MedicBuddy Mobile App:
A Case Study

About Medicbuddy

A Telehealth App with Accountability

Introducing MedicBuddy, a mobile app that aims to be a leading player in the evolving telehealth landscape. By leveraging the power of technology, the app aims to empower patients to take control of their health and well-being while offering secure and convenient access to professional medical experts.

As a UX Design and Research Team creating MedicBuddy, our goal is to show how we can make healthcare more supportive to those who need it.

MEDICBUDDY FEATURE: AUGGIES

Auggies - MedicBuddy's Augmented Reality Support Animal

Bring along your Auggie!

Auggies, our emotional support animal via augmented reality, can go with users anywhere they go with their phones. We wanted our users to have a feature that could help keep them calm in the doctor's office, a hospital bed, in the park, or just being cozy at home.

Auggies can be customized to any animal that users prefer. Let me share the details about our Auggies concept and how we've envisioned bringing this feature to life.

OVERVIEW

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has transformed the way we receive medical care, telehealth is becoming a mainstream option for health appointments and communication. Despite the challenges posed by technology, this shift in healthcare delivery has opened up opportunities to enhance the user experience and ensure patients receive the care they need.

As we embrace this new era of telehealth, we are exploring the potential of a mobile app to improve accountability for patients, boost engagement rates, and provide a HITECH and HIPAA-compliant platform to safeguard electronic medical records.

Our goal is to be a companion to the healthcare industry by offering a personalized experience based on real-time health information. We want our users to trust MedicBuddy with their protected electronic health information (ePHI) to aid in the coordination of their care and help make knowledgeable mental and medical decisions.

We also believe that our users should have a say in who is giving them advice. As a team, we decided that having a volunteer-based MedicBuddy system was not the way to go because we want our users to have confidence that whoever becomes their MedicBuddy, will have a subject matter expert in the specialty needed.

Our application will feature a matching algorithm that will assist in the MedicBuddy selection process. The questions within the MedicBuddy criteria will focus on personality, availability, and personal preference. We don't want our users to feel alone in their medical decision-making -- having a MedicBuddy that can connect with the user is very important to the success of this product.

MY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

TEAM LEADER

My primary responsibilities as the Team Leader for Team Solstice included setting project goals and objectives, overseeing the entire UX design process, supporting team members as we conducted research and analysis, developing wireframes and prototypes, and performing usability testing. I also incorporated the team's workflow using Figma, Mural, Miro, Google Sheets, Google Docs, and Trello. It was my responsibility to ensure the team met deadlines.

UX DESIGNER

As a UX Designer for the MedicBuddy Mobile App, my duties included product ideation in a collaborative environment. I managed our project and product, conducted primary and secondary research, and interviewed users, stakeholders, and specialists to understand their needs. I created personas, workflows, epics, and user stories to guide the design process. I developed sketches, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to test and refine the user experience.

UX RESEARCHER

As a UX Researcher, I found my role fulfilling. I particularly appreciated conducting competitor analysis to differentiate our product in the market. Developing discussion questions for user research allowed us to uncover valuable insights. Usability testing was a key aspect of my role, allowing us to refine the product and improve the user experience. I found the task of developing screener questions for usability testing challenging, but ultimately rewarding as it ensured we recruited the right participants for our research.

USABILITY TESTER

As a usability tester, I conducted remote, moderated, formative testing to provide feedback to the design team on improving the product's user experience. I developed screener questions to recruit the appropriate participants and conducted the testing remotely to ensure convenience and safety for all involved. Through moderated testing, I facilitated empathetic interviews with users to understand their needs and gather insights on how to improve the product. The formative nature of the testing allowed for quick iteration and refinement of the product design based on the feedback received. Overall, my role as a usability tester was crucial in ensuring that the product was intuitive, user-friendly, and met the needs of its users.

VISUAL DESIGNER

I put together a design system that established the app's visual language and aesthetics.

MEET THE MEDICBUDDY TEAM

Shawna
Cooper

Team Leader

Chris
Gonzalez

Team Member

Nikki
Kennedy

Team Member

Sherry
Youngblood

Team Member

EMPATHIZE

EMPATHY MAP

In forming all design decisions for the MedicBuddy app, user research was conducted by the team remotely at the beginning of the project. We also met in person for several brainstorming sessions to conceptualize this idea.

To really understand our users, we created several empathy maps and personas for a person who might benefit from having a MedicBuddy. SInce the possibilities are vast, the team decided on six types of users to focus on for the research of this project. We also filled in an extreme user worksheet to see how me might incorporate extreme cases to make solutions for everyone more mainstream.

