Applications for Care Professionals.
Integrate Vitalink datasets into existing modules of your application e.g. medication file (including e-prescription, medication scheme, etc.), vaccination file, screenings, etc. instead of making separate or stand-alone functionalities. The health application should adapt itself to its target audience. Applications for healthcare professionals can be totally different from applications for citizens/patients.
When opening the application, the software automatically checks if informed consent (IC) and therapeutic link (TL) are registered. If yes, the application checks if new information is available on Vitalink and synchronizes the information. This can be done for one or more datasets. If not, the application visually shows no IC and/or TL are present and offers possibility to register via 1 click.
Users should be informed if connection with Vitalink is being established (e.g. loading icon). The users should be informed when the connection with Vitalink is established (e.g. green check connected to Vitalink logo) vs. could not be made (e.g. red cross connected to Vitalink logo).
In no case, any of the above actions obstructs continuation of the healthcare professional’s normal use of the application. When no connection to Vitalink is possible, the healthcare professional should be able to work on the previous downloaded dataset.
The vendor can monitor the performance of the connection with Vitalink. If connecting takes more than 60-120 seconds, the connection will automatically break down and the healthcare professional will be informed in a user-friendly way about the problem (no error codes!). Error reports should easily be generated, deleted from all personal identifiable information and send towards the vendor.
If applicable, the application should make a visual distinction between new (Vitalink) and old (local) information. In doing so, it makes a comparison easier for the healthcare professional.
For more information on specific usability guidelines when integrating Vitalink into your application, check the guidelines on usability for healthcare professionals .
Applications for the Patients/Citizens
The health application should adapt itself to its target audience. Applications for citizens, patients, informal caregivers or children can have different user interfaces and functionalities, depending on the user profile.
When opening the application, the software automatically checks if informed consent (IC) is registered. If yes, the application checks if information is available on Vitalink, it informs the patient/citizen and synchronizes it. This can be done for one or more datasets. Users should be informed if a connection with Vitalink is being established (e.g. loading icon). The users should be informed when the connection with Vitalink is established (e.g. green check connected to Vitalink logo) vs. could not be made (e.g. red cross connected to Vitalink logo).
The vendor can monitor the performance of the connection with Vitalink. If connecting takes more than 60-120 seconds, the connection will automatically break down and the user will be informed in a user-friendly way about the problem (no error codes!). Errors report should easily be generated, deleted from all personal identifiable information and send towards the vendor.
If applicable, the application should make a visual distinction between new (Vitalink) and old (local) information. In doing so, it makes a comparison easier for the patient (e.g.: what new pills to take, etc.).