APACS

  • Affinity diagramming to set focus with clients.

  • We conducted literature reviews, interviews and contextual inquiries to understand the workflow around use of images in the ICU.

  • We modeled the data gathered from our user research and consolidated it.

  • These are the numerous findings and design ideas distributed over the entire workflow.

  • Guerrilla validation: When the going gets tough... try every method you can to gain information.

  • We started the synthesis phase with brainstorming and visioning.

  • This is a sample of the low fidelity prototypes I created based on the feedback received after concept validations and evaluation sessions I conducted.

  • We built a high fidelity prototype. I can not put this up on my website as per the NDA signed with Carestream health. I will be happy to discuss more about this in person.

Project description

Carestream health, a Kodak based company supplies picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) to hospitals. Currently, these systems cater mainly to the needs of radiologists. However, they are also used in the ICU. Carestream health had approached our team to specialize the PACS for the specific requirements of the ICU. This was my Capstone project.

Process

As a planning lead, I introduced our clients to the stream of human computer interaction and explained the techniques we would use to help them achieve their goal. We set our focus as 'Creating a system for ICU clinicians that improves their interactions with patient images in the ICU environment' by drawing an affinity diagram with the clients. We completed the user research phase of this project in Spring semester. We used methods like literature reviews, heuristic evaluation, phone interviews and contextual modeling during this phase. This helped us identify our design directions.

We implemented methods like grounded brainstorming, visioning, low fidelity prototyping, high fidelity prototyping and concept validation throughout the summer semester to create our final design.

Design

We redesigned the existing PACS interface and made it flexible yet uncluttered and intuitive. The interface will enable quick access to the functionalities which are required in the ICU. We made all the different applications used in the ICU available through PACS. Thus, now PACS will be more decision oriented than procedure oriented.

I can not reveal more details here due to a Non Disclosure Agreement signed with my clients. However, I will be glad to discuss this project in person.

Critique Presentations