How Do You Ensure the User-Friendliness of Medical Devices for All Users?
BiomedicalEngineering.io
How Do You Ensure the User-Friendliness of Medical Devices for All Users?
In the quest to enhance the user experience of medical devices for both patients and healthcare providers, we've gathered insights from industry experts including a Physician Assistant and a Director of Nursing. They share their top five techniques, from prototyping with 3-D printing to focusing on education for compliance, to ensure devices are not only cutting-edge but also user-friendly.
- Prototype with 3-D Printing
- Implement Cellular Devices for RPM
- Conduct Early Usability Testing
- Apply Intuitive Design Principles
- Focus on Education for Compliance
Prototype with 3-D Printing
Consider 3-D printing rudimentary prototypes during the development process. As a physician assistant, I'm rarely given access to medical device samples, and I'm not sure why. In this day and age, it's eminently possible. Designers don't need to wait for manufacturers to get involved; they can send specs off for a low-cost preview. Even if it's just piecemeal, getting (for example) a strap or switch in the hands of the people who'll really be using it can be incredibly valuable.
Getting this feedback early on saves time and money, and helps ensure a device's future success.
Don't worry about perfection. First-round testing is never totally accurate, but it can still help guide your decisions toward increased device efficiency and efficacy.
Implement Cellular Devices for RPM
I was lucky to be in the Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) space on January 1, 2019, when the RPM Medicare reimbursement codes became effective. Medical devices are at the core of RPM, as digitally transmitted readings from patients to a software platform are necessary to deliver the program. Throughout my five years supporting patients and customers with RPM, there were a few things that guaranteed a successful RPM program.
One of those was a designated person, a champion, managing the program, and the second were cellular devices. By giving patients cellular devices, you take away obstacles and inconveniences, and in turn, you see an increase in adherence. Increasing adherence allows caregivers to gather enough data on a patient to make informed decisions about care and satisfies the requirement for reimbursement.
As Remote Patient Monitoring programs grow, I believe we will see more advanced cellular devices to meet the needs of all patients, regardless of physical attributes or location.
Conduct Early Usability Testing
One technique we’ve employed at TruBridge to ensure the user-friendliness of medical devices, particularly software-driven solutions, is involving both patients and healthcare providers early in the development process through usability testing. We gather real-time feedback from end-users—both patients who will interact with the device and the healthcare providers who will rely on it in their daily work—before finalizing any designs.
By running focus groups, conducting simulated clinical scenarios, and allowing users to navigate the interface or device in a real-world environment, we gather critical insights into how intuitive the system is for different types of users. This iterative process ensures that any potential pain points or inefficiencies are addressed before the device is widely implemented. The feedback loop between users and developers has proven invaluable in designing devices that are both effective and easy to use, ultimately improving adoption rates and patient outcomes.
Apply Intuitive Design Principles
One technique that stands out in the realm of medical device user-friendliness is the implementation of intuitive design principles. This involves creating interfaces that are logical, clear, and as simple as possible, minimizing the potential for user error. For instance, color-coding parts of the device can guide users through the correct sequence of actions.
Additionally, incorporating feedback mechanisms, such as auditory or tactile cues, can confirm correct operations and alert users to potential errors. This dual approach caters to both patients, who may be unfamiliar with medical devices, and healthcare providers, who require efficiency and precision in high-stress environments. Ultimately, the goal is to create a seamless interaction that feels almost second nature to all users, thereby enhancing the overall safety and effectiveness of the medical treatment.
Focus on Education for Compliance
There has been an incredible amount of new medical products on the market. The innovation is coming from inspired individuals who are seeking equality and accessibility for all. The most important feature of a medical product is its ability to improve patient compliance. If the device is too complicated for the patient to apply or comprehend, then they will not use the device, and the therapeutic effect is null and void.
Optimal user-friendliness for a patient would be measured by compliance. While optimal user-friendliness for the healthcare provider would be measured by therapeutic outcomes that are in line with the planned therapeutic effect.
Education is the best technique to ensure user-friendliness for both parties. But education for the patient and healthcare provider have different meanings.
