How we built Hiedra: The design system that has become the foundation of our work
Read more about Hiedra, Qubika’s Product Design & Usability Studio’s design system.
Telemedicine UX and UI: How to improve app design for better patient experience
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a surge in the adoption of telemedicine-related technologies. Overall telemedicine usage has stabilized at 38x higher than it was before the pandemic, with virtual visits, remote patient monitoring, patient portals, and even different types of medical imaging all rapidly becoming more commonplace. As these amazing advancements become increasingly central to people’s healthcare and thus lives, in order to avoid widening the digital divide we must ensure accessibility and intuitiveness are treated co-equally with security and interoperability.
Thoughtfully crafting a user’s experience is where both UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) designers come into play. UI covers the user-facing elements of an application, such as images, buttons, and forms for collecting user information. UX on the other hand covers how these various elements fit together in conjunction with all the paths that a user might take, such as structuring what steps a user must go through to reset their password. In this way of thinking, designers focus on the needs of the users in all phases of the design process, in order to create a usable, accessible and exciting experience for them.
Why UX matters in telemedicine apps
Due to the highly sensitive nature of the information collected within telemedicine applications, there are a myriad of regulatory requirements and liabilities involved with creating and running those applications. Because of this, teams may find themselves narrowly focusing on system performance and security, with design – and telemedicine UX – becoming an afterthought.
While this may be pragmatic from a compliance perspective in a cost-constrained environment, as the telemedicine industry matures and user choice expands, an important differentiator will become the user experience. What’s more, a systemic result of degraded usability is that the least tech-literate will see a reduced quality of care. As such, it is both strategically beneficial and socially responsible to start thinking now about UX as an essential piece of the telemedicine puzzle.
ADA compliance is ill-defined
While Robles v. Dominoes Pizza, LLC held that businesses cannot be required to adopt the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1), it also established that websites and apps are subject to ADA compliance. At this time, there are no concrete technical specifications for what constitutes ADA compliance in a digital context.
This means that any company accused of having a non-compliant site or app will have to defend themselves without any accepted standard for compliance. In order to minimize legal exposure, the safest choice is to adhere to WCAG 2.1, the most widely-known and well-developed standard.
These guidelines enumerate how to ensure that users receive an equal experience regardless of their disabilities, and touch on everything from content structure, to color palettes, to metadata that can be leveraged by screen readers. These requirements are frequently eschewed as they can be costly while also restricting the choices of UX/UI designers.
So how do UX/UI designers address these challenges in order to create elegant interfaces and a fair user experience for all? By thinking strategically to create an accessible experience.
Best practices for telemedicine app UI design
Research comes first
One of the very first steps in a designer’s process is to research their target users. Healthcare can be particularly challenging due to its extremely broad audience. Designers have to keep in mind many factors such as older generations who haven’t overcome the digital divide, people with disabilities, literacy levels, and more.
What’s more, users are frequently healthcare professionals, not just patients. Hospitals, clinics, and doctors have completely different, and likely much more complex, needs.
Compact and concise is key
Surprisingly, not enough healthcare technology is designed with the user in mind. In fact, 95% of healthcare apps are only looked at once, or never looked at. Designers are trying to change this reality and have to keep in mind what components make great UX/UI design, and what factors drive people back to use the application again and again.
One important factor to enhance the customers experience along with UX design is content. If the content is too difficult to understand, no matter how nice the design is, the user will not use the application. Content needs to be understood by an array of different people with different backgrounds and education levels. According to Policy Genius, only 4% of Americans can properly identify the top 4 major healthcare terms. Having content that is easier to understand is a key step in this process and will change the whole experience for those using the application.
The design of these applications must be clear, concise, and easy to navigate. Applications should have similar designs across all platforms, which includes consistent design patterns and patterns of interaction, button locations, and color schemes.
For those with disabilities, there should also be toggle-able options such as high-contrast color palettes, dyslexia-resistant fonts, and the replacement of images with text.
The future of healthcare apps and UX
As telemedicine apps continue to grow in popularity, so will adjacent technologies such as wearable health trackers.
According to Statista, it is expected that 1.1 billion people are going to be using some form of wearable by 2022. With the growth in popularity of such devices it is crucial for the UX/UI of fitness trackers to be compact, clear, and easy to use just like their telemedicine counterparts.
Qubika in healthcare
A good telemedicine user experience can help people tremendously, and even save lives. Conversely, poor telemedicine UI/UX can have an equally deleterious effect. For all of the social, commercial, and legal liability reasons outlined above, it is essential that telemedicine companies think intentionally about UI/UX and application accessibility.
Qubika is a modern digital service provider that is working on the next generation of healthcare platforms for leading organizations. We have helped numerous healthcare providers develop and maintain HIPAA-compliant health and telehealth applications – learn more about our Healthcare Studio and our UX/UI design capabilities.
FAQs about telemedicine app design and UX
What is telehealth UX, and why is it important?
Telehealth UX refers to the user experience design of telemedicine platforms. It focuses on creating intuitive, accessible, and efficient interfaces that facilitate seamless interactions between patients and healthcare providers. Effective telehealth UX is crucial for ensuring patient engagement, satisfaction, and adherence to treatment plans.
How does telemedicine app design impact patient engagement?
Thoughtful telemedicine app design enhances patient engagement by simplifying navigation and reducing friction. Features such as easy appointment scheduling, clear communication channels, and personalized dashboards encourage patients to actively participate in their healthcare journey.
What are common challenges in telemedicine app design?
Designing telemedicine apps involves balancing usability with regulatory compliance and data security. Challenges include ensuring HIPAA compliance, protecting patient data, and creating interfaces that are accessible to users with varying levels of digital literacy.
How can telehealth UX improve accessibility for diverse patient populations?
Telehealth UX can enhance accessibility by incorporating features like adjustable text sizes, voice commands, and multilingual support. Designing with inclusivity in mind ensures that patients with disabilities or limited technological proficiency can effectively use telemedicine services.
What role does user feedback play in telemedicine app design?
User feedback is integral to refining telemedicine app design. Regularly collecting and analyzing patient and provider input helps identify pain points and areas for improvement, leading to more user-centric and effective telehealth solutions.
How does integrating AI enhance telehealth UX?
Incorporating AI into telehealth UX can provide personalized experiences through features like symptom checkers, predictive analytics, and automated reminders. These tools can streamline workflows for providers and offer tailored support for patients, improving overall satisfaction.
What best practices should be followed in telemedicine app design?
Best practices in telemedicine app design include prioritizing user-centered design, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations, and conducting thorough usability testing. Additionally, maintaining consistent branding and providing clear instructions can enhance user trust and engagement.