The older adult with doctor anxiety that will not go to annual physicals for routine bloodwork or testing.

The parent(s) who has a child with special needs or a terminal illness in the early diagnostic phase.

The young adult navigating health insurance and medical appointments on their own for the first time.

The older adult with a physical impairment to using a mobile device, such as tremors or Parkinson's disease.

The adult who would benefit from seeing a doctor or a mental health professional but needs accountability to go to appointments consistently.

The parent or caregiver to a patient with a diagnosed illness or mental health challenge.

LEAN CANVAS

From the Lean Canvas, we found that users who lack emotional support for medical appointments may delay or avoid diagnostic testing or treatment.

The top three features MedicBuddy could provide were identified as
➊ connecting users with an accountability buddy for medical appointments,
➋ providing volunteers for support, and
➌ matching users with a knowledgeable buddy.

The unique value proposition of the MedicBuddy app is a single, clear, and compelling message that conveys why the app is different and worth using.

An unfair advantage of the app is that users cannot buy genuine compassion, and the matches provided will have medical knowledge and an empathetic voice to keep the user accountable.

Whether it's a routine check-up or a more complex medical issue, users can connect from anywhere via text, chat, or video call. This could potentially enable users to receive timely medical attention, avoid long wait times, and get the care they need.

USER PERSONAS

We identified that our primary user is someone who is seeking a health-based service and would greatly benefit from having a supportive accountability partner. We also created an extreme user worksheet to help us narrow down the primary user.

This presented the team with a wonderful opportunity to build a product to assist individuals who are actively working towards improving their health and well-being.

Yemaya

"I enjoy nice things, I think my work ethic proves that. This year, I am focused on taking better care of my health. I just haven’t found the right doctor for that.” - Yemaya

Meet Yemaya, our hard-working IT Specialist who is motivated to maintain her physical health and fitness. As someone whose first language isn't English, Yemaya is seeking healthcare where she can communicate more effectively in her native language to manage her bipolar disorder.

Despite facing challenges with bipolar disorder and depression that affect her work performance, Yemaya is grateful for the support she receives from her coworkers and family. To provide Yemaya with the best possible healthcare experience, it's essential to design an experience that takes her unique needs and motivations into consideration.

*All names have been changed to protect the identities of the interviewees or testers.

Ms. F

“I would love to be able to go to the doctor without all this anxiety about what tests might find.” - Ms. F

Meet Ms. Fisher, a single woman in her fifties who relies solely on herself for healthcare. She avoids doctor appointments due to anxiety and lacks a support system. Ms. Fisher desires to be healthy but fears judgment from her family. She is tech-savvy and is responsible for making and keeping doctor appointments for her overall wellness.

*All names have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees or usability testers.

Ms. T

“Some days I just wish I had some help. I can’t do this alone.” - T. Alba

Ms. Alba is a single mother of an autistic child and a teenager, who suffers from anxiety and struggles to find a child psychiatrist and ABA therapy for her son due to financial barriers and her anxiety. She is tech-savvy and relies heavily on electronics.

*All names have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees or usability testers.

Ms. M

“I would love to have someone keep me accountable and help to motivate me into taking better care of myself.” -S.Macon

Ms. Macon is a retired, disabled woman in her sixties, who suffers from depression, migraines, and tremors due to medication. She relies solely on her disability check and lacks the motivation to attend regular doctor visits, as her depression causes her to isolate. She also struggles to schedule appointments due to her tremors and limited support system. Though she has a smartphone and desktop computer, her tremors make it difficult to navigate technology.

*All names have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees or usability testers.

M+J

“I would love a MedicBuddy to help with J’s behavioral needs. It takes a village sometimes to get things done best.” - M (Mother)

Meet M+J, a dedicated and loving mother and son duo navigating the challenges of autism together. M+J faces the ongoing challenge of balancing J's need for care and support with M's own health and wellness needs. While M is grateful for the help of family members, she knows that she needs more support to ensure J receives the best possible care.

M+J would benefit from a MedicBuddy who can help them navigate appointments, conferences, and find resources for J's treatment. As J grows older, his need for independence increases, which brings new challenges to the table. However, M is determined to give J a normal childhood and is currently helping him prepare for his 13th birthday. M+J are a strong team, but they could use additional support to ensure they can continue to thrive.

*All names have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees or usability testers.

