Overview
During my time working on a healthcare dashboard, I focused on transforming passive behavioural data into clear, actionable signals that support timely awareness during fast-paced shifts.
The challenge was not a lack of data — it was ensuring carers could recognise risk quickly, without being asked to analyse it.
Healthcare Dashboard:
Designing for Frontline Carers
Minimum information + Minimum time + Minimum action = Maximum value
ROLE
UX/UI Designer
TIMELINE
3 months
COLLABORATION
Front-end Engineers,
AI & Data Team,
Executive Stakeholders,
Design Research
THE PROBLEM
Understanding the care environment
Frontline carers work in fast, fragmented environments. They move constantly and switch tasks throughout the day.
Existing systems present data that require analysis. Carers are first responders — not data analysts.
This creates a gap between information available and action taken.
Insufficient Time
Carers rarely have extended periods at a desk. Most interactions with technology happen in moments between tasks.
High Stakes Decisions
Each decision directly impacts vulnerable residents. The cost of missed information or delayed action can be severe.
Information Overload
Existing systems present too much data, requiring carers to sift through noise to find what matters.
|
In the healthcare context, value is not created by more data or richer dashboards, but by enabling carers to act quickly, confidently, and at the right moment.
IDEAL STATE
- clear, prioritised information hierarchy
- support action on the move
- highlight risk immediately
- reduce cognitive load
DESIGN APPROACH
Awareness First
To avoid overwhelming carers with raw events, I used affinity diagramming (card sorting) to cluster and structure behavioural data into meaningful groups. This process helped transform fragmented signals into three clear layers:
-
Alert: Urgent incidents requiring immediate attention -
Flag: Resident status indicators showing overall condition -
Insight: Simple summaries highlighting change over time
Instead of presenting isolated data points, the system surfaces structured insight aligned with how carers think and act during a shift.
Intuitive Data Visualisation
From research and reflection, including insight informed by 10 years of frontline care experience. In early concepts and low-fidelity wireframes, I explored:
-
Grouped incident summaries instead of detailed logs
-
Visual trend indicators instead of complex graphs
-
Clear status states rather than KPI-heavy dashboards
The focus shifted from “showing data” to “revealing meaning”. DESIGN PRINCIPLE
minimum information, minimum time,
minimum action
= Maximum value
Minimum Information
Show only what’s needed for the next decision
Minimum Time
Enable understanding at a glance
Minimum Action
One tap to respond, not navigate
Maximum Value
Every interaction empowers confident action
OUTCOMES
Impact on care delivery
The redesigned dashboard transforms how carers interact which showed carers kept the app accessible during shifts and checked it at natural moments between tasks, supporting timely awareness without continuous monitoring.
This design was released in September 2025 and currently in operation.
Faster Response Times
Push-based alerts eliminated the delay of carers needing to check dashboards.
Improved Trust
Clear verification flows and bedside-only confirmation increased system credibility.
Reduced Cognitive Load
Carers reported feeling less overwhelmed with summary-based information.
Better Care Quality
More time with residents, less time interpreting dashboards.
COMPLIANCE & STANDARDS
-
WCAG AA Accessibility Compliance -
Integration with Existing Care Systems
-
CQC Regulatory Alignment -
Privacy-First Data Handling