Client
Personal Project
Overview
Language barriers in healthcare lead to miscommunication, misdiagnoses, and frustration for both doctors and patients. Many non-English-speaking patients rely on human interpreters who may not always accurately translate medical terminology, leading to misunderstandings. This app provides real-time AI-driven translations during consultations and allows patients to access recorded visits with precise, AI-generated transcripts. By integrating these features, the app empowers patients to take control of their healthcare, improving communication, medical compliance, and overall patient outcomes.
Client
Personal Project
Industry
Medical
Service
UI/UX Design
Digital Design
Duration
5 Weeks
The Challenge
In traditional healthcare settings, non-English-speaking patients often rely on human interpreters or basic translation services, which can introduce errors or omit crucial medical details. Misinterpretations can lead to confusion, mistrust, or even incorrect treatments. Patients also struggle to recall medical advice after their appointments, as they lack a way to review the conversation. The challenge is to create a seamless, accurate, and accessible communication tool that ensures both doctors and patients fully understand each other.
The Goal
The primary goal of this project is to improve healthcare accessibility and accuracy for non-English-speaking patients by eliminating language barriers through AI-driven solutions. The app strives to enhance doctor-patient communication, increase patient confidence in medical decisions, and promote better health outcomes through clear and precise information exchange.
The Solution
To address this issue, Medi Link integrates an AI-powered live translation feature that provides real-time interpretation during consultations. Additionally, it records each visit and generates an accurate transcript, allowing patients to revisit their conversations at any time. This ensures that critical medical advice is preserved and clearly communicated, reducing misunderstandings and improving patient adherence to treatment plans. Medi Link also prioritizes privacy, ensuring that patients no longer have to rely on untrained interpreters to communicate sensitive health information.
Design Process
1. Empathize a. Conduct user research b. Analyze common pain points 2. Define a. Target Persona b. Empathy Map 3. Ideate a. Brainstorm potential features b. Task Flow 4. Prototype a. Paper & digital wireframe b. Low & high fidelity prototype 5. Test a. Conduct usability testing b. Interate user insights to enhance accessibility
User Research: Summary
Research were conducted with non-English-speaking patients. The findings revealed that many patients feel anxious about medical visits due to language barriers, leading them to rely on interpreters. Doctors also reported frustration with inconsistent or inaccurate translations, which impact patient understanding and compliance. Many patients expressed a need for a way to review their medical visits to reinforce their understanding of prescribed treatments. These insights helped shape the app’s core features to address real pain points in the healthcare experience.
Pain Points
1. Interpretation Errors: Human interpreters sometimes struggle with medical terminology, leading to incorrect or incomplete translations that affect patient care. 2. Lack of Visit Recall: Patients often forget important details from medical appointments, leading to confusion about treatment plans or medication instructions. 3. Privacy Concerns: Many patients feel uncomfortable discussing personal health issues in front of interpreters, limiting open and honest communication with doctors.
Usability Study: Findings
1. Users found it cumbersome to browse through a long list of doctors, especially when they only knew the doctor’s name from a recommendation. 2. Users with low vision preferred listening to appointment details rather than reading, highlighting the need for an accessible playback option. 3. Some patients wanted to see a doctor’s experience, specialty, and rating upfront before scheduling an appointment to make informed decisions.
Accessibility Consideration
1. Multi-language support, including dialect recognition, to cater to diverse patient populations. 2. Voice-to-text transcription with customizable text size and contrast settings for visually impaired users. 3. Simple and intuitive UI design optimized for elderly users and those with limited tech literacy. 4 Audio playback of recorded visits with translation, accommodating users with low literacy levels.
The Result
With AI-driven translation and visit recordings, patients experience fewer misunderstandings and improved access to accurate medical information. Doctors can also communicate with confidence, knowing that their instructions are conveyed correctly. Patients feel more empowered in their healthcare decisions, leading to higher satisfaction, better medical adherence, and reduced frustration from language barriers.
Key Takeaway
1. Patients need a reliable and accurate communication tool that eliminates dependency on human interpreters. 2. The ability to revisit medical conversations enhances understanding, reducing anxiety and improving adherence to treatment plans. 3. Privacy is a significant concern, and a secure, AI-driven solution allows patients to maintain confidentiality in their healthcare interactions.
Next Steps
1. Conduct usability testing with healthcare professionals to refine the translation accuracy and user experience. 2. Work with medical experts to improve AI-driven translation for complex medical terminology, ensuring precision and cultural sensitivity. 3. Develop robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption, to protect patient data and ensure compliance with healthcare privacy regulations.
