When deploying personal health information systems such as patient portals Health Centers will often encounter challenges in effectively engaging their patient population. Understanding where these challenges are originating can at times be difficult to determine. One obvious area of evaluation is in determining whether the system being deployed is appropriately usable for the population.

Patient perception of the overall usability of the patient portal system can be evaluated through use of survey instruments such as the Systems Usability Scale (SUS). SUS is a well-established and validated usability scale that helps to determine the value, ease and interest of users of a particular system.

Located in the Downloads section below are English and Spanish SUS survey instruments. Also located below is a link to further information on leveraging the SUS measures.