages to confirm online stock trades. Employees use e-mail to exchange documents, data, and schedules and to share business-related information they need to perform their jobs. In many firms, e-mail has virtually replaced traditional memos and printed correspondence.
• BlogsWeb-based logs, called blogs, are another form of Web-based output. Because blogs are journals written from a particular point of view, they not only deliver facts to Web readers, but also provide opinions. Blogs are useful for posting news, reviewing cur-rent events, and promoting products.
• Instant messagingThis popular form of communication is another way for individuals and companies to communicate effectively over the Internet. Although some users feel that it can be a distraction, others like the constant can be captured, stored in digital format, and transmitted as output to users who can reproduce the content.