Remec

Project Overview

Remec is a mobile app made to help people with low income or that live far from urban centers to access medical consultations. Even if those described are the end-users, Remec's purpose is to globally improve the national healthcare system.

Goals

Provide quick medical assistance with an automated system
Make remote consultancy easier for both patients and doctors
Create an app with a database to educate users about health
Use the full power of digital devices for medical purposes

Kickoff

I felt the first thing to do was to investigate health care issues in various countries. I needed to better understand the problem before asking some potential users helpful questions. During my brainstorming I was wondering:

Could this app be useful for people or is it unnecessary?
What is the most important feature to build?
Who is the end-user?

Surveys

I conducted a survey as part of the foundational research. I asked some questions to a sample of 5 participants to understand if they could find useful a digital service like Remec and if they will trust this type of medical consultancy.

Outcomes

80% of participants trust remote medical assistance
For the majority of participants, completing a form could is easier and less embarrassing than describing symptoms in-person
Is common to complete a visit only by talking with the Doctor, without any inspection
The majority of participants will appreciate a medical app for screenings and to speed up the medical system

Personas

Based on literature and online research, two are the main type of users that have limited access to traditional healthcare: user that could not afford it, and users that live in rural areas, far from urban centers. These two types of personas represent those categories.

Design thinking

I have used two methods to produce a lot of ideas: "crazy eights" and "how might we?". With the first one, I created a tree-map of questions and answers, while the outcome of the second method is some sketches.

Crazy 8 method

HMW method

Interesting ideas

Create a questionnaire that allows a patient to have a reliable automated diagnosis
Educate patients through articles that can help them to take care of their health on their own
Reduce the effort of doctors with the screening questionnaire that collects information in advance. They will review it and then eventually take action if needed.
Make a bridge between domestic medical devices and common technological devices, to use their full potential also in the healthcare field
Receive medical analysis results directly on Remec
I should build a mobile app, since a mobile device is more affordable than computers, and Remec's main users are disadvantaged people with low income.

Wireframes

During wireframing I tried to embed all the possible functions in a simple interface, trying to keep the architecture of the app as simple as possible. The first sketch represent also a sort of diagram of the IA. In the second sketch, there is the core of the app: the questionnaire for automated diagnosis.

Lo-fi prototype usability study

After hand-drawn wireframes, I started to create the digital wireframe prototype. It focuses on the medical questionnaire since this is the most important part of the project. I tested the prototype in a moderated usability study with 5 participants, asking them to complete the check-up procedure with the speak aloud method.

Outcomes

The usability test spotted a major issue with the flow and three pain points:

Users were annoyed by the repetitive and cumbersome procedure of describing symptoms, which asks to describe with words and only after localizing them in the body map.
Users are frustrated because at the end of the check-up there is not any expected waiting time for the diagnosis validation by a Doctor.
Users don't know the meaning of all medical terms or body parts, which need to be explained if used.
Users want to know at what point of the questionnaire they are

Prototype Iteration

In the first prototype, the users had to describe symptoms with a text field, image upload, and after localizing them on the body map. The new procedures give more freedom to the users, which can localize symptoms on the body map or search for them with a text field. After that, there is still the possibility to give more information with an optional text field and image upload.

Before

After

Final design

After the usability test, Remec's lo-fi prototype was ready to be refined with visuals, graphic elements, and illustrations to become a hi-fi prototype. The friendly but sober appearance of Remec is fundamental for the psychological well-being of the patient and to maintain him engaged with the app, which also aims to be a medical education tool.

Prototype in action

Remec's prototype covers the main user flow of the app from the log-in to the end of the check-up questionnaire, which is the main feature of the app. The display is an Android large device 360x800px.

Log-in and homepage

The homepage contains the most important features of the app. The check-up is placed on a FAB button since it is the main feature. Other cards display important medical updates, suggestions, and important articles.

Check-up pt.1

The first part of the check-up questionnaire allows the user to describe his symptoms. It can be done by searching with a text field or by tapping on a body map. Finally, the user can add text and images to provide more information.

Check-up pt.2

The second part of the questionnaire is based on multiple answer questions and similars to refine the AI-based automated diagnosis as much as possible. More information is provided about technical words that a user may not know.

Diagnosis

Once the check-up is completed, the diagnosis is displayed alongside some suggestions to follow meanwhile a doctor inspects and confirms or corrects the diagnosis. Articles related to the diagnosis are shown below the suggestions.

Design system

Remec's main color is blue. It is a rather strong and electric blue, that conveys action and dynamism. The other colors are a lighter blue, a light pink, and a bright green. I wanted to create a reassuring yet energizing appearance, to cheer-up users with health problems. The font is Noto Sans, a sober but not too austere, that well matches the professional but friendly tone of Remec.

Conclusions

Remec is one of those digital applications that can really improve the life quality of people. Completely entrusting our health to a digital application is not the ideal solution, but it can be a powerful partner for both patients and doctors if wisely designed.

The automated check-up of Remec is just the first step of the application. Future sprints can expand features like the connection with domestic medical devices and also with the healthcare system, to receive analysis results directly on Remec.