Human-Centered Design in Healthcare
Small Shifts, Big Impact
Summary
This month’s brief explores how human-centered design (HCD) can transform everyday healthcare interactions into more inclusive, empathetic, and effective experiences. Patients, especially those with language barriers, neurodiverse needs, or limited mobility, often feel lost in systems designed for efficiency rather than experience.
By designing with patients, not just for them, health systems can uncover hidden barriers, build trust, and improve outcomes without major overhauls.
| ✅ | Task |
| ☐ | Have you involved patients, caregivers, and frontline staff in the design of tools or processes? (e.g., through shadowing, journey mapping, or feedback loops) |
| ☐ | Are you identifying and addressing pain points in intake and rooming processes that may confuse or disempower patients? |
| ☐ | Have you reviewed your materials and workflows to ensure they accommodate neurodiverse individuals, non-native English speakers, and those with limited mobility? |
| ☐ | Are you using inclusive testing protocols and scenario planning to design for patients at the margins? |
| ☐ | Do you regularly conduct short patient interviews or gather feedback from frontline staff to uncover unmet needs and emotional drivers? |
| ☐ | Have you added “How did this feel?” prompts to follow-ups to capture emotional and experiential feedback? |
