Curv: A Digital Healthcare platform

The screens displayed above were all a user had to receive and act on health care programs when I first joined. Introducing several features and content that didn’t already exist in the app, I re-iterated on many designs focusing on each feature set independently and together as a whole. My goal was to keep content, layouts and individual elements modular. This aimed to increase the reusability of components and to democratize larger patterns for future use and development.

To validate designs early on, I carried out four rounds of testing with five participants each time.

Method: Each test was comprised of key tasks with potential users. Working fully remote, our testing was completed with a recorded Zoom call. I created a prototype in which users would explain and direct me to carry out their desired actions. This was helpful in controlling the pace of tests. I found it gave opportunities to pause and discover insights with participants. Conversely, it could equally disrupt participants and may alter their innate decision making.

Upon each round of testing, I analyzed the data and highlighted areas of hot touch targets, successes and failures. Overall impressions, and experiences were also collected and taken into account for future iterations.

Before: Assigned assessments required users to self-record activity one at a time as they were presented in isolation. Recording a submission was the only way to mark an activity as complete.

Problem: There was no programming context for users as it was set up only for ad hoc sessions. Activities also had no displays for specific instructions or parameters like reps, sets, and rest which hindered remote care delivery.

Solution: Restructure how programs are presented to clients. I began to modularize and nest elements such that a program consisted of routine(s) which represented a group of activities. Each activity would then be available to complete by self-report or video recording, and include customizable variables alongside its instructions. Additionally, the program tab would have pages that sorted program overviews, routine schedules, and a space dedicated to reviewing feedback from providers.

Outcome: Give users rationale behind programming, surface appropriate program aspects depending on use cases, and allow activities to be self-report in addition to video recordings so more healthcare disciplines could leverage our program builder.

Before: There was no existing home page for a user that acted as a hub for programming and performance. The only feature that existed was a line of dots with numbers above indicating routine completion statuses.

Problem: The compliance bar didn’t include a month, so it was not clear that it indicated daily routine progress. It appears interactive, as the coloured dots also don’t specify which routines are assigned for each day. Curv also needed to create an engaging landing page with content that would encourage users to complete programs, and receive services.

Solution: Improve the compliance bar with scrolling and tap-to-view routine functionality. Additionally, enlarging compliance dots for better tap targets and displaying seven days at a time uncluttered the UI. Create a home page that visualizes data that’s useful and motivating to users. Leverage assessment metrics, and Healthkit data to generate trends for clients to track their performance progress.

Failed Outcome: Clients gain program insights upon completing assessment routines through the dashboard. The dashboard incentivizes users to adhere and complete treatment plans by improving streaks and trends. Unfortunately, this MVP solution was not enough. New users or clients not receiving physical training programs were instead left with an empty state, no insights to engage with, and useless app real-estate. In our next iteration, we will need to consider a space that is valuable for any healthcare practice, and create calls to action for engagement with new/empty states.

Before: A single feed existed that housed event notifications and messaging between clients and providers. For synchronous calls, users would need to leave the app, create an external account in Jane to book and join video appointments with providers.

Problem: This space quickly became overcrowded with information causing items or context to be lost in an endless scrolling vortex. In regards to scheduling and video calls, using external platforms created a disconnected user experience for all parties involved.

Solution: Enable better communication channels by separating content into a notification centre, messaging thread, and embed scheduling and video calling in-app.

Outcome: Users have more intuitive access points for actionable items or content. The historical log for both notifications and messaging improved as each section is independent from each other and not overloading clients. Notifications also now display the system status of read and unread. Push notifications at the device level are more clear since event updates are no longer displaying as a new message. With scheduling and video calling done in-app, no-shows to appointments decrease and user experiences are more seamless.

Before: No existing space for users to connect and book with other providers unless they were invited to the app by a practitioner.

Problem: Integrated clinical services were undiscoverable by users which limited practitioner exposure and healthcare accessibility. From a business perspective, it meant potential loss of clientele and practitioners due to low referral and booking rates.

Solution: Create a space that can be scaled in the future which allows users to explore Curv’s services and practitioners along with content such as: interactive resources, articles, and free programming.

Outcome: Clients gain greater autonomy in their wellness journey by curating a personal healthcare team when booking appointments with provider profiles that match their goals and personality. This gives greater comfort and confidence to users when receiving virtual healthcare. It also enables Curv to become a 2-sided marketplace for both clients and providers.