D. Williams

“I’m new to this whole insurance thing, I wish someone could help me figure out how to set up healthcare for myself” - D. Williams

D. Williams, a mid-twenties male living alone in a new city, avoids healthcare appointments due to a lack of understanding of healthcare systems and insurance. He is not sick often but knows he needs a primary care physician. Financial barriers and lack of motivation affect his willingness to find one. He is tech-savvy and proficient in using iPhones, laptops, and tablets.

*All names have been chandged to protect the identity of the interviewees or usability testers.

DEFINE

Identifying pain points

As a User Research team, we wrote a discussion guide for interviewing nine potential MedicBuddy users. I interviewed four users, and the rest of the team interviewed five for a total of nine participants. Then, we compiled findings to be used for the research-based personas above.

DESIGN INSPECTIONS

List of Competitors

Mobile apps reviewed include:
1. Supporti App
2. Motivate App
3. Peptalk: Daily Motivation App
4. Habitat - Group Accountability App
5. Awtado App
6. AccountaBuddy App
7. BetterHelp App

What Competitors Do Well...

Some things our main competitors do well (consistently):
● Offer several categories of accountability
● Check-in easily
● Small icons show areas of accountability for users
● Users can socially network, work on personal development, and goal setting, and earn badges
● Users can browse articles and post photos of inspiration
● Searchability
● A followers counter
● Push notifications and alerts

Competitors Analysis

User Research Plan

RESEARCH PLAN - Link to PDF in Google Drive

User Research
Plan

Discussion Guide

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Screener For Participants

SCREENER

FEATURES INSPECTION

FINDINGS in FEATURES INSPECTION

Limited to IOS Devices

Lots of info, no connection

No personalized matching

Very little onboarding

Mental + Medical seperated

One-sided communication

IDEATE

USER STORIES | EPICS

As a part of our Design Thinking and Strategy Process, we incorporated user stories and epics before sketching. These are a few of the epics we came up with for the project.

Epic 1: Easy payments for membership
A MedicBuddy user needs to pay for membership in the app.
As a user, I want to be able to pay for my membership within the app and not submit it to a third party for payment.
As a user, I want to see my account transactions in a secure mobile application.

Epic 2: Any MedicBuddy user should have a HIPAA-compliant app.
As a MedicBuddy user, I need a safe and secure way to communicate with my buddy.
As a user, I want to make sure my information is safe and secure within the app.

Epic 3: A Way to Calm Down
I am a MedicBuddy user who needs an app to decrease level of anxiety/fear of going to healthcare appointments.
As a user, I want to see added features within the app to address my doctor anxiety.

USER WORKFLOWS

To begin designing, I created a user flow for a first time user of MedicBuddy. User workflows provide how an app feels as a person moves from page to page. As a UX Designer on this project, I started with a (patient) user workflow to optimize the workflow, identify gaps, and find new opportunities.

USER WORKFLOWS - THE CHALLENGE

This is where we had to pivot on this project. As we determined the workflows, it became apparent that we were trying to solve problems that did not involve the patient user. At one point, we had work flows for:

1. A New or Returning User (Patient)
2. A Practitioner
3. A MedicBuddy

All three users had different needs and required additional designs specific to the tasks they needed to perform. Our workflows became really complicated and not realistic in the amount of time and resources we had to complete the task. We ultimately decided it was best to focus on the main user, the patient, as our primary user.

how might we?

At MedicBuddy, our top priority is to provide a personalized and compassionate healthcare experience to our users. In addition, we aim to enhance human connection through the app's technological features.

We incorporated several touchpoints, including public and private chat features, in-app virtual meetings, and meaningful progress tracking.

There is also an augmented reality feature within the MedicBuddy app that is included as touchpoint to help patients with anxiety make it through their appointments, and more. We might also offer it as an incentive to make progress by rewarding with new animals to interact with in the app.

We also plan to match users with accountability partners and offer group virtual meetings to ensure that our users feel supported and connected throughout their healthcare journey.

LOW-FIDELITY SKETCHES

User journey MAP - single Mother + SOn

STORYBOARD

MedicBuddy - A Single Mom's Support System

Meet Sarah, a single mother raising a son with autism. She is sad, tired, and stressed. She is walking her son to his school bus, and he is holding her hand tightly. He gets on the bus, and goes to school. Sarah goes to her day job when she can, but is often pulled away to go to the school because her son is having a disruptive day.

Once back at home, Sarah sits alone in her house, scrolling through her phone, and looking stressed. This situation is tough, and she's not sure where to turn for help. Sarah types on her phone, searching for resources.

