Infectious Disease Platform
About
The Infectious Disease Platform is a B2B SaaS application developed by Optum. This platform is designed to assist pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and public health agencies in tracking, analyzing, and forecasting infectious disease incidence and vaccination needs. The tool enables users to explore and analyze various infectious diseases (e.g., flu, RSV, COVID-19) and demographic data, helping stakeholders plan more effectively for potential outbreaks. A key feature of the platform is its ability to forecast vaccine requirements in the event of a future pandemic, empowering decision-makers with data-driven insights to ensure public health preparedness.
My Role
I was responsible for the overall user experience and interface design.
My tasks included:
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Conducting user research to understand the needs of different stakeholders.
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Defining user personas and journey mapping.
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Designing wireframes and UI designs.
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Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate data visualizations effectively.
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Ensuring the platform design was intuitive, accessible, and adaptable across devices.
Problem statement
Healthcare organizations and pharmaceutical companies often struggle to make accurate, data-driven decisions due to fragmented information sources and a lack of forecasting tools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for reliable, comprehensive data became urgent, as these organizations faced unprecedented demand for vaccines and medical resources.
The problem was clear: How can we centralize infectious disease data to provide actionable insights and forecast vaccine needs in future outbreaks?
0 1
Research and Discovery
To develop a solution tailored to the needs of healthcare professionals, I conducted multiple rounds of interviews with healthcare officials and our stakeholders.
Key insights from the research phase included:
User Needs
Users needed a platform that would simplify access to infectious disease data and offer predictive analytics for vaccine planning.
Pain Points
Existing tools were complicated and disconnected, making it difficult for users to access information and collaborate effectively.
Goals
Users desired an intuitive interface with easily interpretable data visualizations and customizable dashboards to address specific needs (e.g., regional trends, demographic insights, disease incidence rates).
Primary Objective
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To centralize infectious disease data in a user-friendly, accessible format.
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To provide forecasting tools that aid in proactive planning
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To facilitate easy data sharing among teams and organizations
0 2
Usability Testing
User Persona
Dr. Sahah Green
45 years old
New York
Bio:
Dr. Sarah Green is an epidemiologist at a leading pharmaceutical company. With over 20 years of experience in infectious disease research, she specializes in data-driven decision-making for disease prevention and control.
Scenerio:
She needs a tool that provides reliable, up-to-date data on disease outbreaks, vaccination rates, and demographic impact, all in one place. Given her role, she often collaborates with public health officials and other stakeholders, so efficient data sharing is essential.
Goals:
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To monitor disease trends and respond quickly to potential outbreaks
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To analyze demographic data and predict vulnerable populations
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To assess vaccine requirements for upcoming flu seasons or potential pandemics
Pain Points
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Difficulty in accessing timely and accurate disease data
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Limited tools for forecasting future vaccine demand
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Lack of intuitive dashboards that cater to specific epidemiological data needs
0 4
Design Process
Wireframe and Initial Concept Sketching.
The design process started with low-fidelity wireframes that mapped out the platform’s primary sections:
dashboards for disease incidence, demographic data visualizations, age and gender distribution and forecasting.
The goal was to create a clean, organized structure that would allow users to quickly navigate and analyze different data points.
High-Fidelity Mockups and Iterations
Using feedback from the initial wireframes, I created high-fidelity mockups incorporating the United Health Group’s brand identity while focusing on usability. Each dashboard was designed to be visually engaging and accessible, with color-coded maps to represent disease incidence levels across the U.S. Features included:
Interactive Maps:
Maps showing the severity of various diseases (e.g., RSV, flu, COVID-19) across states, allowing users to drill down for regional insights.
Forecasting Charts:
Predictive analytics for vaccine needs based on historical and seasonal data, which could be customized by demographic filters (age, gender, ethnicity).
Demographic Data Visualizations:
Bar charts and trend lines presenting population data relevant to disease susceptibility, including age, race, and seasonal patterns.
Usability Testing and Refinements
After developing the initial high-fidelity designs, I conducted usability testing sessions with target users. These sessions provided insights into how users navigated the platform and interacted with specific features. Based on feedback, I refined the following areas:
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Dashboard Customization: Users could personalize their dashboards by selecting which diseases or data points to focus on.
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Data Accessibility: Improved color contrasts and simplified chart legends to enhance accessibility for users with visual impairments.
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Navigation Streamlining: Simplified navigation elements, making it easier to switch between disease data and demographic insights.
Final Solution
The final design of the Infectious Disease Platform offered a comprehensive and flexible tool for managing infectious disease data. Key features included:
Customizable Dashboards: Users can easily switch between views focused on RSV, flu, COVID-19, and other diseases, viewing data as geographic heat maps or demographic bar charts.
Data Filters and Forecasting: The platform allows users to filter data by age, gender, and ethnicity, providing a tailored view that supports precise vaccine forecasting.
Alerts and Reporting: Real-time alerts for disease spikes (e.g., COVID or flu increases) and customizable reports for sharing insights with other stakeholders.
Responsive Design: Optimized for desktop and tablet use, making it easy for professionals to access data in the field or at the office.
Final Prototype
Outcome and Impact
The Infectious Disease Platform is now implemented partially and received positive feedback from users with whom we have tested it out and they highlighted its intuitive interface and powerful analytics capabilities. It streamlined data access for healthcare professionals, reducing the time spent searching for information and enabling quicker responses to disease trends.
This project is still under design and development is targeted to be launched in 2025.
Key Takeaways:
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Continuous Improvement: Continuous testing ensures that as user needs evolve, the product remains intuitive and user-friendly, maintaining its relevance and effectiveness.
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Team Involvement: Usability testing involves the entire team. Developers, product managers, and stakeholders should all participate in the process to gain a holistic view of the user experience and make informed decisions.