Turning Research Into Action: Designing Interoperable Systems That Improve Lives for People with Dementia
Taking care of Alzheimer's patients and their caretakers is of utmost importance. It's crucial to have accessible and easy-to-use tools to track symptoms, manage medications, and provide emergency help.
My Role
UI Designer, Researcher
Domain
Healthcare
Team
4 Junior Designers, 2 Senior Designers, 1 Design Principal
Tools
Adobe XD, Miro, Microsoft Teams, Google Suite
Timeline
8 Weeks
Objective
The goal is to improve the well-being of Alzheimer's patients and streamline healthcare data exchange and management across devices, professionals, and institutions.
Provide accessible tools for tracking symptoms.
Managing medications
Emergency assistance
Personalized mobile health tracking.
Empower health professionals
Improve patient engagement
Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations.
Challenges involved in implementing Healthnex
Balancing the complexity required for comprehensive healthcare solutions with the need for a simple and intuitive user interface.
Interoperability with existing systems.
Technical challenges.
Ensuring data security and privacy.
Regulatory compliance.
Encouraging user engagement and adoption.
User training and support.
Ecosystem
We approached Healthnex as a connected ecosystem—not just an app. It needed to follow the rhythm of a caregiver’s day, reducing stress and preventing emergencies before they happen.
Figure shows: The Healthnex ecosystem and how it's all connected
Solution
Solving for pain points
Case 1
Pain point
Patient Data Tracking: Monitoring the cognitive health and well-being of Alzheimer's patients is crucial but can be labor-intensive, prone to errors, and risky for patients.
Solution
Healthnex could track vital signs, medication schedules, and changes in behavior. Caregivers get real-time data to identify trends and potential issues, improving care.
Case 2
Pain point
Data Analysis and Trend Identification: There is a constant need to keep track of patient's vitals to ensure quality patient care. Neglecting to monitor these metrics can cause delayed interventions and increased health risks.
Solution
Healthnex could analyze and trend patient data over time, helping caregivers and healthcare professionals detect patterns and make informed decisions about treatment or care adjustments.
Case 3
Pain point
Manual Data Input: Caregivers should be able to input important data manually. The inability to seamlessly input vital information can hinder the accuracy of patient records, impede timely decision-making, and compromise the quality of care provided.
Solution
Healthnex could track vital signs, medication schedules, and changes in behavior. Caregivers get real-time data to identify trends and potential issues, improving care.
Case 4
Pain point
Data Analysis and Trend Identification: There is a constant need to keep track of patient's vitals to ensure quality patient care. Neglecting to monitor these metrics can cause delayed interventions and increased health risks.
Solution
Healthnex allows users to log data manually for specific dates and times.
Case 5
Pain point
Secure Data Sharing: There is a need for specific patient data sharing across the ecosystem.
Solution
Healthnex could allow caretakers to securely share patient health data with authorized healthcare professionals and support teams.
Case 6
Pain point
Appointment Reminders: Alzheimer's patients may have frequent medical appointments.
Solution
Healthnex can send appointment reminders to patients and caregivers, helping to ensure they get all essential check-ups or consultations with healthcare professionals.
Case 7
Pain point
Emergency Alerts: There may be situations that require immediate attention, such as emergencies or when the patient is experiencing distress.
Solution
Healthnex can provide a quick and easy way to send SOS alerts to caregivers or medical professionals, enabling a rapid response.
Conclusion
This project taught me what thoughtful design can mean for people at their most vulnerable.
Working Closely With Stakeholders
Building trust helped us align on what truly mattered and deliver solutions they could champion.
Deep Research Into Alzheimer’s Care
Understanding caregiver exhaustion, patient behavior, and healthcare gaps shaped every decision.
Human-Centered Thinking Above All
We designed with empathy first, focusing on real-world use rather than just feature checklists.
Designing for Scale
Healthnex was built to grow—new users, new devices, new integrations—without breaking its simplicity.