DENTIST APPLICATION
Problem Statement:
Designing an upgraded appointment app for Dentists, which is well equipped with features that solves dentist's problems and needs.
Designing an upgraded appointment app for Dentists, which is well equipped with features that solves dentist's problems and needs.
Approaching target users
User Persona:
Persona 1: Dentist
- Specialized dental surgeon
- Age- 42
- Owns: Dental dispensary in Richardson, Texas
- College student needs a root canal
- Age: 24
- Needs a dentist within the area as doesn't have any means of transport
- Insurance covers the charges and only have to pay co-pay
- Wants a qualified and friendly dentist
User Interview Script:
Dentist:
Q. What are the basic requirements that you feel should be present in your appointment app?
Q. What features besides these basic features would you like to see in the app?
Q. What kind of dental appointments do you conduct?
Q. How much time do you generally take for an oral surgery?
Q. What challenges do you face in using your existing appointment app?
Q. What changes would you want to suggest in your existing app?
Q. What are the basic requirements that you feel should be present in your appointment app?
Q. What features besides these basic features would you like to see in the app?
Q. What kind of dental appointments do you conduct?
Q. How much time do you generally take for an oral surgery?
Q. What challenges do you face in using your existing appointment app?
Q. What changes would you want to suggest in your existing app?
Patient:
Q. What would you want to see in an appointment app?
Q. Did you have any issues while using an appointment app?
Q. Any appointment apps that you like and why?
Q. What do you expect from a specific dentist appointment app than other apps?
Q. What would you want to see in an appointment app?
Q. Did you have any issues while using an appointment app?
Q. Any appointment apps that you like and why?
Q. What do you expect from a specific dentist appointment app than other apps?
Journey Mapping:
Dentist:
Dentist:
Patients:
Research Findings:
Doctors preferred appointing receptionist instead of using appointment apps due to its lack of user-friendliness |
Patients do not provide honest history sometimes as its considered taboo |
Booking an appointment changed on various levels based on if the patient is existing or new one |
Patients decided which dentist to go to based on location and their reviews online |
Giving follow up appointments was harder on the app as each patient had different procedures |
Patients preferred using appointment apps instead of talking to a receptionist as it gets done faster and can be done while they are multitasking as well |
Both patients and doctors needed a reminders about their appointments |
Needs:
Dentists |
Patients |
Basic information details of the patient ex. insurance number |
Fixing tooth-ache |
History of patients |
Means of transport |
Patients no show even after taking appointments |
Low on cash |
Patients that pay with cash are hard to keep track of |
Less amount of free time for visiting doctors |
Needs to give follow up appointments based on the patients' individual concerns |
Stuck while using the app and leaves booking altogether |
Receptionist may input wrong history of patient due to miscommunication |
Cannot use app to book follow up appointments |
Needs to know own daily schedule everyday |
May forget/miss the scheduled appointment |
Goal:
Create a user friendly app to increase the communication between patient and dentist
Create a user friendly app to increase the communication between patient and dentist
Design Solutions:
Based on the research findings and the varying needs of both patients and dentists the application was designed:
1. Location filter and reviews should be two separate vital pages of the app |
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2. The flow of the app began based on the background of the patient i.e if he is existing or new patient |
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3. When a patient booked his first appointment he is brought to an appointment page which shows his history of appointments. 4. Some dentists refused accepting cash as they had difficulty managing the money. Thus, a feature of pending dues was added in the appointment history table pointing out the unpaid for the specific appointments. |
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5. Unique Feature of the app was it enabled the patient to schedule follow up appointment. After patient's first appointment was done the dentist updated his notes of the first appointment on what kind of treatment was taken and needed. Based on that the slots were provided as the required timing for surgeries varied from a normal follow-up consultation. Thus, based on the doctor's calendar of availability for that specific issue the patient could later schedule his appointment via the app. |
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Userflows
Explanation:
- Home screen- Reminder of upcoming appointments and search for dental clinic option.
- Second screen- Asks for location to find out nearby clinics.
- Third Screen- Gives a list of nearby clinics.
- Fourth screen- Shows selected clinic including its ratings, reviews and services.
- Fifth screen- While booking an appointment the patient needs to choose between existing patient or new patient
- Sixth screen- a) If the user is an existing user he is asked for his card number of the respective clinic. b) If the user is a new patient then he is asked to create an account.
- Seventh screen- The next screen is the patient’s profile that he already has or needs to fill based on the fact whether he is a current patient or a new patient.
- Eight screen- a)Next is the appointment screen where the user is able to create a new appointment or cancel already scheduled appointment. b)There is also an option of viewing his past appointments and if he has paid for those appointments or not.
- Ninth Screen- If the user selects the button create a new appointment he is asked if it is his first appointment or a follow up appointment.
- Tenth Screen-
- If the user is scheduling his first appointment he will schedule based on existing dates and timings available. He also gets to mention what is his concern and why he is visiting the dentist in the next screen.
- If the user is scheduling a follow up appointment he cannot do it on his own. After his first appointment is done the doctor will notify the patient on what his problem is and for the next appointment how much time it is going to take based on his problems, such as, teeth scaling, whitening, oral surgery, etc. The dentist will also mention the specific available dates and times for certain kind of follow up appointments. After receiving this notification only the user can schedule his follow up appointment based on doctor’s schedule and his feasible timings
- Last screen is the confirmation details and finalizing the appointment.
Design Prototypes:
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Dentist's Pov
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Future changes:
- Taking initial payment fee from patients for booking of long appointments like surgeries, to avoid patient's no show.
- Providing live updates and notifications when there are 3 people ahead in the queue.
Conclusion:
- The designed app solved the concerns and challenges of both the patients and dentists faced and it was feasible for the use of both the parties.
- The unique feature of the app: Follow up appointment feature; increased the communication between the doctor and patient by ~40%
- If launched, ~30% of the dentists who were reluctant to use an appointment app changed their preference from appointing a receptionist to buying a subscription of the app.
