For a long time, innovation in the medtech industry was a top-down process involving high level engineers and experts producing the best technology possible in their labs. Their main objectives were to meet product requirements, comply with regulations and deliver safe and efficient products. But the end-user was rarely, if not never consulted and UX design barely mentioned. This all might change as the Internet of Things is entering healthcare. 

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Why should medtech companies take a patient and healthcare professional centric approach?

Everyone has at least once observed a toddler unlocking an iphone or sliding pictures without an adult’s help. This is the magic behind the success of Apple: matching simplicity and intuitivity with great technology. Not only consumers have adopted Apple’s products, but professionals as well, at the expense of competitors. What is true for telecommunication is also true for other sectors, including healthcare.

Nurses, physicians and healthcare professionals are now well accustomed to intuitive and task-focused products with cool-looking designs. They expect medical devices and applications to be akin to their favorite daily tech products.

Understanding the user’s needs and enhancing the usability of a product should be the backbone of any medical product design. Consistency across the products is also a priority of UX design. Users should be able to navigate the function of the device or application as intuitively as possible.

By taking into account health professionals feedback and usage from the beginning of the development process, UX design provides insights into more efficient medical devices, tailored to the actual users’ needs.

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How UX design in healthcare creates safer products?

However, performance is not the only end goal of UX design applied to the Internet of Medical Things. If user interfaces are unclear, the consequences can be dramatic. Not only can it create frustration and waste time, but it can lead to actual errors in use. UX design in the medical field is more than just creating a “feel-good user experience”. Putting the spotlight on usability with easy-to-use products and applications improves how medical device users can diagnose and deliver care. Hence, improving overall patient’s satisfaction and safety.

UX design is no longer an unnecessary expense for medtech companies. In the competitive Internet of Medical Things market, companies able to understand their target users’ needs and smartly combine innovation with intuition will create a wow factor and stand out. Not surprisingly, the big consumer tech companies, including Apple are leading innovation in healthcare.

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