Designing a User-Friendly Telemedicine Experience for Patients of All Ages

The use of telemedicine in modern-day healthcare is growing at a rapid pace. While 80% of the population has already experienced digital health in some form or another, its relevance is growing with the new generation stepping up. They’re opting for many such options. For instance, millennials prefer to use telehealth over in-person visits to access care.

While still in the early stages of transition, there are many challenges that exist in the ecosystem that fail to attract patients of all ages, despite the fact that telemedicine can be a life-changing experience for everyone involved, especially for kids and older adults.

So, what can be done to improve patient experience in telemedicine?

Well, unlike traditional healthcare practices, the secret lies in the intuitive interface of digital health. Improving patient experience in telemedicine is directly proportional to the user-friendly nature of the telemedicine platform.

In this blog, let’s briefly discuss improving the patient experience in telemedicine, using intuitive interfaces and inclusive design as the building blocks.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

The Power of Intuitive Interface

Intuitive interface is the key to increase the usability of your telemedicine platform. An inclusive design can allow the user to seamlessly navigate through the software and explore different functionalities without even telling them where the functionalities are and how to use them. This significantly increases the patient experience, leading to more usage and satisfied patients.

Remember, people don’t like complex things, it confuses them. That is why even the biggest design companies in the world emphasize a simple interface. Clean and uncluttered interface with clear navigation signs make the software easy to understand for the user. Along with that, it also generates a curiosity in the user allowing them to explore more functionalities of the software, indirectly engaging them with their care.

For clear navigation you need to understand every small aspect of the telemedicine software. Use readable fonts and large icons to make it clear for the user to know where the desired functionality is. Along with that, use distinct and identifiable icons so that the user interaction is clear and easy.

One of the best practices in developing a user-friendly telemedicine platform is to use minimal designs with clear instructions which avoids confusion for all users. It will also make your user interface clear, concise and more convenient to use.

Building in Accessibility Features

Accessible telemedicine apps are where many healthcare providers fail to captivate. For instance, as a healthcare provider, you don’t know which device the user will use to receive telehealth. With respect to that, here are some accessibility features that you need to know:

1. Screen Reader Compatibility: Know and understand the different dimensions of the devices your users generally use. Depending on that, make your platform compatible with all the screens. This will make it easier for users to read and navigate the platform easily. Screen readers should also be considered, as they are used by visually impaired patients.

2. Closed Captioning and Audio Descriptions: Video conferencing makes up most of the part of digital health, especially when using a telemedicine platform. Here, providing closed captions for video calls and audio descriptions can come in handy to avoid any misunderstandings or miscommunications. This will not only enhance the accessibility of visual content but also streamline most of the communications.

3. Adjustable Interface Elements: One of the most useful features that you can add to make a user-friendly telemedicine platform is making the interface elements adjustable. For instance, allowing users to adjust font size, color contrast, and other elements that make up the design would give patients more control, elevating their overall experience.

Catering to Diverse Tech Skills

Improving patient experience in telemedicine depends largely on the technology elements that you add to your platform. Here are some of the things that you can consider to improve the telemedicine platform:

1. Multiple Access Points: The user should be able to access telehealth services from multiple devices and in various ways. By including multiple access points for your digital health platform on web browsers, mobile apps, and even on mobiles, you can elevate access to care instantly, even to areas with limited internet access.

2. Comprehensive User Guide and Tutorials: Understand that not everyone using technology is tech-friendly. For such a user group, you need to provide clear and concise user guides and tutorials to help understand the platform better, and it will also make it easier for them to use. Also, these guides and tutorials should be provided in multiple formats, such as written and video. This will support patients with different technology skills and knowledge in understanding and using telehealth software better.

3. Live Technical Support options: Live technical support is one of the most important aspects that helps enhance patient experience in telemedicine for seniors and telemedicine for kids. Features such as a help desk or live chat can assist patients with such technical difficulties and enhance their experience.

Enhancing Patient Comfort and Confidence

The design of your telehealth software directly contributes to boosting patient comfort and confidence while using the platform. Intuitive interface and inclusive design work exceptionally well to elevate the experience, but there are certain elements that you can add that can further enhance the overall experience. Here are some things with regards to that which you can consider:

1. Pre-Appointment Information and Instructions: Comfort and confidence are the two factors that contribute a lot to the patient experience. Here, providing patients with clear pre-appointment information and instructions on how to use the telemedicine platform can be extremely helpful and will also make the patient comfortable while boosting their confidence.

2. Virtual Waiting Room Features: To add a real-life touch to your digital healthcare practice with a telemedicine platform, you can incorporate virtual waiting room features. With this, you can provide the patients with a familiar and calming experience before their appointment.

3. Post-Appointment Resources and Support: After virtual appointments, patients often report a feeling of being lost and confused. This scenario often does not exist in traditional practices. However, it can be addressed by providing post-appointment support and resources such as medication information, follow-up instructions, etc.

Testing for Usability and Inclusivity

The only way you can ensure that your interactive interface works and elevates the user experience is by conducting rigorous testing for usability and inclusivity. Here are some things that you can consider for usability and inclusivity:

1. User Testing with Diverse Patient Groups: Conduct user testing with patients across age groups and technological backgrounds. The results from these tests will help you in identifying the usability issues that users face while using. These issues can be addressed by you to enhance their experience and bridge the potential gaps.

2. Focus on Accessibility Standards Compliance: To make your platform truly inclusive, adhering to the established accessibility standards can create wonders. One such standard is WCAG – the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which is used by many digital health platforms to make their platform inclusive by improving patient experience in telemedicine.

Frequently Asked Questions