Your Clinical Expertise Can Help Shape Medical Technology

Medical devices are often designed far from the environments in which they will ultimately be used, with limited clinical insight informing key design decisions. Usability Works at Carilion Clinic disrupts that model by bringing clinicians directly into the design process early and often, allowing them to help shape new technology

Usability Works will help innovators design medical devices and technologies that are safe, intuitive, and ready for real-world clinical care. Working with clinical staff, the Usability Works team will test and research how the devices fit into real workflows and provide actionable design feedback to device manufacturers. Later in the design process, Usability Works will evaluate emerging prototypes through hands-on testing in simulated clinical environments. Participants will play a direct role in shaping new technologies.

Your input will help ensure devices reflect real-world use realities, including time pressure, interruptions, cognitive load, environmental constraints, and the nuances of day-to-day clinical practice. 

Usability Works is embedded within our nationally accredited Center for Simulation, Research, and Patient Safety and works in close partnership with our Applied Human Factors and Carilion Clinic Innovation teams.

We need clinicians and staff across disciplines to bring invaluable insight into workflows and challenges to ensure future medical technologies are designed around realities, not assumptions. Whether you work in inpatient care, outpatient clinics, emergency services, procedural areas, support roles, or are actively engaged in healthcare-relevant professional training, your perspective can help shape the next generation of clinical technology.

Participation may involve:

• Sharing workflow insights
• Taking part in simulation-based usability sessions
• Providing feedback on how a device fits into real clinical practice 

Sessions will take place at our Center for Simulation, Research, and Patient Safety in Roanoke. You will be appropriately compensated for your time and contributions, consistent with institutional policies and study requirements. To sign up, complete the Voice of the Clinic Participant Sign-Up Form or scan the QR code below:

If you have questions, contact Robert Turner, director of Human Factors Usability, at trturner1@carilionclinic.org.