Access Health Information and Scheduling for the Person I Take Care Of

Market: Family healthcare managers assisting elderly or technology-challenged individuals

Scenario: A family healthcare manager, cares for her mother, who shows early signs of dementia and struggles with digital technology. She needs seamless access to her mother’s health information, such as appointments, test results, insurance details, and health records, to provide ongoing care effectively.

Average Difficulty: Mild (10-20% Range).

Total Outcomes: 52, ranging from 1% to 26% in difficulty.

Research Insights

Caregivers often bypass formal access protocols by using login credentials of the individuals they care for. Inconsistencies in the system, as well as complex verification processes, lead to frustration and a need for more caregiver-friendly access to health information.

Job Steps

Job steps are the current sequential steps that the market goes through to accomplish this job.

1. Determine healthcare management goals for family members
2. Gather healthcare information and login credentials
3. Set up healthcare accounts and online access
4. Verify access to necessary healthcare portals and information
5. Perform healthcare management tasks online
6. Check the status of health appointments and prescriptions
7. Adjust account settings and information for improved access
8. Finalize healthcare management activities or set reminders for follow-up tasks

Themes Identified

• Accessing Health Information: Need for consistent verification criteria and easier access to appointments, insurance coverage, health records, test results, and medication management.
• Task Coordination and Management: Desire for reduced time in setting healthcare management goals, improved consistency across providers, and better coordination among family members and caregivers.
• Usability of Healthcare Portals: Importance of simplifying account setup, reducing website complexity, and enhancing navigation to assist technologically challenged users.

Recommendations

• Enhanced Task Coordination: Provide tools for seamless coordination of healthcare tasks, including shared calendars, task tracking, and progress monitoring among family members, caregivers, and providers.
• Simplify Access: Streamline login processes with intuitive solutions like biometrics or simplified retrieval of credentials to accommodate all users.
• Streamline Health Goals: Develop systems that assist in quickly setting and adjusting healthcare management goals, offering customizable templates and best-practice guidelines.

Cautions

• Avoid overly complex multi-factor authentication processes that could hinder access for less tech-savvy users.
• Ensure data integration across platforms to avoid fragmented healthcare management goals between providers and patients.
• Prioritize functionality and ease of use over aesthetic design to ensure accessibility, especially for users with disabilities or limited technological proficiency.