Refuah Solutions
Redesigning an app and creating a desktop version for patients referral process, to medical trials
Refuah Solutions
When I joined Refuah Solutions as a UX/UI designer, they already had an existing app. My role was to redesign it and align its functionality with the user's needs and objectives. Although the app had potential, there were some issues with the user experience that required correction, as well as an overall need for a refreshed design.
First I learned the existing app structure and features, and the “Medical language” they use. I’ve conducted interviews with a number of Physicians, from different hospitals in different positions, and defined the company’s audience and competitors.
The primary challenge was to create an app that is user-friendly and easy to navigate, with the goal of encouraging the principal investigator to become more involved in promoting their studies to other physicians.
The app should make it easy for the principal investigator to share information about their studies with other physicians, thereby increasing awareness and potentially leading to more patient enrollments.
The app has a few types of end users: The Principal investigator (PI) who is usually the link between the pharma company and the site (Department in a hospital for example), The coordinator- the one who deals with all the bureaucracy of enrolling patients into the study, and the Sub-Investigator- The physician who meets the patient for the first time and can refer him to a specific study.
The user journey started with the original app baselines. Later, after gathering all the new features and changes that were created in the ideation phase, we changed the structure of the app and the entire design.
The previous application functioned as a passive database and lacked user engagement. It relied solely on the users' willpower and memory to use the platform. Users needed a more interactive application that provides feedback and communication, encouraging the creation of a consistent habit of utilizing the platform.
Moreover, physicians don’t receive any incentives to do so, besides their inner commitment and morals (which can sometimes be neglected when other urgent matters arise)
A possible solution is to motivate physicians by sending them notifications and displaying their pictures next to the studies they lead, as well as facilitating interactions related to the studies within the app.
One of the biggest changes was to create a quick action button for users to make a fast referral process, which didn’t exist before and was too complicated to do.
The application utilizes technical language and medical terminology. The design had to take into consideration the fact that you can’t “Microcopy” long medical terms.
The design elements have been carefully chosen to align with the professional knowledge and experience of a senior physician, rather than adhering to commonly used design conventions.
To accommodate the
demanding hospital routines of
doctors and avoid eye strain,
soothing colors were used in
the app. Dark background was
also incorporated to provide
contrast and prevent reflection
or glare from the bright
hospital lighting.
I had to maintain the old
structure of the app’s
menus, despite wanting
to implement a new one,
due to the stakeholder’s
wishes.
An admin panel is a powerful tool for the owner of the company and pharma sponsors to manage and control the referral process of patients to clinical trials. It allows them to oversee the studies they are sponsoring and monitor the physicians they are working with through the app, ensuring that the process is streamlined and efficient. This enhances the transparency and accountability of the referral process, making it easier for doctors to refer patients to clinical trials-
We are developing a desktop version for our medical app because we understand that physicians spend a significant amount of time in front of computer screens, and it's crucial for them to have access to a tool that allows them to refer candidates to clinical trials efficiently.
The desktop version will provide doctors with the convenience of accessing the app from their workstations, improving their overall productivity and ensuring that they can make informed decisions when referring candidates.
Designing for a senior audience proved to be a unique challenge, in addition to balancing the need for a user-friendly interface with the complex medical language.
The medical aspect of the project was a learning experience for me, and I was proud to contribute to the development of a product that could improve the lives of those in the medical community.
In the future, I would like to continue working on projects that are meaningful and have a positive impact on society.
