Healthcare UX/UI Challenges & Innovations

The rise of mobile technology has brought new challenges to health systems. Providers notice patients’ expectations of healthcare services getting higher. People compare their interactions with medical institutions to their user experience while shopping, working, getting educated, or being entertained. As a result, their expectations of UX healthcare are increasing. Digital product design is critical in transforming the ordinary medical service into an enchanting patient experience. 

As UI/UX design professionals, we are excited by the opportunities to collaborate on things with a humane purpose, like healthcare projects. This was the case with the Bold Meditation app, where we started with a UX audit and niche analysis and ended up with a complex product development and launching strategy. 

Table of Contents

• Challenges of UX Healthcare Design 

• Innovations in Healthcare UX/UI

• The Importance of Good UX in Healthcare

• Enhanced Patient Experience (PX)

• Conclusion

Challenges of UX Healthcare Design 

The most urgent UX healthcare challenges are accessibility, interfaces for the senior population, and cybersecurity.

Accessibility

A good UX for healthcare applications caters to the broadest possible user base. It is not a simple task to enable the same level of medical services to people with visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments or those who have limited internet access. And yet the number of such patients can reach up to 25% of the population, which makes accessibility and inclusivity vital features for any healthcare tool.  

Interfaces for seniors

According to the revision of World Population Prospects, one in four people in Europe and Northern America will be over age 65 by 2050. This means that healthcare UI UX designs must include text size choice, contrast variations, video and audio alternatives to text, legible fonts and icons, simple navigation, etc. 

Cybersecurity

More and more clinics and hospitals have started using Electronic Health Records (EHR) to reduce paperwork and increase the speed of services. These records contain sensitive personal information, which can harm patients in the case of a data breach. Digital solutions for medical staff and patients should ensure secure authorization to prevent data loss.      

Innovations in Healthcare UX/UI

Let's see how technologies have influenced UI UX healthcare design, benefiting patients and medical professionals. 

Digital therapeutics (DTx)

DTx is a medical software that helps patients manage chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, cancer, atopic dermatitis, smoking habit, depression, and more. Sidekick Health presents a prominent example of UX healthcare for digital therapeutics. The DTx provides a patient-centric education, support programs, and a holistic management system. Users note the value of information videos and tailored experiences.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) 

RPM is one of the instruments for telehealth care. This technology transmits vital signs from wearable devices to the clinic. An impressive example is the Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM). Clear and seamless interfaces for mobile phones and smartwatches let patients with diabetes read and analyze their glucose levels in real time.

Medical wearables

Smart bracelets, smartwatches, or fitness monitor apps help us realize how we live and change daily habits toward a healthier lifestyle. Some use sophisticated sensors to measure blood sugar, heartbeat rate, pressure, and other medical metrics. 

UI UX design healthcare in the case of medical wearables requires particular mastery. You must place numbers, icons, and fit the crucial data on the tiniest screen. 

Chatbots and AI

Simple menu chatbots can already help to book appointments or remind to take treatment. AI-powered chatbots have much wider functionality. For instance, the IBM Watsons Assistant knows how to track down lab reports, pay bills, and instruct patients about simple inquiries. 

Voice User Interface (VUI)

Since Siri has appeared, VUI is reshaping the human-device relationship. According to a Google survey, 41% of people who own a voice-activated speaker say it feels like talking to a friend or another person. In healthcare, voice interfaces can provide a personal experience similar to the in-person visit to the doctor. 

Medical Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR)

Did you know that virtual reality headsets complemented by software systems help train surgeons? The Osso VR platform states that their participants improved their overall surgical performance by 230% compared with traditional training methods. It vividly illustrates how AR and VR revolutionize medical training software. 

Regarding medical manipulations, the AccuVein scanner shows healthcare workers the veins under your skin. 

Another example is the AppliedVR immersive therapeutics that teaches patients new ways to cope with chronic pain.

The Importance of Good UX in Healthcare

We have distinguished three main ways in which UX design impacts healthcare products.

Boosting consumer loyalty

According to the multipronged research of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions among technology executives of 25 health systems, 92% of survey respondents consider digital capabilities a path to better consumer satisfaction and engagement. It means that the leading healthcare providers understand the need to leverage UX practices for healthcare product development. 

Ensuring clarity for patients and healthcare workers 

Powerful software is a minimal but insufficient requirement for a good medical product. Without an efficient UX healthcare design, patients might fail to access the treatment when they need it the most. Furthermore, a confusing display of numbers on the doctor’s RPM dashboard can lead to deadly mistakes. That is why the healthcare device’s UX is a matter of great importance. 

Increasing efficiency of administrative work

Clinics and hospitals are persistently developing internal administrative systems to help them digitize and automate organization processes and medical routines. However, the success of healthcare information systems depends on effective UX design. 

Care administrators must manage personal records, seamlessly access patient information while doing other tasks, and promptly use telemedicine technologies. These workflow requirements set a high bar for UX healthcare solutions. 

Enhanced Patient Experience (PX)

Nowadays, patients choose among many healthcare products that help them perform and live better. They expect more than just a booking function to see a physician. In fact, they expect several options for their appointment within a given timeframe, location, and clinic of their choice. Patients got used to convenient payment. They want to stay informed if they are OK and have an explanation of their test results in clear words. All in all, patients behave like customers and switch to other healthcare providers if they are not happy with current services. 

On the other hand, clients who have positive experiences will eventually stay loyal and recommend your service to others. As a result, patient experience has become a key factor for healthcare provider success.

Here are some improvement recommendations on typical pain points of medical services: 

• minimize waiting and loading time

• improve communication via chatbots or voice interfaces

• optimize the appointment process with automated systems

• ensure a simple billing process

• collect feedback

• protect patient information

Conclusion

Healthcare organizations have faced the necessity to improve patients’ satisfaction and experience to meet their financial goals. Healthcare UX/UI is the Alpha and Omega regarding accessibility, functionality, and usability. Moreover, digital product design in healthcare can be either a lifesaver or a reason for frustration for patients and medical workers. That is why healthcare UI UX design can’t be neglected or underestimated.   

Arounda agency has been in product design for more than five years. We have grown our mastery in UI/UX design through various niches, including SaaS, Fintech, Web 3, and Healthcare. We find it thrilling to use human-centered design to solve meaningful medical tasks.

So if you are looking for a design team for healthcare UX, we are here to help!