HOW MIGHT WE HELP EDUCATE DIABETES PATIENTS FOR BETTER INDEPENDENT HEALTH MANAGEMENT?

SPRING 2014

Erie Family Health Center originally tasked us to redesign their online patient portal, but we quickly uncovered and reframed the real problem: the low-income and overwhelmingly non-English speaking patients at Erie did not have the access or the ability to utilize an online platform.

Our team focused on patients managing chronic illnesses, like diabetes. After diving deep into understanding the lives of these patients at Erie, we determined that they need computer-free access to continuous and in-context information to help make smart choices and manage their care.

We ultimately recommended a two-prong approach: EatEries, bilingual, pocket-sized cards displaying healthier choices at fast food restaurants; and a partnership with CareMessage, a text-based system used for communicating with patients with limited computer access.

skills applied

• Design research
• Identifying key personas
• Building tools: stakeholder maps, service blueprints, journey maps
• Role playing through video prototypes