Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

Which one of the following is NOT a principle of safe design?

1. Redundancy

2. Add steps

3. Simplicity

4. Clear feedback

The correct answer is: Add steps

In the context of safe design principles, adding steps is generally considered counterproductive. Safe design principles emphasize minimizing complexity in systems and processes to reduce the potential for errors. By incorporating too many steps, there is an increased risk that users may overlook critical tasks or become confused, ultimately leading to safety hazards. Redundancy, simplicity, and clear feedback are all foundational principles aimed at enhancing safety. Redundancy introduces backup systems to provide fail-safes; simplicity streamlines processes to make them more manageable and easier to follow; and clear feedback ensures that users receive timely and understandable information about their actions, which helps prevent misunderstandings and mistakes. In contrast, adding unnecessary steps complicates a system, making it less safe rather than more secure.