HealthRecog
HealthRecog is a facial recognition software that can be implemented in all healthcare facilities to aid in identifying, categorizing, and generating medical data for new and existing patients. Paired with a patient app where patients can access their medical data and leave notes where relevant. The current healthcare system lacks a modern and efficient method for sharing medical records among practitioners, which hinders the quality of patient care and compromises the continuity of healthcare services.
Product Experience
Problem Statement
How might we share medical records among practitioners in an effective, efficient, reliable, and secure way?
Problem Background
We're aiming to make the patient experience less stressful and confusing. We’re currently relying on outdated methods in the healthcare sector despite the availability of digital alternatives. Medical practitioners frequently rely on various software systems, which can be outdated in certain cases, based on their practice and hospital affiliations.
This can often make it difficult to share information and places the burden on the patient to record and file their medical history should they need to share it. The difficulty of sharing medical history from one doctor to another poses significant challenges and impedes the efficiency of healthcare services, resulting in potential risks to patient care and secure processes.
Research Insights
User Pain Points
I surveyed a group of individuals who had recent encounters with the healthcare system. My main objective was to gather their insights on the methods they employed to engage and participate in their treatment process.
Supporting Data
Most patients reported being generally satisfied with the healthcare service they received, however, 56% claimed only getting basic information about their diagnosis and treatment, and 44% said they received little to no information at all. It's evident that patients are content getting the services they need but are also seeking more efficient methods of obtaining their medical information.
Feedback
Furthermore, our survey revealed that more than 66% of respondents are very comfortable with sharing their medical history and personal information with healthcare providers. Based on accounts from two different nurses, it appears that patients have a tendency to overshare, possibly seeking some relief in stressful situations.
Landing on the Solution
After identifying the pain points of our potential users, it became evident that the primary concern for most of them lies in accessing and sharing their medical information.
This confirmation highlights the existence of limited resources for patients seeking answers about medical data and processes. This insight led to the development of the concept of enhancing the accessibility of medical information for both patients and practitioners.
Future Steps
During my research, I learned that our customers trust the healthcare system after building some rapport but are frustrated with the challenges of health literacy and patient education. My next steps are to dig deeper into the limitations I may face working towards a system that would utilize sensitive information and if this may already be in development by a federal or provincial agency.
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Carlos Marroquin-Alvarado
During my Co.Lab product management project, I aimed to form better communication skills and more importantly, formulate better questions to get the best results. Knowing what to ask is as important as the answers you're looking to get. Finding a problem space will prompt questions right away but depending on what you ask, you may be directed into different solution spaces.
This experience has also inspired a lot of hidden creativity that I haven't been exercising. Through brainstorming ideas, I branch out and solutions become broad. The feedback and activities of this project helped me define specific solutions and be able to convey them to share my ideas more efficiently.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.