You can’t write software for clinicians until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. This unique philosophy is at the heart of Epic’s collaborative design process and is the basis for the R&D immersion program. Each developer at Epic must spend time shadowing users to understand the way they work.
Immersion trips are a form of ethnographic research: Software developers have the chance to step into an operating room to watch a surgeon, or sit at the front desk with schedulers as they make appointments in Epic. The developers’ observations inform their designs so they can create software that’s truly centered around the user.
Epic community members can learn more about immersion trips on the UserWeb.
Photo caption: Software developer Elliot Mawby reviews patient lists in Rover with nurses at Ochsner Health System.
