Overview
Ability to view, add and edit emergency contacts in the my health app.
'my health' app allows users to store emergency contact details within their record. These contacts can include family members, close friends, or carers who may need to be reached in a medical emergency. Healthcare providers involved in a user’s care will have access to this information, ensuring timely communication when needed.
Emergency contacts cannot be hidden or restricted from provider access. Keeping this information current is essential, as listed contacts may be contacted when required.
Problem statement
In an emergency, healthcare providers need quick access to a patient's emergency contacts to inform them of critical health situations. Without a centralised and accessible emergency contact list, delays in communication can occur, impacting patient care. Users also need a simple and secure way to add and manage emergency contacts while ensuring accuracy and permission compliance.
Users & audience
Primary users:
Individuals managing their My Health Record who want to store emergency contact details.
Healthcare providers:
Medical professionals accessing emergency contacts when necessary for patient care.
Nominated representatives:
Can view emergency contact details.
Full access & authorised representatives:
Can view, add, and edit emergency contact details on behalf of the user.
Roles & responsibilities
As the primary UI Designer on this project, my role encompassed also involved participating in UX-based activities.
Designing & prototyping:
Developed initial wireframes to define the layout and flow of emergency contact management
Built an interactive prototype to simulate the user experience, ensuring seamless navigation and intuitive interactions
User testing & research:
Facilitated user testing sessions to evaluate usability, clarity, and effectiveness of the design
Took detailed notes during testing to capture user feedback, pain points, and areas for improvement
High-fidelity UI design:
Designed polished, high-fidelity screens aligned with My Health App’s design system
Created responsive UI components for both mobile and tablet versions of the app
Collaboration with the development team:
Worked closely with developers to translate designs into functional features.
Provided design specifications and QA support to ensure pixel-perfect implementation
Iterated on designs based on feasibility discussions and technical constraints
Scope & constraints
Adding:
Manual entry: Users can input emergency contact details directly
From phone contacts: Users can grant permission to access their mobile contacts and select a contact to add
Managing:
Editing: Users can update contact details they have added, whether entered manually or imported from their phone
Deleting: Users can remove emergency contacts they have added
Duplicate prevention: The app will notify users if they attempt to add a duplicate contact
Custom relationship labels:
Users can create custom relationship labels (e.g., “Neighbour” or “Primary Carer”)
If a similar pre-defined relationship exists, the app will prompt users to choose between their custom label or the pre-defined option
User permission:
User permission: Users must obtain consent before adding someone as an emergency contact
Unrestricted access: Emergency contacts are always visible to healthcare providers and cannot be hidden or controlled by the user
Data accuracy responsibility: Users must keep their emergency contact details up to date, as contacts may be called when required
Results
Improved emergency response:
Healthcare providers can quickly access emergency contact details, ensuring faster communication in urgent situations.
User-controlled data management:
Users can add, edit, and delete their emergency contacts with ease.
Compliance & privacy considerations:
The app ensures users obtain permission before adding contacts, while healthcare providers have necessary access to ensure patient safety.
Enhanced usability:
Features like duplicate detection and custom relationship labels improve the user experience, reducing errors and making management more intuitive.
Seamless handoff to development:
Close collaboration with developers ensured that the final implementation matched the intended design and met accessibility standards.