About The Project
Designing a novel hospital patient experience device, with the goal of improving nurse-patient interaction and keeping patients satisfied.
Limitations
Insufficient access to hospital space, leading to assumptions regarding the users and space that can not be tested
Large design space with lots of data and moving parts. Limited time and resources (team of one).
Hospitals use a variety of technologies from various ecosystems, for this project I had to assume that a hospital used the Centrella Ecosystem in its desired use case.
Giving users more information access can be hypothesized to increase call light activation.
This project is not fully completed, more logistical aspects must be thought about in order to make this product feasible. A second software must be designed in order for staff to manage the Experience Pod Plus systems.
If more time was given for this project, I would create a scenario based wizard of oz testing to assess if this product improves my found design opportunities.
Reflection
I dove into this user-centered project with a more direct approach, meaning that I would try to solve a direct problem: Redesign the call light environment to improve the experience for both patients and nurses. I quickly learned that this is a very heavy task to complete as a team of one during a one semester college class. I was unfamiliar with my problem space at the start of this project, leading to the project being very broad as I had a lot to learn.
I learned that the call light may not be the actual problem leading to upset stakeholders. I uncovered that solely improving a patient's hospital experience may work better toward creating a better nurse-patient interaction and call light environment. This enabled me to practice a change in scope and challenged my assumptions. Being a team of one attempting to tackle such a broad problem, I learned more in this project than any of my previous projects.
If I could talk to myself at the begining of this project, I would have said to be prepared to think holistically in the hospital environment and not stress about creating something that will improve the experience for everyone.
The Experience Pod (current)
The Experience Pod Plus (new)
The new Hilrom Centrella Experience Pod will use a similar design to the original, leveraging the flip mechanism to reveal the TV remote. The main difference with the Experience Pod Plus is the addition of a digital interface on the pod. The new pod is outfitted with audio speakers and microphone for communication with staff.
There is also a new "do not disturb" button located on the pod. This button will illuminate the dome light above the patients door to "purple" which signifies to passing staff to shut the patients door, and only bother the patient if needed.
All buttons on the Experience Pod Plus are tactile and easier to press, excluding the digital interface.
Status "Homepage" Midfi
Opportunities Addressed
How might we make patients more independent?
How might we prevent call light exhaustion?
Call light activation requests:
"When is my next therapy session?"
"What time is my therapy?"
"Am I ready to leave?"
"When is my next pain med dose?"
How might we ease patient anxiety?
"I get anxious of my health state."
How might we limit staff interruption exhaustion?
Update Patient Pain Levels
Out of date Medical Board
Old vs New Flow
Patient Needs Info -> Reads Whiteboard (hasn't been updated)
Patient Needs Info -> Activates Call Light and Waits
Patient Needs Info -> Looks at Experience Pod Plus
Notifications MidFi
Opportunities Addressed
How might we ease patient anxiety?
"Is a nurse coming?"
How might we ensure the patient that they have been heard?
Old vs New Flow
Patient wonders if nurse is coming -> Is unsure
Patient Wonders if Nurse is coming -> Checks notifications
Pain Level Update MidFi
Opportunities Addressed
How might we increase Patient Independence
How might we automate some staff tasks?
Old vs New Flow
Nurse must assess Patient pain levels -> Visits Patient
Nurse must assess Patient pain levels -> Reads Experience Pod Plus
Entertainment HiFi
Opportunities Addressed
How might we entertain patients?
"I would love to watch a movie."
"I feel like I am in jail."
"I like to keep the door open to watch people walk by."
"Patients seem to abuse the call light when they are bored."
Old vs New Flow
Patient is bored -> Watches cable TV
Patient is bored -> Looks out window/door
Patient is bored -> Bothers staff
Patient is bored -> Accesses a variety of modern entertainment options
Call Light Options HiFi
Opportunities Addressed
How might we make the call light more accessible?
Currently within the Hilrom Centrella Experience, patients must talk to the staff via the staff console to explain call light requests. What if the patient can not talk?
Requests communicated to staff via text to speech through staff console.
Old vs New Flow
Patient needs staff -> Patient can not talk to staff -> Patient needs unmet
Patient needs staff -> Patient can not talk to staff -> Enters input on Experience Pod Plus
Meal Order HiFi
Opportunities Addressed
How might we increase Patient Independence
How might we automate some staff tasks?
Old vs New Flow
Nurse must gather meal order -> Visits Patient -> Collects meal order -> Looses meal order -> Revisits patient
Nurse must gather meal order -> Sends message to Experience Pod Plus
Doctor Video Call
Opportunities Addressed
How might we automate some staff tasks?
Old vs New Flow
Doctor Wants a meeting with patient -> Visits Patient
Doctor Wants a meeting with patient -> Staff brings patient IPad
Doctor Wants a meeting with patient -> Calls patient via the Experience Pod Plus
Hypothesized Value *untested*
Why would hospitals want to invest in this device?
Decreases call light activation, giving more time to nurses and other hospital staff
By giving access to information that the patient would previously need staff for
Increases Hospital Patient Independence
By giving the patient up to date information regarding their hospital status
Increases Patient Hospital Stay Satisfaction to boost NHCS survey results, granting public funding
Patient satisfaction is increased by the access to modern entertainment, reduced patient boredom
Information regarding their hospital stay to increase transparency
Increased Hospital Staff Communication
Staff can see care team of a patient via the device
Staff can monitor a patients pain levels and recovery over a wider range of time
Enhanced Accessibility
"Write in" option for call light
