IntelliGuard wanted to make medication management in the operating room a disruptive technology that doesn’t disrupt. Medication management in the OR has many challenges and inefficiencies that lead to errors, wasted time, and wasted medication. IntelliGuard’s vision was to use their unique and patented RFID technology to optimize anesthesia drug delivery and improve medication inventory control. The solution, Linked Visibility Inventory System™ (LVIS™) needed to have a visual aesthetic and functionality that represents the importance of the anesthesiologist and fits seamlessly into the OR workflow.
Human Centered Design
IntelliGuard engaged DDSTUDIO to provide a human-centered iconic solution of products that would be easily adopted by the anesthesiologist, optimize operating room workflow, and differentiate itself from the competition. The aim was to provide a great user experience, develop brand loyalty and achieve design-driven business results.
Empathy – User Research
Patient safety is always top-of-mind for anesthesiologists and critical care teams, yet they are often in the midst of a complex and chaotic procedure with many distractions. Research indicates that stress during set-up and through surgery duration can cause confusion or worries about medication doses. This complex environment stimulated the Intelliguard team to perform several months of ethnographic research with anesthesiologists in the OR environment to understand their unique needs, emotions and workflow.
Design Concepts, Workflow, and Ergonomics
At the center of the LVIS™ system are three drawers for drugs and narcotics, each with different levels of access. Drawers are filled in the pharmacy and then delivered to the OR. Our initial task was to define the contents and organize their presentation. We then wanted to test if users would prefer additional storage or focus on the drug drawers only. The conclusion was for a large general drug drawer and two narcotics drawers, each accessed individually. We also user-tested a secondary nesting cart that could include many modular options.
UX and ergonomics combined as we reviewed mobility, access controls, drawer positioning, top tray shape and size, medication presentation and ease of removal /replacement . Medication is positioned and presented appropriate to each procedure. Important ͞stress-use͟ drugs are places up-front for fast access. Drawers are separated for general use drugs and narcotics, with differing levels of access approval. Storage is always available.
Intuitive, Optimized Workflow
Focus is maintained on the patient. The user experience is simple and uncluttered. Meds to be used throughout the procedure can be placed on the top tray (another RFID read area). Authentication is through a wide touch area between the drawer and tray. Although the product has a friendly, anthropometric presence, this recedes into the background once the drawers are accessed. When all is packed away, the drawer indicators do a rhythmic dance to let users know the meds are being checked.
The Intelliguard® Linked Visibility Inventory System™ (LVIS™) is the first anesthesia medication and narcotics inventory solution that combines secure medication storage and access with radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled automated data collection. A LVIS Station™ in each OR provides RFID-equipped drawers to securely store medications and narcotics. Inventory automatically updates in real time every time a drawer is closed—with no manual input—eliminating delays.