01 DERMALAB
THESIS / MEDICAL DESIGN
Problem Definition
In addition to missed digital solutions of the German health system, the allocation of appointments is still considered a major challenge for doctors and patients. Doctors have very large catchment areas, especially in rural regions, and simply do not have enough time for all patients. This often ends in frustration and unhealthy interaction between doctor and patient. Bureaucratic hurdles also often prevent practices from treating patients properly. In addition, demographic change poses a major challenge to the German health care system and makes efficiency gains in medical care mandatory.
Our Solution
Status Quo Teledermatology & Product Thesis
The pandemic has made telemedicine providers increasingly popular. As a visually-based specialty, dermatology is particularly well suited. 90 % of the submitted cases can be conclusively treated online, i.e. diagnosed and treated. For this, usually 3 photos of the skin disease and a medical history sheet are submitted and processed by a teledermatologist within a few hours. We assume that due to the high treatment rate of 90 %, the focus in practices will be on "advanced diagnostics" and "operative dermatology". Teledermatology services will be the first port of call in the future, with patients only entering a dermatology practice when needed. These few patients then visit the practice with a tentative diagnosis that already provides information about possible treatments. Doctors thus have more time per patient and the quality of diagnosis and therapy increases.
Design approach
Initially, telemedicine, dermatology and teledermatology were examined from different perspectives within the framework of the secondary research. In each case, status reports were formed and examined for potentials and challenges. From this, we generated findings which were evaluated together with experts from the various sub-areas and underpinned with real examples from practice. We were able to draw on a number of dermatologists and a project partnership with the teledermatology company dermanostic.
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Using methods such as the SWOT analysis or the 5 Whys method, we examined the collected findings in more depth and translated them into initial concept ideas.
Together with the experts, we adapted these concept ideas in several steps, iteratively to the real requirements of a holistic telemedicine system.
Design concept patient app & practice navigation
Cases are submitted and diagnoses are viewed in the patient app. Appointments in a nearby practice can be booked on the recommendation of the treating TelePhysician.
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Appointments are stored in the app with QR codes and serve the check-in process in the practice. Check-in takes place via a terminal consisting of a screen and a QR code scanner. On the screen, all important steps are explained in a comprehensible way. The case numbers serve to protect the patient's data.
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Design concept dermatologist software
The case tiles consisting of the patient's name, the treatment room, the treatment type, the attending physician and the patient status ensure that the physician has a quick overview.
The advanced diagnosis can be started via the patient tile. Entering new data works via a text input field with suggestions and chip creation. In this way, entire diagnoses can be created with just a few keystrokes.
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Matching the diagnosis and therapy, the dermatologists are provided with different information materials in the form of graphics or videos. The dermatologists use these to inform the patient. In addition, they can find all the necessary forms or certificates.
For necessary laboratory analyses, suitable laboratory slips as well as labels for identifying the samples can be created, filled out and printed. The necessary data are prepared and only need to be added or changed as required. In the course of the process, automatic billing figures and material costs are generated from the data entered.
In addition to missed digital solutions of the German health system, the allocation of appointments is still considered a major challenge for doctors and patients. Doctors have very large catchment areas, especially in rural regions, and simply do not have enough time for all patients. This often ends in frustration and unhealthy interaction between doctor and patient. Bureaucratic hurdles also often prevent practices from treating patients properly. In addition, demographic change poses a major challenge to the German health care system and makes efficiency gains in medical care mandatory.
Our Solution
Status Quo Teledermatology & Product Thesis
The pandemic has made telemedicine providers increasingly popular. As a visually-based specialty, dermatology is particularly well suited. 90 % of the submitted cases can be conclusively treated online, i.e. diagnosed and treated. For this, usually 3 photos of the skin disease and a medical history sheet are submitted and processed by a teledermatologist within a few hours. We assume that due to the high treatment rate of 90 %, the focus in practices will be on "advanced diagnostics" and "operative dermatology". Teledermatology services will be the first port of call in the future, with patients only entering a dermatology practice when needed. These few patients then visit the practice with a tentative diagnosis that already provides information about possible treatments. Doctors thus have more time per patient and the quality of diagnosis and therapy increases.
Design approach
Initially, telemedicine, dermatology and teledermatology were examined from different perspectives within the framework of the secondary research. In each case, status reports were formed and examined for potentials and challenges. From this, we generated findings which were evaluated together with experts from the various sub-areas and underpinned with real examples from practice. We were able to draw on a number of dermatologists and a project partnership with the teledermatology company dermanostic.
Using methods such as the SWOT analysis or the 5 Whys method, we examined the collected findings in more depth and translated them into initial concept ideas.
Together with the experts, we adapted these concept ideas in several steps, iteratively to the real requirements of a holistic telemedicine system.
Design concept patient app & practice navigation
Cases are submitted and diagnoses are viewed in the patient app. Appointments in a nearby practice can be booked on the recommendation of the treating TelePhysician.
Appointments are stored in the app with QR codes and serve the check-in process in the practice. Check-in takes place via a terminal consisting of a screen and a QR code scanner. On the screen, all important steps are explained in a comprehensible way. The case numbers serve to protect the patient's data.
Design concept dermatologist software
The case tiles consisting of the patient's name, the treatment room, the treatment type, the attending physician and the patient status ensure that the physician has a quick overview.
The advanced diagnosis can be started via the patient tile. Entering new data works via a text input field with suggestions and chip creation. In this way, entire diagnoses can be created with just a few keystrokes.
Matching the diagnosis and therapy, the dermatologists are provided with different information materials in the form of graphics or videos. The dermatologists use these to inform the patient. In addition, they can find all the necessary forms or certificates.
For necessary laboratory analyses, suitable laboratory slips as well as labels for identifying the samples can be created, filled out and printed. The necessary data are prepared and only need to be added or changed as required. In the course of the process, automatic billing figures and material costs are generated from the data entered.