Problem

An eConsent product in healthcare can address several significant issues faced by both patients and healthcare providers. We were challenged with several problems:

• On the patient side, traditional consent forms often contain complex medical jargon that is difficult for patients to understand. eConsent platforms can use multimedia elements (videos, diagrams, etc.) to explain procedures in simpler terms.
   
• On the provider side, managing and storing paper consent forms is time-consuming and labor-intensive. eConsent automates these processes, reducing administrative workload.

Solution

As the lead designer on this project, I had two main goals — creating a scalable eConsent platform which our design and engineering teams could easily follow, while designing the best possible experience for the end user.

Our hypothesis:

By addressing these problems, the eConsent product can lead to improved patient satisfaction, better compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, increased efficiency for healthcare providers, and a positive environmental impact. This ultimately contributes to enhanced healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Final design

I designed the eConsent product to be a more streamlined, transparent, and efficient consent process than traditional paper forms.

By leveraging the mobile platform (iOS, android) technology, both patients and healthcare providers can enhance patient understanding, increase efficiency, ensure compliance, and ultimately improve the quality of care delivered through the following key features.

Real-time validation:

• Forms can be validated in real-time to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Improved communication:

• Improved access to info: Provide immediate answers through FAQs, chatbots, or access to additional resources.
   
• Real-time information: Ensure all patients receive the same up-to-date digital information. Changes to consent forms can be instantly deployed, ensuring all patients receive the most current information.

Decreased errors and omissions:

• Better quality data: Manual entry of consent data can lead to errors and omissions. Our eConsent system will reduce the risk of human error by automating data entry and validation.
   
• Secure, safe storage: Paper forms can be lost or damaged. The eConsent forms are securely stored and backed up, minimizing the risk of data loss. eConsent systems can be designed to comply with healthcare regulations (e.g., HIPAA), ensuring all legal requirements are met

Environmental and cost benefits:

• Paperless: Reduces the need for paper, contributing to environmental sustainability.
   
• Cost Savings: Lower costs associated with printing, storing, and managing physical documents.