Clarify

Surgery Preparation and Recovery Platform

GOALS
Improve recovery outcomes for patients and reduce costs for healthcare providers through guided preparation, recovery programs, and education.

MY ROLE
• Research
• Interaction Design
• Prototyping

Clarify helps patients recover and hospitals learn

Clarify is a patient engagement and education tool for those undergoing surgery. Through an education program and app that supports common questions, preparation checklists, and exercises, Clarify aims to help patients avoid key risks in the process while delivering health insights to doctors and hospitals.

Discovery

We began by rigorously learning about this specific population, defining the recovery journey, and looking for common moments and phases to turn into digital interactions.

I developed an embedded research program to understand the unique needs of this population. We visited hip and knee replacement patients, learning about their new habits, routines, and unique adaptations.

A Data-First Hypothesis

We began with the hypothesis that presenting interactive data and charts would increase engagement and recovery outcomes.

We tested several models of journey visualization.

Iterating On Research

Through our research, we learned that our population did not care to digest data-heavy charts or heavily medicalized descriptions of their care path. We opted for a more friendly visual style, narrative voice that emphasizes the doctor-patient relationship, and high-contrast typographic system.

Multi-step flows break down complicated checklists and exercises into bite size modules that are simple to complete.

Given the amount of interactive modules, we also needed a novel solution to navigation. Given our users’ needs for regularly updating information, we developed a feed-style home page. I designed a system of dynamically sorting cards that coupled notification and priority indicators with core app navigation.

Game Framework

One of my major contributions was developing a framework for how to incorporate game mechanics in to the application.

Inspired by the work of Gabe Zicherman and Christopher Cunningham interactions with the recovery system break into a 4 tier hierarchy:

1. Tasks and Dynamics (base of pyramid): Simple interactions and tracked data (movement, geofencing) that shows you are adherent to your recovery program. Patients earn small amounts of points for activities like walking, completing check-ins, and attending doctor's appointments.

2. Progress: Through doctor check-ins, we log recovery milestones. Patients earn large amounts of points for completing major recovery milestones.

3. Rewards: Points can be redeemed for rewards tailored to your interests or used to get raffle "tickets" for larger rewards.

4. Recovery (peak): A timely recovery is the goal so patients can get on with their lives as soon as possible.