One day, Sarah stumbles upon the MedicBuddy App. The app's interface is on her phone, and she clicks on the 'sign up' button. With a MedicBuddy membership, Sarah feels more supported and empowered to provide the best care for her child.

Somedays, Sarah and her son go on a walk in the park without incident. Sometimes not. She knows that life is not without its challenges, but having access to MedicBuddy has made a significant difference in her life as a single parent. MedicBuddy - Sarah's partner in care.

MEDICBUDDY AESTHETIC

During the define phase, we decided as a team what the look and feel of our app would be by each creating a mood board, and then we voted on the top selections for style, color, font, and logo.

MOOD BOARD

Logos + Mood Board Designed by Nikki Kennedy

LOGOS

MEDICBUDDY BRANDING

The team decided to take a vote for the best mood board, font, and icon style. We discussed that we needed to create an app that looks inviting for all ages, has a friendly look and feel for a medical app, and it is easy to use.

Nikki's mood board (shown above) was the overall winner. However, Chris and I both added in the yellow and red accents for just pops of color every now and then. Nikki also designed the logo for MedicBuddy, in which she created a standard stacked logo and a horizontal logo for a variety of uses.

We also selected the Rooney Sans + Lato fonts for our primary and secondary fonts. All of the icons, illustrations, vectors, and components were sourced from the community section of Figma.

The color palette has shades of dark blue and cyan with a pop of yellow and red (sparingly). This palette feels neutral, and the color scheme elicits feelings of calm and serenity.

PROTOTYPE

Medical Accountability

Improve patient engagemnt with a support from a compassionate MedicBuddy.

Mood Tracking

Mood tracking in a mobile app records emotions to identify patterns, enabling users to improve their mental health.

MEDICBUDDY MATCH

Be paired with a buddy that can meet your custom needs.

KEY FEATURES

PROGRESS TRACKING

Mood tracking in a mobile app records emotions to identify patterns, enabling users to improve their mental health overtime.

Personal Support

When users do not have anyone to turn to for their health anxieties or complex issues, MedicBuddy can be a personal support.

In-App Chat, Text, Video

Connect with MedicBuddy easily through the app's chat, text, or video options before, during, or after a medical appointment.

HIGH FIDELITY MOCKUPS

AUGMENTED REALITY FEATURE: AUGGIES

Auggies, Anywhere.

How can an augmented reality feature help in a doctor's visit?
For instance, a child undergoing a painful medical procedure, such as a blood draw, can be given a tablet or smartphone with an augmented reality feature that projects an animated animal into the real-world environment.

This may help distract the patient from the pain or anxiety of the appointment, testing, or procedure, making the experience less stressful for all involved.

Overall, the use of augmented reality animals in a doctor visit can help improve the patient experience, reduce anxiety and stress, and facilitate patient well-being in a fun, engaging way.

Following the experience design process, I proceeded to develop an interactive prototype in Figma, showcasing the envisioned user journey of the MedicBuddy app to our users and stakeholders.

Although the prototype is still under development, I have created a concise version for the usability study. While I have gained proficiency in Figma, I am continuously seeking to improve my skills to ensure that our prototype is of high quality, without compromising on design standards.

MEDIC BUDDY SCREEN GALLERY FOR PROTOTYPE

First Criteria prototype screens for MedicBuddy Criteria

VALIDATE

USABILITY TESTING - MATCHING CRITERIA

For our usability testing portion, we validated the product design with nine usability testers in a remote, but moderated test with a clickable prototype. Each session was conducted on a Zoom video call and recorded with consent.

three graphics for remote, moderated, and formative research studies

USER COMMENTS IN USABILITY TESTING

Progress Indicator lost at the bottom

Many users did know what the progress indicator was on the screen, however, some said it was lost in the design.

Graphic elements too small to click

Some users felt that some of the radio buttons were too small to click on the first attempt to answer the questions.

Questions should not have "one-size-fits-all" approach

Questions should be pinpointed to the user… if not, the user may feel irrelevant.

What about haptics? How about some sound?

One user had some insightful suggestions about haptics and sound. Great feedback.

As the Visual Designer of the app, I am still developing the basics of the design. I do agree that haptic touch cues and sound would engage the user better through their senses of sound and touch. The team also agreed that this was a great idea, but would table it for another iteration.

EMPATHY MAPPING + AFFINITY MAPPING the findings

MedicBuddy design and branding need to be more clear about the niche role it plays in healthcare - especially mental health functionality through the app.

MedicBuddy has functionality that would be useful to users, though it may have to break through stigma to have users engage.

