A step towards an inclusive maintenance management system in hospitals

Master thesis (2023)

Authors

A.E. Moonen Industrial Design Engineering

Contributors

J.C. Diehl Design for Sustainability - IDE (graduation committee member)
G.J. Pasman Design Conceptualization and Communication - IDE (mentor)
R.M. Oosting Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (mentor)
Faculty
Industrial Design Engineering, Industrial Design Engineering
Copyright: © 2023 Anne Moonen
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Published Date

21-09-2023

Language

English

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Faculty

Industrial Design Engineering

Abstract

This project addresses the subject of integrating Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) into low-to-middle income healthcare contexts, with a specific focus on Nepal. CMMS play a prominent role in enabling Biomedical Equipment Technicians (BMETs) to monitor and optimize the performance of medical equipment (WHO, 2012), streamline operational processes, and facilitate intra-hospital communication and decision-making (Basiony, 2013). However, existing CMMS solutions designed for high-income environments, often fail to seamlessly integrate into the unique workflows and needs of low-to-middle income settings (Cohen et al., 2023).

The central problem identified in the Nepalese context is a misalignment between the workflow of BMETs and the CMMS interface. An overwhelming amount of information and functionalities within the system, making it challenging for the BMETs to identify tasks. Reinforced by, that the Nepalese context places less value on data creation and tend to operate more in accordance with tasks that can be observed physically.

To identify and address this problem, a comparative study was conducted between a Dutch hospital and two Nepalese hospitals. Data was gathered using the context-mapping method (Vissers et al., 2005), and a comprehensive understanding of the system’s interface was obtained through the streamlined cognitive walkthrough method (Spencer, 2000). The design goal was to create an inclusive interface for BMETs in Nepal through the visualization of medical device data. Norman and Draper’s design steps (1986) were used to generate an iterative approach for designing an CMMS interface. A mixed-method approach, including the System Usability Scale (Brooke, 1996), was used to evaluate the iterative prototypes and the final interface design.

The results of this study showed, by visualizing medical device data, a transition from a data-centric system to a task-oriented system. BMETs in Nepal confirmed through evaluation that the final design represents an improvement on the systems towards a task-oriented interface that aligns more with their daily workflow.

The project serves an inspiration for future designers to illustrate the importance of a human-centered approach when adapting software from one context to another. By highlighting the importance of considering the needs and workflows of a setting. Furthermore, this project can be a resource for companies and NGOs seeking to develop CMMS solutions from a human-centered perspective. In the Nepalese context, it provides building blocks for designing CMMS systems that better suit the work environment. In essence, this research represents a step towards a more inclusive CMMS system and the broader conversation on human-centered design in healthcare technology.