User Interface and Interaction

3.1 Interface Overview:

To select functions, the user simply has to 'point and click'. Manipulation of text data will then be done using the keyboard. This type of graphical interface was chosen so make the system unimposing and user friendly. The chief goal of the interface design team was to build a system interface that most individuals could utilize with minimal training. A good system is one that gets used!

The system has a main dialogue screen that enables the user to select primary function groupings. These groupings are identical to those found in section two of this report. Whenever a particular function grouping is chosen, a screen particular to that group will be displayed, allowing the user to direct processing as required. When a particular function is exited, the system will return to the main selection screen. It should be noted that unless the user chooses to exit a particular function screen, the system will remain active at the screen. This feature was chosen to facilitate ease of performing multiple iterations of the same task.

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances,a design for the maintenance functions screen is not available at this time. It should be noted as well that this function has also been omitted from the main selection screen. This was due primarily to the last minute addition of this group of functions to the system.

3.2 Detailed Interface Description:

3.2.1 Screen Name: Main Selection Screen:

• Label Parts: There are buttons to get to the Patient Records, Personnel Records, Operating Schedule, Staff Schedule, and Maintenance screens.
• Add:
• Modify:
• Delete:
• Save:
• Close:
  • There is no close or exit button as it is assumed that this system will always be running.

3.2.2 Screen Name: Patient Information:

• Label Parts:
  • There are fields in which to enter the patient's ID number, the ward that they are admitted to, the room that they are assigned to, their admission date, their expected leave date, if they are on the waiting list or not, their first name and last name, address, city, province, postal code,and phone number.
  • There is also a list box where the patient information, for example what room they are in, can be viewed.
  • There are six buttons on this screen:
    1. "Add/New" - to add a new patient to the system
    2. "Operating" - to check the patient's operating schedule
    3. "Undo" - to modify any information on the screen
    4. "Save" - to save the information to the data base
    5. "Delete" - to delete the patient's information
    6. "Close" - to close the screen
• Add:
  • By clicking on the Add/New button you will get a blank screen in which to add the new patient's information. To get to the individual fields one should use the tab button.
  • If there is a room available then they are immediately admitted to the hospital, otherwise they are put on the waiting list.
• Modify:
  • To modify the patient's information hit the Undo button and then correct the relevant information.
• Delete:
  • To delete a patient hit the Delete button.
• Save:
  • To save the patient's information hit the Save button. This will add the information to the data base.
• Close:
  To close the screen and go back to the main screen hit the Close button.
• Error Messages:
  • A message will come up asking the user if they want to delete any information after hitting the delete button.
  • A message will come asking the user if they are sure that they want to save the information after hitting the save button.
  • A message will come up telling the user that he has to save the information if they hit the close button without hitting the save button.
• Algorithms:
  • Screen Name: Patient Information
  • Records the following information:
    • Patient ID
    • Ward - (to which the patient is assigned)
    • Room/Waitlist Priority
    • Arrival date
    • Expected leave date
    • First Name
    • Last Name
    • Address
    • City
    • Province
    • Postal Code
    • Phone number
  • This screen allows you to perform the following functions:
    • Browse:
      The default mode for the Patient screen is browsing. There is no specific browse button. To browse the Patient database enter information in any one of the fields. It will actively search the database for the patient(s) with that particular information pertaining to that field. The patient(s) that match that information will appear in the list box on the bottom of the screen. To narrow the search just enter in more fields. To perform an action on a specific patient you must click on the patient in the list box.
    • Add New Patient:
      The Add/New button allows you to add new patients to the database. Search(Patients) to ensure that there is no duplicate names Assuming that there is no duplicate
      1. clear(Patient Information)
      2. edit(Patient Information) - enter edit mode
      3. enter data
      4. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • Edit Patient Record:
      The Edit button allows you to change a patient's information. A patient is selected via browsing or if a duplicate patient was encountered when adding a new patient.
      1. edit(Patient Information) - enter edit mode
      2. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • Schedule Patient Operation:
      The Operation button allows you to schedule a patient's operation. A patient is selected via browsing.
      1. openform(Operating Room Schedule, patient ID)
      2. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • Discharge Patient:
      The Discharge button allows you to discharge a patient from the hospital.

      A patient is selected via browsing.

      1. update Leave date for patient
      2. update ward/room
      3. print(discharge notice, patient ID)
    • Wait List Notification:
      This is a future enhancement.
    • Save Patient Information:
      The Save button allows you to save any changes that you have made to the patient's record.
      1. update patient record
      2. exit edit mode
    • Delete Patient Record:
      The Delete button allows you to remove a patient's record from the database. A patient is selected via browsing.
      1. confirm delete patient
      2. if yes then remove patient's row from database and clear screen
      3. if no do no-op.
    • Cancel:
      The Cancel button performs two functions:
      1. closes the Patient Information window if no changes were made.
      2. if a new record was added or a record was edited
         1. confirm cancel without saving
         2. if yes then exit edit mode without saving changes
         3. if no then do no-op.

