Projects

Research and Development activities of the RERC on Accessible Medical Instrumentation started in January 2003. The primary focus for the first few years of the RERC-AMI was on R1 (needs assessment) and D1 (tools for accessibility and usability analysis). These established the foundation. In subsequent years, other projects peaking in activity, with Programs D3, R4 and D4 peaking during the last few years of the 5-year cycle of this RERC-AMI. All of the projects are summarized below.

Program R1 is the cornerstone of the entire RERC-AMI. The program conducts needs assessment activities with three major medical instrumentation constituencies: healthcare consumers, healthcare service providers, and medical device manufacturers. Based on these data collection activities, the program then generates problem statements to be used in Research Programs R2 and R4, and in Development Programs D2, D3, and D4. Peak activity in Years 1-3 (2003-2005).

Development Program D1 develops hardware and an evaluation instrument that form the Mobile Usability Lab (MU-Lab). The MU-Lab primarily supports usability testing in Program R2. To a lesser degree, it also supports Programs D2 and D3 in which the MU-Lab is used to test instrumentation and technologies as they are being developed. The results of Program R3 are expected to replace the instrument used initially in the mobile lab by the end of Year 5. Peak activity in Years 1-2 (2003-2004).

Research Program R2 conducts usability analyses of two types of instrumentation: equipment that is exemplary for being particularly usable, and equipment identified as essential for healthcare but problematic for people with disabilities, while no exemplary solutions exist. Results of Research Program R2 are used in Development Program D2 and in Training/Dissemination Program T1, T3 and T4. Peak activity in Years 2-4 (2004-2006).

Development Program D2 develops new medical instrumentation in response to problem areas identified and documented in Program R2. It also provides a test ground for the instrument developed in Program R3. In addition, the annual National Student Design Competition in Accessible Medical Instrumentation, which solicits innovative solutions to challenging problems, is part of Program D2. Peak activity in Years 3-5 (2005-2007).

Research Program R3 investigates the feasibility of next-generation accessibility measurement approaches. It creates and tests accessibility measures for medical instrumentation and produces an instrument, the Medical Equipment Device-Accessibility and Universal Design Information Tool (MED-AUDIT), to be used for product evaluation, comparison and redesign. This instrument will be beta tested in Research Program R2 and in Development Program D2 as it is completed. Peak activity in Years 2-4 (2004-2006).

Development Program D3 monitors, develops and demonstrates approaches for designing medical diagnostic, therapeutic, procedural, and assistive technology equipment that is interoperable, and that integrates with minimally obtrusive evaluation and interactive telesupport. Peak activity in Years 3-5 (2005-2007).

Research Program R4 conducts interviews with clinic directors and hospital administrators and with medical educational institutions regarding instrumentation-related healthcare facility policy and procedures. It also conducts interviews with public policymakers at the federal and state levels regarding standards for design and procurement of medical instrumentation. Peak activity in Years 3-5 (2005-2007).

Development Program D4 develops design guidelines for medical instrumentation designers and manufacturers, selection and use guidelines for individual healthcare recipients and service providers, and general guidelines regarding policies and procedure development for service providers. In addition, the program develops guidelines for federal and state legislative and regulatory bodies and medical facility administrators. Peak activity in Years 4-5 (2006-2007).