Consumer healthcare design is a booming industry. There are many companies out there that have been working on innovative ways to increase the accessibility of healthcare, from telemedicine apps to podcasts for self-diagnosis. But, with so many new ideas and technologies, it can be hard to figure out which ones are worth your time and money. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most common mistakes made in consumer healthcare design and show you how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Ignoring the User
The most common mistake in consumer healthcare design is trying to fit all consumers into one type of person. Remember, the goal of your app or service is not to teach people who are already health-literate how to use it. It’s for those who need guidance and support, but don’t know where to find it.
To avoid this mistake, focus on what you’re good at. You might be an expert in medical coding or surgery, but that doesn’t mean you’re qualified to teach people how to use your app for self-diagnosis.
Mistake #2: Putting Technology Above All Else
Technology is a powerful tool for healthcare, but it’s not the answer to everything. And it’s not always the most important thing on your plate. Telemedicine apps are great for sending patients with minor ailments home without an office visit, but they’re not helpful in emergency situations when you need to send someone to urgent care. Podcasts can be a good way to educate patients about their health, but only if they’re willing to listen.
Technology isn’t all-inclusive, and it shouldn’t be treated as such. It’s important to remember that while technology is essential in healthcare design, there are other things that are just as crucial, like providing accurate information about the condition and providing more personal care. And while telemedicine is an excellent tool for non-emergency situations, there are still some emergencies that can’t be handled through an app or podcast–and that’s where urgent care comes into play.
Mistake #3: Thinking Mobile-Only is the Way to Go
Mobile is a great way to reach your audience. It’s a natural extension of your brand and it can be a great way to keep in touch with them. However, it’s important not to rely on mobile only. Mobile might be the future, but having a mobile-friendly website is still very important if you want to get serious about digital marketing. People use mobile for quick tasks or while they’re on the go, but they’ll come back to their laptop or desktop for more information and interactions. If you want people to make an appointment with you from your website, for example, then you need a site that’s easily navigable from a computer too.
Mistake #4: Going Too Far with Personalization
Many companies aim to provide personalized experiences for their consumers, but it can be a slippery slope. You need to know what the line is and how to stay within it.
Mistake #5: Assuming We Know What Our Patients Need
This mistake is a common one and it’s important to note that we’re all guilty of it. However, the more we become aware of this trend, the better off we’ll be. We can’t assume that we know what our patients need or want. We have to ask them.
But the truth is, people forget these details over time and when you don’t ask them directly you could miss out on a lot of information that could be helpful down the line.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Feedback That Doesn’t Fit Our Preconceived Ideas
As designers, it can be hard to take feedback from non-designers but just because it doesn’t fit your preconceived ideas doesn’t mean you should ignore it! In fact, there are many ways you can incorporate feedback from non-designers into your design process in order to make sure the final product is as comprehensive as possible without alienating any part of your target audience.
Mistake #6: Too Much Data and Not Enough Support
Healthcare is complex, and it’s difficult to make sense of all the information out there. Too much data can lead to more confusion rather than clarity.
As more data becomes available, it’s important to provide adequate support for patients so they can make sense of it. For example, if you’re launching a new product that provides access to articles on health topics, it’s important not only that your product includes articles with plenty of data but also that it offers videos or detailed descriptions for each article. Providing detailed explanations about each article will help patients better understand the content and also provide them with more ways to learn about their condition or treatment plan.
Mistake #7: Focusing on Breaking News Rather than Making a Positive Impact
“Breaking news” is the hot topic of the day, but it’s not always what consumers want. Engage in impactful design instead of making design based on your competition.
One mistake that companies make when designing for healthcare is focusing too much on “breaking news.” This means they’re spending more time trying to keep up with what their competitors are doing than they are actually figuring out how to improve the lives of their customers.
While there’s nothing wrong with looking into your competition, you should focus more on adopting innovative concepts and technologies to enhance the lives of your customers rather than trying to beat them at their own game. That will show consumers that you care about them rather than just having an inventive idea or two every now and then.
Another important thing to remember when it comes to consumer healthcare design is that you should focus on impactful design as opposed to just imitation design. The purpose of any type of design is to have a positive effect on those who come in contact with it, so don’t spend all your time chasing whatever is popular at the moment. Design for those who need help and those who might need help in the future, not just those who already do.
Conclusion
In order to win the attention of your patients, you need to first understand where they are coming from. In order to do that, you have to have a clear understanding of who they are and what their needs are.
If you have a clear understanding of your patient’s needs, you can create a better user experience and a better healthcare product for them.
Mistakes in consumer healthcare design can be avoided by focusing on the user, putting technology second, not going too far with personalization, not assuming that we know what our patients need, and more.
