The healthcare industry is increasingly dependent on technology. Whether it’s electronic health records, disease management apps or doctor appointment scheduling apps, great UX design will make these tools more user-friendly.
Poorly designed healthcare products can have devastating consequences. For example, a glucose meter that is difficult to use can cause serious medical complications for patients.
User-Centric Design
In an industry as complex and personal as healthcare, UX design is key to ensuring that users can interact with digital healthcare tools in ways that are safe and accessible. From telemedicine apps to medical devices, the user experience plays a crucial role in transforming intimidating medical processes into empowering health journeys for patients around the world.
User-centered design is empathetic and requires designers to step into the shoes of their users. This is particularly important for medical software, as nurses and doctors often have to work with sensitive and confidential patient information.
For example, if an app requires nurses to confirm actions, it is important to make sure that they can undo their previous decision if necessary. Also, if an error in a software application can lead to dangerous consequences for the patient, it is critical that all errors be clearly indicated and easily recoverable. This will put the user at ease and increase their confidence in using the tool.
Responsive Design
At its core, healthcare UX design isn’t too different from UX/UI design in other industries; both seek to generate value for users along with strong user engagement and retention. However, there’s an additional layer of responsibility for designers in healthcare: a lousy healthcare experience can have life-or-death consequences.
The stakes are high when it comes to a good healthcare UX, especially as patients demand greater access to their medical data and new tools like telemedicine. But despite the challenges, these new technologies hold great promise for improving patient outcomes and reducing pressure on hospitals and clinics.
A key to success for digital healthcare solutions is designing them to be as easy to use as existing health-related tech. For example, a telemedicine app that allows a patient to easily track their medication and communicate with doctors can significantly improve a patient’s experience. Likewise, a wearable that tracks movement can help stroke victims rehabilitate at home and reduce the strain on hospitals and clinics.
Information Architecture
Like a blueprint for a building, information architecture outlines every avenue and path that users can take through an app or website. But unlike a sitemap, it also describes the hierarchical structure and navigation of a product, including features.
It’s also about how a design works with the language of a product: its visual elements, labels and menus. Information architects often work with UI (user interface) designers to create wireframes, which serve as the first draft of an app or website’s layout.
Using user-centric design, UX designers help transform intimidating medical processes into empowering health journeys. For patients, this means easier access to healthcare services, and for medical staff, it means more intuitive navigation through complex systems and streamlined administrative tasks. And for all, it means accessibility and inclusivity for every kind of user — whatever their age, technological proficiency or physical capabilities. Whether that’s through telemedicine, wearables or simple navigation and assistive tool functionality.
Usability Testing
With new technology making a major impact on healthcare, UX design plays a pivotal role in how accessible and user-friendly these tools are for everyone. From mobile health (mHealth) apps and telemedicine platforms to information systems that help medical staff manage data and patient information, good healthcare UX ensures these tools are intuitive for diverse users.
For patients, this means easy access to health information and more convenient navigation through medical processes. For medical professionals, it translates to streamlined administrative tasks and effective training tools. For example, one study found that using VR to train surgeons improved their surgical performance 230% compared to traditional methods.
During usability testing, observers observe participants as they perform various tasks within a controlled environment — for instance, in a conference room — and take notes. This helps identify potential issues with interfaces, such as if a task’s wording could cause confusion or if the design of an interface is in line with how users normally interact with similar products or services.
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