Bubba Design

Overview

In the intricate ecosystem of healthcare, effective communication between doctors and clinical laboratories is paramount. The BiomedCare platform was designed to address systemic inefficiencies, reduce errors, and establish trust among healthcare professionals. By applying User-Centered Design (UCD) principles and incorporating insights from real-world healthcare practices, BiomedCare redefines how medical requests are generated, processed, and managed, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and patient safety.

BiomedCare represents a pivotal shift in how healthcare professionals communicate and collaborate. By addressing the systemic challenges of manual processes and fragmented workflows, the platform empowers doctors and laboratories to deliver safer, faster, and more reliable patient care. This case study exemplifies how user-centered design and technological innovation can drive meaningful change in healthcare.

ROLE

UX Designer

DELIVERABLES

Research Findings

UX Website Design

DURATION

4 Months
(Aug. 2023 – Dec. 2023)

The Problem Statement

Unveiling the Problem

Patient safety remains a cornerstone of healthcare quality management, yet systemic inefficiencies in communication between physicians and laboratories pose significant risks.

"At the heart of this issue lies a broken system where handwritten and manual processes create barriers to effective collaboration, compromising patient safety and delaying care."

Handwritten medical requests, rife with errors due to illegibility, omissions, and transcription mistakes, account for up to 90.9% of pre-analytical errors. These preventable mistakes delay diagnoses, compromise patient outcomes, and inflate healthcare costs. Despite advancements in technology, many healthcare providers continue to rely on manual processes that fail to meet the standards of accuracy and reliability required for optimal patient care. BiomedCare was developed to address these challenges by delivering a user-centered, digital platform that enhances communication, reduces errors, and streamlines workflows.

The Challenge

The Cracks in Healthcare Communication: A System in Need of Repair

The healthcare industry is plagued by inefficiencies stemming from manual processes and outdated methods of communication. Diagnostic errors, delays, and preventable mistakes are often the byproducts of these systems, leading to significant risks for patient safety.

Error-Prone Processes:

Studies reveal that 90.9% of pre-analytical errors originate from inadequate or illegible medical requests. These include transcription errors, missing information, and illegible handwriting.

Fragmented Workflows:

Physicians and laboratories often struggle to maintain seamless communication, resulting in delays and misinterpretations of diagnostic data, and ultimately treatments.

Overwhelming Complexity:

Existing platforms fail to prioritize user accessibility, creating barriers for professionals who lack advanced technical expertise.

The need for a streamlined, intuitive, and user-focused solution was clear, and BiomedCare set out to address these critical issues with a solution that prioritizes user-centric design, safety, and simplicity.

Our Mission

Building Bridges for Seamless Collaboration

BiomedCare was developed to bridge these critical gaps in healthcare communication. Our mission was guided by three core objectives:

Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy:

Standardizing electronic medical requests to minimize errors and ensure patient safety.

Streamlining Workflows:

Creating a platform that simplifies interactions between physicians and laboratories, saving time and reducing administrative burdens.

Fostering Trust and Usability:

Designing an intuitive system that instills confidence and is accessible to professionals with varying levels of technical proficiency.

Our Design Process

From Concept to Creation: How BiomedCare Took Shape

Research & Discovery

We engaged healthcare professionals to identify pain points, analyzed existing platforms, & aligned with ISO 15189 standards to ensure compliance & reliability.

Ideation

I worked on physical/paper sketches to outline workflows and features, incorporating feedback to refine designs for optimal usability.

Visual Design

A calming palette, clean typography, and approachable shapes established BiomedCare’s trust and clarity-focused aesthetic.

Prototyping

Interactive prototypes simulated core features, and iterative feedback shaped the final design for seamless user experience.

Discovery and Research

Unearthing the Foundation of BiomedCare

Our design process began with a thorough exploration of user needs:

User Interviews

We engaged physicians and biochemists to understand their workflows and pain points. These conversations revealed a shared desire for clear, error-free communication.

Market Analysis

We examined existing platforms, identifying usability gaps and opportunities to create a more effective solution.

Standards Integration

We aligned our design with ISO 15189 standards to ensure the platform’s compliance and reliability in medical request processing.