3.2.3 Screen Name: Staff information:

• Label Parts:
  • There are fields in which to enter the staff member's ID number, their specialty, their title (Doctor, Supervising or Regular Nurse), their first and last names, their address, city, prov, pcode, and phone number.
  • There are six buttons on this screen:
    1. "Add/New" - to add a new staff member to the system
    2. "Operating" - to check the staff member's operating schedule
    3. "Shift" - to check the staff member's shift schedule
    4. "Undo" - to modify any information on the screen
    5. "Save" - to save the information to the data base
    6. "Delete" - to delete the staff member's information
    7. "Close" - to close the screen
  • There is also a list box where the staff member's information can be viewed.
• Add:
  • By clicking on the Add/New button you will get a blank screen in which to add the new staff member's information. To get to the individual fields one should use the tab button.
• Modify:
  • To modify the staff member's information hit the Undo button and then correct the relevant information.
• Delete:
  • To delete a staff member hit the Delete button.
• Save:
  • To save the staff member's information hit the Save button. This will add the information to the data base.
• Close:
  • To close the screen and go back to the main screen hit the Close button.
• Error Messages:
  • A message will come up asking the user if they want to delete any information after hitting the delete button.
  • A message box will come up asking the user to verify the ward schedule information. It will state if an extra doctor is needed on a particular ward for a particular shift etc.
  • A message will come up telling the user that he has to save the information if they hit the close button without hitting the save button.
• Algorithms:
  • Staff Information Screen
  • Records the following information:
    • Staff ID
    • Specialty
    • Title (Doctor, Nurse, Supervisor Nurse)
    • First Name
    • Last Name
    • Address
    • City,
    • Province
    • Postal Code
    • Phone number
  • This screen allows you to perform the following functions:
    • Browse:
      The default mode for the Staff screen is browsing. There is no specific browse button. To browse the Staff database enter information in any one of the fields. It will actively search the database for the staff members with that particular information pertaining to that field. The staff members that match that information will appear in the list box on the bottom of the screen. To narrow the search just enter in more fields. To perform an action on a specific patient you must click on the staff member in the list box.
    • Add New Staff member:
      The Add/New button allows you to add new staff member to the database. Search(Staff) to ensure that there is no duplicate names.

      Assuming that there is no duplicate:

      1. clear(Staff Information)
      2. edit(Staff Information) - enter edit mode
      3. enter data
      4. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • Edit Staff Record:
      The Edit button allows you to change a staff member's information. A staff member is selected via browsing or if a duplicate staff member was encountered when adding a new staff member.
      1. edit(Staff Information) - enter edit mode
      2. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • View Operating Schedule:
      The Operation button allows you to view that staff member's operating schedule. A staff member is selected via browsing.
      1. openform(Operating Room Schedule, staff ID)
    • View Shift Schedule:
      The Shift button allows you to view that staff member's shift schedule. A staff member is selected via browsing.
      1. openform(Shift Schedule, staff ID)
    • Save Staff Information:
      The Save button allows you to save any changes that you have made to the staff member's record.
      1. update record
      2. exit edit mode
    • Delete Staff Record:
      The Delete button allows you to remove a staff member's record from the database. A staff member is selected via browsing.
      1. confirm delete
      2. if yes then remove row from database and clear screen
      3. if no do no-op.
    • Cancel:
      The Cancel button performs two functions:
      1. closes the Staff Information window if no changes were made.
      2. if a new record was added or a record was edited
         1. confirm cancel without saving
         2. if yes then exit edit mode without saving changes
         3. if no then do no-op.

