INTRODUCTION
Ensuring better efficacy and outcomes with healthcare UX/UI design
As healthcare increasingly leverages technology, the design of user experience and interface is critical to the success of healthcare software, applications, devices, and platforms. In fact, the efficacy and acceptance of healthcare solutions depend on the UX/UI provided to patients and clinicians, who rely on them as life-saving tools. Intuitive and user-friendly interfaces not only spell convenience but can also improve usage habits that ultimately save lives.
According to Grand View Research, the global healthcare IT market is projected to reach $1,834.3 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.8% from 2024 to 2030. The growth of UX/UI, intrinsic to healthcare IT solutions, will naturally be in step and is destined to improve patient outcomes.
The focus on human-centered and user-centered design to fulfill broader social, cultural, and ethical considerations and satisfy specific user criteria such as accessibility, usability, and experience will drive innovative healthcare UX/UI development projects. The integration of emerging technologies like AI, augmented reality, virtual reality, voice user interface, and wearables with healthcare platforms and solutions have the potential to revolutionize the further use of healthcare UX/UI by:
- Enhancing accessibility and user-friendliness.
- Promoting personalized and self-managed health experiences.
- Improving communication and interaction between providers and patients.
- Providing real-time data and insights for better healthcare management.
CRITERIA
A good solution should meet certain healthcare UX/UI design requirements
In recent times, engineering-centric design has been replaced with usability principles, which have their genesis in design thinking. Design thinking is an iterative linear process comprising five phases:
Empathize: Develop a deep understanding of the problem of the user for whom you are designing.
Define: Articulate the problem clearly as a statement in such a way that you can pinpoint the problem you want to solve.
Ideate: Brainstorm different creative solutions to the problem and involve the user in the selection and development of the final solution.
Prototype: Build a tangible representation of the solution or a series of mock-ups or models to test parts or all of the solution.
Test: Validate the solution with your target audience and engage in a continuous short-cycle innovation process to improve the design.
Iterate to improve, test to define and launch to succeed
In design thinking, the first criterion for healthcare UX/UI design lies in user-centered design.
User-centered design emphasizes understanding the needs, goals, and limitations of the users—in healthcare, that means patients and clinicians or both. Usability focuses on how easily users can navigate a system to accomplish tasks. Intuitive navigation, clear labeling, and streamlined workflows reduce the cognitive load on users, leading to more efficient healthcare delivery.
A complex appointment scheduling software with multiple screens and limited appointment slots displayed can drive away patients and delay care seeking.
Simplicity and clarity are important in healthcare solutions as the information and processes are complex; it is crucial to avoid jargon and organize information in a concise, logical manner.
A mobile app for medication instructions that displays long textual information with no visuals or color coding will only confuse users and trigger non-adherence.
Functionality or the specific capability of healthcare software - EMR, telemedicine, or measuring blood pressure or sugar levels - should be effective. This means the design should prioritize essential features and minimize unnecessary information.
Continuous alerts for minor changes in an EHR system may overwhelm medical staff and delay response when there is a big change, compromising patient safety.
Accessibility is a must in healthcare UX/UI design. Users, irrespective of their age, ability, or technical expertise, should be able to use the solution. Features like adjustable text size, voice commands, closed captioning and transcripts, screen reader compatibility, and keyboard accessibility make the solution effective.
A medical device with a touchscreen interface that is not compatible with screen readers will exclude patients with impaired eyesight and perpetuate health disparities.
Inclusivity is part of human-centered design, and it ensures that healthcare UX/UI design caters to diverse populations. Multilingual solutions with appropriate interfaces ensure that content and design are sensitive to the needs of different people, promoting equitable access to healthcare services.
An English website for a hospital in San Jose poses a barrier to healthcare for Hispanics and does not augur well for the healthcare provider, too, as business is lost.
Aesthetics contribute to the overall healthcare UX/UI design experience by enhancing visual appeal and emotional engagement. Thoughtful use of colors, typography, imagery, and music can have a calming effect on patients, particularly when they are suffering from stress and mental trauma and seek rehabilitation.
A bright red blood pressure monitoring app with fiery tones cannot have a soothing effect on patients and caregivers alike and may even cause anxiety and alter results.
