MediConnect

Welcome to my latest case study, where I dive into the design process for MediConnect, a platform crafted to streamline communication and data-sharing between doctors and patients.

Through this project, I explored creating an intuitive user experience that addressed critical healthcare needs. My subsequent Chatbot Chronicles case study builds on these principles, showcasing a bot designed for seamless medical consultations.

The users of this product would include:

Step 1: Understanding the problem

I began by conducting a brain dump, jotting down all the words and thoughts that came to mind when thinking about visiting a medical practitioner. During this phase, I worked closely with a multidisciplinary team, participating in brainstorming sessions to generate ideas and concepts for the healthcare application. Together, we explored a range of possibilities and crafted innovative solutions to tackle the challenges and pain points uncovered through user experience research.

Next, we mapped out the user journey, focusing on a scenario where Philip, a user, falls down and needs to plan a visit to the doctor. We outlined the steps Philip would take—from realizing the need for medical attention to scheduling an appointment. The goal was to create a smooth and intuitive process for users like Philip to quickly and easily seek medical help, with minimal friction, leveraging the app’s features to guide him through each step of the journey.

Next, we designed a process flow that involved all key stakeholders: the doctor, the admin, and the patient. The flow illustrated how each stakeholder interacts with the system:

• Patient: Initiates the process by logging into the app, selecting the type of consultation needed, and scheduling an appointment with the doctor.
• Admin: Manages the backend, ensuring that appointments are scheduled, patient data is correctly recorded, and doctors' availability is updated in real time.
• Doctor: Receives appointment notifications, reviews patient information, and prepares for consultations, either through video or in-person. After the consultation, the doctor updates the patient’s records and provides prescriptions or follow-up care instructions.

This flow ensures that all parties are aligned and can efficiently communicate and complete their tasks, streamlining the medical consultation process.

So far, we've explored the ideal scenario; now let's examine the pain points.

The most effective approach would be to create a persona...

Doctor Persona

While creating personas for users like doctors and patients was essential to address their specific needs, we did not create a persona for the admin. This was because the admin’s role was more system-oriented, involving tasks like managing data, monitoring user activity, and ensuring smooth operation, which didn’t require a personalized approach. Instead, the focus was on defining the admin’s functional needs and system requirements to enhance their efficiency.

I next moved to the research phase, where I conducted competitive research and explored emerging trends in the medical field, such as advancements in telemedicine, the integration of AI in diagnostics, and the growing demand for seamless patient experiences through digital health solutions

One quote that really resonated with me during this phase!

Through my research, I uncovered several key insights, including the fact that 80% of patients prefer digital tools for managing their healthcare, and the global telemedicine market is expected to grow to $185.6 billion by 2026. These findings helped shape the design strategy and ensure alignment with current industry needs and user expectations.

Now, it's time to bring all the insights and research together into designs and prototyping—the phase I truly enjoy. This is where the concepts evolve into tangible, user-centered solutions, allowing me to craft intuitive interfaces and seamless experiences that address the needs of all stakeholders. It’s the part of the process where creativity and strategy meet, and I can see the design taking shape into something both functional and impactful.

The ideal solution for a patient would be an app that makes reaching out to healthcare providers just a click away. To achieve this, I designed a user-friendly dashboard where all relevant information is easily accessible. This dashboard consolidates key features in one place, streamlining the process for users and ensuring they have a seamless experience when seeking medical assistance or managing their healthcare needs.

For the doctor, it's essential to have a comprehensive, bird's-eye view of the patient's information on a desktop interface, ensuring that no detail or potential issue is overlooked. This allows the doctor to quickly assess the patient's history, current concerns, and treatment plan, empowering them to make informed decisions and provide effective care without missing any critical information.

The admin, on the other hand, would benefit from a tablet or desktop interface that provides an organized view of what's needed for smooth operations. This platform would allow the admin to easily manage appointments, track patient data, and oversee doctor availability, ensuring that everything is running efficiently and that all stakeholders have the information they need at a glance.

After the paper sketching phase, I moved on to defining what would visually appeal to the user and how the information architecture would be structured to ensure a seamless experience. This phase was crucial in setting a strong foundation for the design.

Additionally, as part of this project, I worked on integrating a chatbot that would assist users by providing quick access to medical information and services. This chatbot was designed to enhance the user experience by facilitating efficient interactions between patients and healthcare providers. You can explore more about this in my Chatbot Chronicles case study.

Mid-level mockup created in Balsamiq for the admin interface.

Here are a few key learnings from this project:

• Importance of User-Centric Design: The entire process reinforced how critical it is to design with the user in mind, ensuring that their needs and pain points are addressed effectively.
• Collaboration is Key: Working with a multidisciplinary team helped refine the design, allowing us to leverage diverse perspectives to create a more holistic solution.
• Iterative Design Process: The iterative nature of design, from brainstorming to prototyping, allowed us to continuously improve and adapt the product based on feedback and testing.
• Design Systems: Implementing a consistent design system not only streamlined development but also ensured a cohesive user experience across platforms.

The implementation phase was all about transforming the design vision into reality. This involved close collaboration with developers to ensure every feature and interaction was seamlessly integrated into the system, effectively addressing the pain points identified during research and design.

Below is the prototype of the app. You can click here to explore an interactive mockup.

Please note that while this version reflects the design at the time of the project launch, our design system and color scheme were further updated afterward. Unfortunately, I do not have access to those updates.

After going live, the evaluation phase focused on gathering user feedback and monitoring performance metrics. This allowed us to refine the product further, ensuring it continued to meet user needs and deliver meaningful impact.

In conclusion, this project has been an exciting journey of learning and growth, where I was able to apply my design skills to a real-world healthcare solution. It provided valuable insights into creating user-friendly, efficient, and impactful experiences for both patients and healthcare providers.

I also worked on chatbots as part of the same project, which I’ve detailed in my Chatbot Chronicles case study.