Identification of Design Criteria to Improve Patient Care in Electronic Health Record Downtime.

Objective: Design criteria specifications (needs, obstacles, and context-of-use considerations) for continuing safe and efficient patient care activities during downtime were identified by using phenomenological analysis.

Methods: Interview transcripts from medical personnel who had experience with downtime incidents were examined using a phenomenological approach. This process allowed for the identification of design criteria for performing downtime patient care activities.