Overview

“3D for Medical” is the first assistant medical software in the Chinese market designed to reduce communication barriers between physicians and patients while improving patient satisfaction. It enhances patients' understanding of their conditions by visualizing their anatomy or pathology in 3D.

My Role

I was the product designer for this exciting project, collaborating with the product manager, marketing manager, 3D artist, medical consultant, engineers, and another UI designer. My responsibilities included research, information architecture, user flows, sketching, wireframing, and prototyping.

Why a medical 3d visualization platform

How can we leverage technology to enhance doctor-patient communication?

Doctor-patient relationships in China have been deteriorating over the past decade, with many doctors facing tense and conflict-ridden interactions with patients.

The physician-patient relationship is the cornerstone of clinical care. A report from the National Health Commission of the PRC indicates that 85.3% of doctors and 58.5% of patients believe miscommunication is a primary cause of conflict in healthcare.

When miscommunication occurs, it can severely impact clinical care, hindering patient understanding, treatment expectations, and planning. It can also lead to decreased patient satisfaction and reduced hopefulness.

Effective doctor-patient communication is crucial for fostering a strong therapeutic relationship, which is essential for providing high-quality healthcare.

Discover

Research

We conducted user research through interviews, field observations, and surveys.

Our survey involved 155 physicians from 20 hospitals in Jiangsu Province, and the results highlight a clear need for an effective communication tool.

Interview Findings:

A key barrier to doctor-patient communication is patients' insufficient understanding of their disease or treatment options.
Physicians lack an effective communication tool to keep patients adequately informed.
There is also a lack of comprehensive and detailed records of the communication process.

Competitor analysis

We conducted a competitor analysis, which was essential for understanding and defining:

The competitive landscape
Existing and potential customers
Technological feasibility
MVPs

Insights from the analysis:

3D4Medical, 3DBody, and other 3D medical software products focus solely on physiological models and lack pathological models or medical display animations.
These products are primarily used for medical education and training, but they do not integrate with clinical diagnosis and treatment activities.
There is no similar product available in the Chinese market.

Persona and Empathy map

Based on the results of the user interview, I developed two personas reflecting the distinct characteristics of our target users—one for the identified audiences and another for potential future users. Establishing these personas kept me focused on the users’ needs during the design process. empathy mapping, I recognized that users’ thoughts, words, actions, and feelings can vary. Additionally, I observed user behavior during the interviews to gather data that allowed me to adopt the users’ perspective.

Example of Personal and Empathy map

Define

The TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors is an internationally acknowledged standard used to categorize the extent of cancer spread.

Informed consent generator
Letter of Authorization generator
Search / Request medical record
Recording doctor-patient conversation
3D showcase of Eight systems and medical explanation include: the treatment plan, complication, and TNM

Abbreviations and explanation

TNM: The TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors is a globally recognized standard for classifying the extent of the spread of cancer.

Complication: A complication in medicine, or medical complication, is an unfavorable result of a disease, health condition, or treatment. Complications may adversely affect the prognosis, or outcome, of a disease.

We utilize the concept of eight systems based on medical references, which include: the locomotor system, nervous system, reproductive system, digestive system, respiratory system, urinary system, circulatory system, and endocrine.

Mindmap & User flow

I develop a mind map that illustrates the optimal journey for physicians' prospects. Throughout this process, enhance our concept and organize ideas in a systematic and meaningful manner.

Next, I outline the flow for the red route.

Ideate

Sketch & Wireframe

Based on the insights from user research, ideation and sketches, I combined them into a wireframe presenting the desired features.

Group discussion on wireframes.

We create wireframes through small group discussions, where participants share their ideas, and I capture them a whiteboard. This process helps us develop a clear vision for the design, which I then convert into detailed digital files.

User test & Iteration

I developed a low-fidelity prototype using Sketch. We utilized this prototype for internal user testing. Based on findings from the user tests, the team continuously iterated and enhanced the product.

Sample of Iteration

Following the test, I realized that the steps to generate a Letter Authorization were unclear. The tester raised questions about scan ID step: How should the ID information be entered? Whose should be scanned—the authorizer's or the authorized person's? In response, I restructured the information input process into three straightforward steps with clear instructions, it easier for users to grasp the procedure.