The document describes a student project to design a health information system called lifeScroll. It begins with an overview of the problem of navigating the complex healthcare system and introduces Angela as someone struggling with this problem. The project involved exploratory research including interviews to understand user needs and pain points. Key needs identified were simplified communication, clear information, and empowerment. Various design concepts are presented including a timeline view of health events and connections to medical records, doctors, and support communities. Finally, screenshots from a prototype demonstrate features like accessing insurance information and viewing doctor's notes.

1. lifeScroll
your health in your hands
JEN BRISELLI . SL RAO . KATY TSAI . BRIAN YEE
DIAL 411 | GRADUATE STUDIO II | SPRING 2012
1

2. This is a map of the health care space,
published in The New Republic in 2009.
This is a problem, and the space we chose to
design within.
Cohn, J. Your healthcare system: A map in “The New Republic”. July 1, 2009, 24-25.
2

3. We begin with the story of Angela, a
young woman who, like most of us, has
encountered the confusing problem space
that is health information.
Angela Chen
3

4. As a young adult, Angela is newly
independent and learning to navigate the
world of health care. She struggles.
4

5. Problem:
The health care system is
complicated and confusing.
The world of health information
is difficult to navigate.
Goal:
To design a way for young
adults to better understand
their own health information
and develop a greater health
literacy in the process.
5

6. Exploratory & Generative Research
We began with exploratory research that
included competitve analysis, contextual
inquiry, stakeholder mapping and interviews.
As we moved into ideation and generative
phases, we continued user research through
participatory design & ‘maketools’ sessions.
6

7. Exploratory & Generative Research
dependence on others
contradictory info
confusion
too much jargon
powerless
alone
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8. UNMET NEEDS
simplified
communication
clear information
empowerment &
reassurance
8

9. Evaluative Research
We developed personas and experience
journey maps, and tested storyboards with
potential users to evaluate our designs.
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10. DESIGN
IMPLICATIONS
everything in
one place
personalized
information
connection with
doctors & family
10

11. your health in your hands
11

12. your health in your hands
electronic devices
12

13. timeline
self-input
information
electronic medical
records (EMR)
your health in your hands
electronic devices
13

14. timeline
self-input
information
electronic medical
records (EMR)
connections
community and
support groups
your health in your hands
electronic devices
14

15. timeline
self-input
information
electronic medical
records (EMR)
connections
incentives
community and
support groups
businesses, gyms and
pharmaceuticals
your health in your hands
electronic devices
15

16. timeline
self-input
information
electronic medical
records (EMR)
connections
incentives
coverage
community and
support groups
businesses, gyms and
pharmaceuticals
insurance
companies
your health in your hands
electronic devices
16

17. lifeScroll
User Experience Video
17

18. 18

19. The main page includes a customer profile
and menus that expand to show personal and
family information, as well as personalized
insurance plan information.
19

20. The timeline visualizes health related events
for an individual’s lifetime and can be
expanded for a long-term view or magnified
for a detail view.
20

21. Each timeline entry includes details of
an individual’s EMR, including doctor’s
instructions, patient and lab test data, and
self-entered notes.
21

22. Because the system includes personalized
insurance information, the user is able to
search for in-network doctors, as well as
make appointments or send messages.
22

23. 23

24. When a patient visits the doctor, that
information is recorded by the physician in a
more streamlined manner and patient-facing
information is pushed out to their timelines.
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25. BUSINESS MODEL
FREE ACCESS
FREE ACCESS
Convenient,
personalized way
to access and
manage their
health
information.
Reduced
overhead,
streamlined
practice and
comprehensive
quality care.
patients
healthcare
providers
SUBSCRIPTION
ADVERTISEMENTS
Reduced admin
costs and
access to
aggregated
patient data.
Access to
customers
in a more
targeted way.
insurance
companies
businesses
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26. COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
individual
visualized insurance & user-added
content
health info doctor info
searchable sync with
records other devices
sharing
reduced
better
admin costs patient info
for insurers for doctors
EMR systems
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27. lifeScroll allows people to visualize their
health history, access personalized medical
information, and manage their healthcare in
a comprehensive cloud-based system.
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28. THANK YOU.
28