UX Research & Insights

Insights from User Research

Our user research revealed critical insights that shaped BiomedCare’s design and functionality:

01. Doctors’ Needs

Streamlined workflows and error-free templates to save time and reduce administrative burdens.

02. Laboratories’ Challenges

Clear, complete, and standardized medical requests to prevent delays and minimize rework.

03. Shared Goals

A secure and user-friendly platform that fosters trust and collaboration across both user groups.

Competitive Analysis

Learning from the Competition: Insights That Shaped BiomedCare

An in-depth analysis of leading competitor platforms revealed key strengths and weaknesses that informed BiomedCare’s development:

Product Strengths Weaknesses
TigerConnect Secure messaging, comprehensive analytics, HIPAA compliance Overly complex for non-technical users
Connecteam User-friendly interface, instant messaging, task management Limited features for large-scale healthcare operations
PerfectServe Real-time communication, integration with EHR systems, secure messaging High cost, steep learning curve
Rocket.Chat Open-source customization, HIPAA compliance, encrypted messaging Requires technical expertise for customization

BiomedCare aimed to combine the best features of these platforms while addressing their limitations to deliver an unparalleled experience.

Ideation and Brainstorming

User Personas

Walking in Their Shoes: Understanding BiomedCare’s Users

To ensure BiomedCare addressed the real-world needs of its users, we created detailed personas based on insights gathered through interviews and surveys:

Dr. Sarah Thompson

Goals:

Submit detailed and accurate medical requests efficiently.

Challenges:

Time constraints & frequent errors in manual submissions hinder her ability to focus on patient care.

Behavior:

Tech-savvy but values tools that simplify her workflow & minimize administrative tasks.

James Lee

Goals:

Process medical requests accurately and promptly to ensure timely results.

Challenges:

Often receives incomplete or ambiguous requests, leading to
rework.

Behavior:

Detail-oriented and receptive to tools that enhance communication and clarity.

Information Architecture

Mapping the Experience: BiomedCare’s Information Architecture

BiomedCare’s information architecture was designed to provide seamless navigation and intuitive workflows for its users.

General Practitioners/medical Personnels

Laboratory Technicians

Visual Design

Defining the Visual Identity and Branding

The graphic identity of BiomedCare was crafted to inspire trust and calmness. We employed cool tones of blue and green, organic shapes, and sans-serif typography to create a modern yet approachable aesthetic. These design choices emphasized clarity and professionalism, aligning with the platform’s objectives.

The Proposed Solution

BiomedCare’s Key Features

The platform was designed to deliver a seamless and impactful user experience by employing the following:

Standardized Medical Requests

Pre-filled templates with mandatory fields reduce errors and ensure compliance with ISO standards.

Real-Time Collaboration

Secure, HIPAA-compliant messaging enables direct communication between doctors and laboratories.

Actionable Analytics

Insights into request trends to support informed decision-making.

Intuitive, scalable Design

A user-friendly interface tailored for professionals with varying levels of technical proficiency, and adaptable for future upgrades

Comprehensive Request Management

Doctors can create, track, and update requests, while laboratories can manage and process them efficiently.

Prototyping

From Vision to Validation

Some Final Design Screens - Landing Page

Some Final Design Screens - Dashboard

The Results & Impact

Projecting the Impact: How BiomedCare Will Transform Healthcare Communication

BiomedCare is designed to create substantial improvements in healthcare communication and workflows, with the following projected outcomes:

Significant Error Reduction

Digitized medical requests are expected to minimize transcription errors, greatly improving patient safety.

Enhanced Workflow Efficiency

Streamlined processes will enable faster collaboration between doctors and labs, reducing turnaround times.

Widespread Adoption

A user-friendly platform is anticipated to receive positive feedback for its reliability & ability to enhance professional collaboration.

Key Learnings and Future Directions

Looking Forward: Lessons Learned and What Comes Next

Key Learnings

  • Close collaboration with end-users ensures the solution addresses real-world challenges effectively.
  • A balanced approach to design—combining simplicity with robust functionality—encourages adoption across diverse user groups.

Next Steps

  • Enhanced Features: Incorporate AI-driven diagnostic tools for predictive insights.
  • Global Expansion: Add multilingual support to serve a broader audience.
  • Continuous Feedback Loop: Establish mechanisms to gather ongoing user insights and refine the platform.