3.2.4 Screen Name: Operating Room Schedule:

• Label Parts:
  • There are fields in which to add the date, operation number, start time of the operation, and expected end time of the operation, and the patient to be operated on.
  • There are list boxes that will allow the user to choose the ward that the patient is coming from, the operating room number, the recovery room number, the two Doctors available to perform the operation, and the two nurses that are available to assist the Doctors.
  • There is also a scroll box where the O/R schedule can be viewed.
  • There are six buttons on this screen:
    1. "Add/New" - to add a new operation to the system
    2. "Undo" - to modify any information on the screen
    3. "Save" - to save the information to the data base
    4. "Delete" - to delete the operation information
    5. "Close" - to close the screen
• Add:
  • To add an operation to the schedule hit the Add/New button and precede to enter the necessary information.
• Modify:
  • To modify the information hit the Undue button, and then go about editing the necessary information.
• Delete:
  • To delete information hit the Delete button.
• Save:
  • To save the O/R schedule information hit the save button. This will add the information to the data base.
• Close:
  • To close the screen and go back to the main screen hit the Close button.
• Error Messages:
  • A message will come up asking the user if they want to delete any information after hitting the delete button.
  • A message will come asking the user if they are sure that they want to save the information after hitting the save button.
  • A message will come up telling the user that he has to save the information if they hit the close button without hitting the save button.
• Algorithms:
  • Screen Name: Operating Room Schedule
  • Records the following information:
    • Date of operation
    • Start time of operation
    • End time of operation
    • Pateint's name
    • Ward
    • Operating room number
    • Recovery room number
    • Doctor 1's name
    • Doctor 2's name
    • Nurse 1's name
    • Nurse 2's name
  • This screen allows you to perform the following functions:
    • Browse:
      The default mode for the O/R schedule screen is browsing. There is no specific browse button. To browse the O/R schedule database enter information in any one of the fields. It will actively search the database for the O/R schedule with that particular information pertaining to that field. The O/R schedule that matches that information will appear in the list box on the bottom of the screen. To narrow the search just enter in more fields. To perform an action on a specific patient you must click on the O/R schedule in the list box.
    • Add New O/R schedule:
      The Add/New button allows you to add new operation to the database.
      1. clear( O/R schedule)
      2. edit( O/R schedule) - enter edit mode
      3. enter data
      4. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • Edit O/R schedule Record:
      The Edit button allows you to change an O/R schedule. An O/R schedule is selected via browsing.
      1. edit( O/R schedule) - enter edit mode
      2. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • Save O/R schedule Information:
      The Save button allows you to save any changes that you have made to the O/R schedule record.
      1. update record
      2. exit edit mode
    • Delete O/R schedule Record:
      The Delete button allows you to remove an O/R schedule from the database. An O/R schedule is selected via browsing.
      1. confirm delete
      2. if yes then remove row from database and clear screen
      3. if no do no-op.
    • Cancel:
      The Cancel button performs two functions:
      1. closes the O/R schedule window if no changes were made.
      2. if a new record was added or a record was edited
         1. confirm cancel without saving
         2. if yes then exit edit mode without saving changes
         3. if no then do no-op.

3.2.5 Screen Name: Shift Schedule:

• Label Parts:
  • There are fields in which to enter the information for date.
  • There are radial buttons to pick the particular shift to schedule (Shift 1, 2 or 3).
  • There are list boxes from which to choose the ward to work in, and the Doctors and Nurses that are available to work during a particular shift.
  • There are six buttons on this screen:
    1. "Add/New" - to add new information for a particular shift to the system
    2. "Undo" - to modify any information on the screen
    3. "Save" - to save the information to the data base
    4. "Delete" - to delete the shift information
    5. "Close" - to close the screen
• Add:
  • To add shift schedule information hit the Add/New button and enter the relevant information.
• Modify:
  • To modify the shift information hit the Undo button and then correct the relevant information.
• Delete:
  • To delete a shift schedule hit the Delete button.
• Save:
  • To save the shift schedule information hit the Save button. This will add the information to the data base.
• Close:
  • To close the screen and go back to the main screen hit the Close button.
• Error Messages:
  • A message will come up asking the user if they want to delete any information after hitting the delete button.
  • A message box will come up asking the user to verify the ward schedule information. It will state if an extra doctor is needed on a particular ward for a particular shift etc.
  • A message will come up telling the user that he has to save the information if they hit the close button without hitting the save button.
• Algorithms:
  • Screen Name: Shift Schedule
  • Records the following information:
    • Date of schedule
    • Ward for schedule
    • Shift period
    • Doctor 1's name
    • Doctor 2's name
    • Nurse 1's name
    • Nurse 2's name
    • Nurse 3's name
    • Nurse 4's name
    • Nurse 5's name
  • This screen allows you to perform the following functions:
    • Browse:
      The default mode for the Shift schedule screen is browsing. There is no specific browse button. To browse the Shift schedule database enter information in any one of the fields. It will actively search the database for the Shift schedule with that particular information pertaining to that field. The Shift schedule that matches that information will appear in the list box on the bottom of the screen. To narrow the search just enter in more fields. To perform an action on a specific patient you must click on the Shift schedule in the list box.
    • Add New Shift schedule:
      The Add/New button allows you to add new operation to the database.
      1. clear( Shift schedule)
      2. edit( Shift schedule) - enter edit mode
      3. enter data
      4. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • Edit Shift schedule Record:
      The Edit button allows you to change an Shift schedule. An Shift schedule is selected via browsing.
      1. edit( Shift schedule) - enter edit mode
      2. hit Save or Cancel button - Save and Cancel functions follow later
    • Save Shift schedule Information:
      The Save button allows you to save any changes that you have made to the Shift schedule record.
      1. update record
      2. exit edit mode
    • Delete Shift schedule Record:
      The Delete button allows you to remove an Shift schedule from the database. An Shift schedule is selected via browsing.
      1. confirm delete
      2. if yes then remove row from database and clear screen
      3. if no do no-op.
    • Cancel:
      The Cancel button performs two functions:
      1. closes the Shift schedule window if no changes were made.
      2. if a new record was added or a record was edited
         1. confirm cancel without saving
         2. if yes then exit edit mode without saving changes
         3. if no then do no-op.

Last Modified Mar. 5, 1996 by

Darrell Nash