29. The appendix includes key research artifacts
and intermediate design artifacts that
illustrate the process and were instrumental
in the development of our final product.
APPENDIX
29

30. Interview with Dr. Russell S. Phillips,
April 16, 2012, www.boston.com
“A Doctor’s Primary Concern”
Relevant Insights:
• Q. What do you plan to address first as the new head of the primary care center?
• A. “The four major areas in which we’re looking to create redesign is around: enhancing teambased care, population management for patients with chronic disease, management of patients
at high risk, and to improve patient engagement and empowerment.”
• Q. What role do patients themselves have to play?
• A. “Patients who are more involved in their care also have better outcomes. Part of what we’re
trying to do is use information technology, counseling, health educators, other resources, to
try to get patients as informed and engaged as they might be in their [own] care. Some of it
is doctor time, some of it is spending time with other members of the care team, some of it is
improving Web-based interfaces.”

31. “Usability Guidance for Improving the User Interface and Adoption of
Online Personal Health Records”
(Usability study on Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault)
Kirsten Peters, M.S., Michael Niebling, M.S., Cassandra Slimmer, B.S., Thomas Green, M.S., Jayson M. Webb, Ph.D., Robert Schumacher, Ph.D., User Centric, Inc., February 2009
Relevant Insights:
• Since perceived simplicity and ease of use are keys to user preference, a PHR home page
should avoid unnecessary visual complexity.
• Users should be able to add details about a health item immediately after entering its name.
• Medical information should be presented without technical jargon.
• Multiple methods of data entry and search (e.g., text entry field, A-Z list) should be supported.
• Most participants thought PHRs would be beneficial for tracking a chronic condition.
• Ability to store health information for family members was highly valued.
• Participants wanted to link PHR health information with their physician’s records.
• Google Health’s Drug Interactions feature was perceived as very helpful.
• Find a Doctor feature was valued, especially when limited to the participant’s insurance plan.
• Ability to share a personal PHR with family members and physicians was important for some
• Uploading information from a medical device to Microsoft HealthVault was considered useful.
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32. 32

33. COURTNEY
JOHANSEN
Medical
Situation
Courtney lives with multiple sclerosis
and is a self-employed personal chef.
She pays for individual insurance
and is highly motivated to manage
her illness. She researches MS
online, participates in a close knit
support group and wishes she could
keep all her information together.
chronic illness
Insurance
Situation
self-insured
Social/Support
Network
many close
friends
Goals
Barriers/
Frustrations
manage illness
& live well
costs, access
to information
33

34. Rob relies on his wife Janet to
remind him of appointments. He
likes to play basketball on the
weekends and is thankful for his
employer-provided insurance, but
he still hates keeping track of
billing and medical records.
ROB
HEDGES
Medical
Situation
Insurance
Situation
Social/Support
Network
generally
healthy
insured through
employer, Heinz
spouse, Janet
Goals
maintain
status-quo
Barriers/
Frustrations
apathy &
avoidance
34

35. CUSTOMER JOURNEY MAP
Doctor’s Office
Reflect
Share
Incentives
Sustained
Engagement
Access
discounts for
treatment
options
Determine if
services or
doctors are
covered by
insurance
TOUCH
POINTS
ENGAGEMENT
Begin
logging
symptoms
Visit the doctor
& view timeline
Visit the doctor
& view timeline
Share and learn
from others’
experiences
Find covered
doctors or add
dependents
35

36. CUSTOMER JOURNEY MAP
Doctor’s Office
Reflect
Share
Incentives
Sustained
Engagement
Access
discounts for
treatment
options
Determine if
services or
doctors are
covered by
insurance
TOUCH
POINTS
ENGAGEMENT
Begin
logging
symptoms
Visit the doctor
& view timeline
Visit the doctor
& view timeline
Share and learn
from others’
experiences
Find covered
doctors or add
dependents
36