MedReportGuard
I led the UX/UI, Branding, and managed the technical development of two web applications used in healthcare environments:DVRR – Domestic Violence Report & Refferal
e923 – The California State Sexual Assault Examination Report
Take what was traditionally recorded on non-standardized paper forms, and create web based products to be used in hospital and clinic settings.
For the examiners who sit with patients undertaking medical examinations of something so traumatic, develop a user interface that was not only very easy to use for non-technical people, but also would not get in the way during an emotionally trying interview experience for patients.
The UX/UI was designed from a ‘tablet first’ perspective. We knew users (healthcare workers, forensic examiners) would be on laptops also, but the goal was for examiners to sit bedside while working with the patients so the application is optimized for both views.
This was also a dramatic departure from pen and paper, so maintaining some consistencies from the legacy paper form was important for the examiners, while balancing the efficiencies that are afforded via the electronic version.
The resulting application for the 923 CA State Sexual Assault Exam inlcudes complex logic, progress indicators for each section of the exam, reminders and hints throughout the process that help users fill out the reports accurately and completely.
The functionality below, to add multiple findings to body images is a layered experience allowing users to tap body locations, and then indicate the injuries and all their attributes in just a few simple tabs/clicks.
Typically I don’t work on software that I don’t want people to interact with…
Ideally no one would need to use this platform that we built, but that’s not today’s world as is very apparent if you watch the news. I literally get system notifications all day long which indicates that the tools are being used successfully, which is a good thing. But by the same token these are reminders that people are hurt and abused daily. So while this project, like any, had it’s unique challenges. The reward is that it’s helping victims, examiners, advocates, police officers, district attorneys, and all the other people who commit their lives and careers to helping those in need.
RESULTS
Since the launch of these projects the Family Justice Center in Alameda county has seen a 50% increase in the number of victims getting help to remove themselves and their families from these abusive situations. Prosecutions related to these crimes have increased, and healthcare workers report up to a 40% increased efficiency in completing their exams.
Also, after 18 months in operation the state of California announced that the new electronic version of the 923 Sexual Assault exam is to be the defacto standard for the state.
Analyzing support requests has shown that users biggest issues with the system have been training and/or remembering passwords related, in nearly all cases the actual usability of the report across the state has been relatively easy for non-technical users to pick up and master. Ongoing interviews with users is providing more data for updates and improvements we want to make in order to continually improve the experience for the users.
I’m extremely proud to be playing a part in this, using design and technology to help the far too widespread an issue of interpersonal violence and assault.