Accuracy and error prevention should be worked into the healthcare UX/UI design to prevent mishaps. Unambiguous instructions, data validation, and confirmation steps can be employed to weed out incorrect or invalid data and to prevent accidental changes.
In addition to the above, security and privacy, trust and transparency, help and support are user-friendly features to be incorporated into the design of healthcare solutions.
EXAMPLES
Potential impact of UX/UI on the success of healthcare solutions
While it is an established fact that healthcare UX/UI design plays an important role, you will be surprised to know that a cross-sectional study of Class I recalls (implying a reasonable likelihood of serious adverse events or death associated with device use) posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s annual log from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2022, found that the most common reason for recall was issues related to device design (103 [54.5%]), followed by manufacturing errors (25 [13.2%]) and processing errors (22 [11.6%]).
Here are some examples of bad UX/UI that led to the failure of healthcare solutions.
- In 2008, the FDA recalled an ultrasound system because the interface led doctors to confuse the left and right sides of the brain when evaluating patients.
- A glucometer was recalled because the decimal point on the screen was so small that users misinterpreted the reading.
- A fluoroscopic imaging system that set off an alarm was recalled because the alarm could only be heard in the control room and not by the doctors in the procedure room.
Based on good user experience and the problem-solving features of healthcare software, apps, and platforms, various organizations institute awards. Here are some examples of good UX/UI that won awards in 2023.
- Masimo Stork: A smart home baby monitoring system comprising a sensor, boot, hub, cloud, and app that allows parents to stay connected with their baby via two-way audio and continuous health data has won the Excellence in Design Award, 2024 from the iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hanover, Germany.
- Portrait Mobile: A patient-monitoring solution for hospitals that offers continuous monitoring and a real-time view of patient status at the bedside remotely, focusing on patient comfort and professional ease of use, has won GE Healthcare a gold at the International Design Excellence Awards 2023 given by the Industrial Designers Society of America.
- eClinicalWorks: An EHR/practice management solution for small, independent practices (2–10 physicians) with some customer ratings of 100 after the release of version 12b for improved customer experience and functionality, has won the Best in KLAS 2024 award for the most improved physician practice product.
OUR SOLUTION
We keep track of design trends and adapt relevant UX/UI healthcare features
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Unless the user interface is simple and the user experience is happy, a solution cannot succeed even if it is built on the best technology stack. We at Asahi Technologies, therefore, put ourselves in the position of our clients when designing software. When our client, HealthOps, an established healthcare operations management vendor working with leading hospitals in the US, needed a solution for order fulfillment, we provided a highly intuitive solution comprising a requestor app and an admin portal that the users -both at the hospital and the central equipment services hub were able to understand and use effortlessly. How did we do it? Rahul J, chief solutions architect, Asahi Technologies, provides insights:
“The main design feature we were lauded for is the consistency we provided across the user interface, and the workflow process matched what was in practice. Familiarity adds to acceptability and adherence to an app. When we developed the app, e-commerce was at its height. Everyone in the US was shopping online, and an ‘Add to Cart’ button with a shopping cart concept was our choice for the order placement process of thousands of equipment across 100 categories for a large 450+ beds hospital with more than 40 clinical departments and 250+ specialized clinical programs.
We had to do it without overloading already stressed doctors and nurses with details; we had to ensure there was no clutter, too, and that finding what they wanted was not a task. We had to make sure the process flow was smooth. We introduced the ‘Ordered Frequently’ option, and the app was fluid -with a great user experience, be it on a smartphone, tablet, or PC.
Simple steps with visual clarity made it work like a breeze. So, in a nutshell, great UX/UI meets primary needs without fuss or fanfare. Our client did make a special request later, a snapshot view of Order Status, apart from the single-screen display of orders. Voilà, we had it ready in no time! Superlative healthcare UX/UI design means the ability to add layers of customization or fresh usability features as the need arises. Never underestimate the importance of understanding user needs and preferences through user research and feedback, and be prepared to make incremental value-adds.”
CONCLUSION
Adhere to the dos and don’ts in healthcare UX/UI for improved healthcare delivery
In the final analysis, it is important to prioritize the performance and reliability of a healthcare solution rather than go overboard to satisfy UI novelty features. Remember that healthcare UX/UI design should help to deliver accurate and timely information to support clinical decision-making and patient care. So, do not neglect usability testing throughout the design process to identify and address potential issues before deployment.