A few testers were adamant about not using the app for themselves but did know of other people who would benefit from the service. In this case, the user did find value in what the app could do for others and would recommend it.

A Niche Role

MedicBuddy design and branding needs to be more clear about the niche role it plays in healthcare - Especially mental health functionality through app.

Breaking the Stigma

MedicBuddy has functionality that would be useful to users, though it may have to break through stigma to have users engage.

Usability Testers said...

“It’s like having your best friend say, “I love this doctor,” and then make a recommendation.”

Ms. F

Usability Tester

“I like it. I think it's a good idea. It could help me not have to deal with my mother.”

Ms. T

Usability Tester

“It’s like a social media app without the toxicity.”

Mr. J

Usability Tester

“This could be a potential game changer for me…”

Mrs, A

Usability Tester

CHANGES TO PROTOTYPE (Before + After)

Iteration One

BEFORE

Iteration Two

AFTER

ITERATION TWO CHANGES

Larger Buttons Not Small Radio Buttons

The radio buttons were too small and hard to click for most of the testers.

Moving the Indicator Bar

The indicator bar was placed higher on the screen because it was blending in with the design and some testers did not see it as useful.

Small Graphics and Italics Too Small to Use - Removed

The back and forward buttons were streamlined to look the same so that there was no confusion and were consistently designed. Overall, the aesthetic was simplified even further to focus on the questions at hand.

MedicBuddy Usability Test Prototype Iteration #2 by Shawna Cooper

USABILITY TESTING SURVEY OF PARTICIPANTS

Would you benefit from having someone outside of your normal
support circle to assist you in making your doctor appointments?

44.4% Yes (Yellow)
33.3% Maybe (Cyan)
22.2% No (Blue)

How many times have you been to a
healthcare appointment in the past 5 years?

66.7% More than 5 times (Cyan)
11.1% 5 times (Yellow)
11.1% 4 times (Dark Blue)
11.1% 3 times (Blue)

Which of the following describes your highest level of education?

High school graduate 11.1 % (Yellow)
Some college 33.3% (Cyan)
College graduates 44.4 % (Blue)
Postgraduate 11.1%

Which describes your experience with doctor’s visits?

Like 33.3% (Cyan)
Neutral 33.3% (Dark Blue)
Dislike 22.2% (Dark Cyan)
Strongly dislike 11.1% (Yellow)
Strongly Like 0%

NEXT STEPS

* Incorporate wearable devices for biometrics tracking with patient input to correlate (heart rate monitoring, sleep schedules, and additional predictive analysis) * Continue to design more in-depth prototypes.
* MORE ITERATIONS
* Add a guided meditation to the AR feature.
* Add scheduled prompts through voice-enabled devices especially designed for neurodivergent patients (ADHD)
* Ask for a medical professional's feedback on the concept.
* Continue to test for feedback and iterate the design.
* Determine any interest from investors, medical professionals, and mental healthcare companies.
* More research on HITECH and HIPAA Compliance for mobile health applications.

To Top of Page

MedicBuddy Mobile App: A Case Study

About Medicbuddy

MEDICBUDDY FEATURE: AUGGIES

OVERVIEW

MY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

MEET THE MEDICBUDDY TEAM

EMPATHIZE

EMPATHY MAP

LEAN CANVAS

USER PERSONAS

DEFINE

Identifying pain points

DESIGN INSPECTIONS

FEATURES INSPECTION

FINDINGS in FEATURES INSPECTION

IDEATE

USER WORKFLOWS

USER WORKFLOWS - THE CHALLENGE

how might we?

LOW-FIDELITY SKETCHES

User journey MAP - single Mother + SOn

STORYBOARD

MedicBuddy - A Single Mom's Support System

MEDICBUDDY AESTHETIC

MOOD BOARD

LOGOS

MEDICBUDDY BRANDING

PROTOTYPE

KEY FEATURES

HIGH FIDELITY MOCKUPS

AUGMENTED REALITY FEATURE: AUGGIES

Auggies, Anywhere.

MEDIC BUDDY SCREEN GALLERY FOR PROTOTYPE

VALIDATE

USABILITY TESTING - MATCHING CRITERIA

USER COMMENTS IN USABILITY TESTING

Usability Testers said...

CHANGES TO PROTOTYPE (Before + After)

Iteration One

Iteration Two

ITERATION TWO CHANGES

USABILITY TESTING SURVEY OF PARTICIPANTS

MedicBuddy Mobile App:
A Case Study