CURA
Cura is a healthcare app designed to help Chinese students who are new to the United States navigate the complex healthcare system. As a newcomer to a foreign country, it can be challenging to understand how to find a doctor, schedule appointments, and communicate with healthcare providers. Cura provides a user-friendly platform that streamlines the entire process, from making appointments to receiving prescriptions. With Cura, Chinese students can access high-quality healthcare services, communicate with doctors effectively, and take control of their health. The app is the perfect solution for those who want to stay healthy and well-informed while studying abroad.
What is the Context?
The Cura project seeks to address a pressing issue among Chinese students who are new to the US - how to navigate the complex healthcare system and receive quality care. Many Chinese students find themselves feeling lost and unsure of what steps to take when they become ill or injured. This can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection from their new community, compounding the stress and anxiety of being in a new country. In the wake of the ongoing global pandemic, access to healthcare has become more crucial than ever, making it vital to have a platform that provides comprehensive guidance and support for those in need. Through the development of Cura, I aim to help new Chinese students feel more connected and empowered in their health journey, improving their overall well-being and sense of community.
THE CHALLENGE
+ Improving healthcare access and communication for international students in the United States.
+ International students often face challenges in accessing healthcare services in a new country due to language barriers, cultural differences, and a lack of knowledge about the healthcare system. This can lead to difficulties in receiving appropriate medical care and addressing health concerns in a timely manner.
+ International students often face challenges in accessing healthcare services in a new country due to language barriers, cultural differences, and a lack of knowledge about the healthcare system. This can lead to difficulties in receiving appropriate medical care and addressing health concerns in a timely manner.
AIMS
+ To provide a platform that simplifies healthcare access for international students.
+ To improve communication between international students and healthcare providers.
+ To enhance the overall healthcare experience for international students in the United States.
+ To provide a platform that simplifies healthcare access for international students.
+ To improve communication between international students and healthcare providers.
+ To enhance the overall healthcare experience for international students in the United States.
DESIGN APPROACH
WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?
+ Access to quality healthcare for Chinese students studying in the United States
Chinese students studying in the United States often face challenges in accessing quality healthcare due to language barriers, unfamiliarity with the healthcare system, and high costs. This can lead to delayed or inadequate medical treatment, which can have negative consequences for their health and well-being.
Chinese students studying in the United States often face challenges in accessing quality healthcare due to language barriers, unfamiliarity with the healthcare system, and high costs. This can lead to delayed or inadequate medical treatment, which can have negative consequences for their health and well-being.
+ Language barriers make it difficult to communicate health concerns
Chinese students may have limited English proficiency, which can make it difficult to communicate their health concerns effectively to healthcare providers. This can lead to misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment.
Chinese students may have limited English proficiency, which can make it difficult to communicate their health concerns effectively to healthcare providers. This can lead to misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment.
+ High healthcare costs pose a financial burden
The high costs of healthcare in the United States can be a significant financial burden for Chinese students, especially those without health insurance. This can deter them from seeking medical treatment when they need it.
The high costs of healthcare in the United States can be a significant financial burden for Chinese students, especially those without health insurance. This can deter them from seeking medical treatment when they need it.
+ Limited knowledge of the US healthcare system
Chinese students may not be familiar with the US healthcare system and how to navigate it, which can make it difficult to access appropriate medical care. This can result in delayed treatment or unnecessary visits to emergency rooms.
Chinese students may not be familiar with the US healthcare system and how to navigate it, which can make it difficult to access appropriate medical care. This can result in delayed treatment or unnecessary visits to emergency rooms.
+ Lack of access to specialized care
Chinese students may have difficulty accessing specialized medical care due to a lack of providers or language barriers. This can lead to inadequate treatment or delays in receiving necessary medical care.
Chinese students may have difficulty accessing specialized medical care due to a lack of providers or language barriers. This can lead to inadequate treatment or delays in receiving necessary medical care.
+ Difficulty obtaining prescription medications
Chinese students may face challenges in obtaining prescription medications, including language barriers and unfamiliarity with the US healthcare system. This can result in delayed or inadequate treatment.
Chinese students may face challenges in obtaining prescription medications, including language barriers and unfamiliarity with the US healthcare system. This can result in delayed or inadequate treatment.
CULTURAL PROBE
By highlighting the similarities and differences between the China and US medical procedures, I compare these two systems for seeing a doctor in China versus the United States. Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging, especially for international students who may be unfamiliar with the procedures and cultural differences.
HYPOTHESIS FRAMING
#1
If we create a pamphlet to guide Chinese international students to navigate the US healthcare system,
then we will help increase their access to healthcare services and improve their overall health
because students may feel more comfortable seeking medical attention with a better understanding of the system.
If we create a pamphlet to guide Chinese international students to navigate the US healthcare system,
then we will help increase their access to healthcare services and improve their overall health
because students may feel more comfortable seeking medical attention with a better understanding of the system.
#2
If we develop an app that provides various functions, such as making appointments, refill reminders, and community posts,
then it can increase the efficiency and convenience of healthcare services for Chinese students or International students in future
because students can easily access healthcare information and resources through the app, leading to better healthcare outcomes.
If we develop an app that provides various functions, such as making appointments, refill reminders, and community posts,
then it can increase the efficiency and convenience of healthcare services for Chinese students or International students in future
because students can easily access healthcare information and resources through the app, leading to better healthcare outcomes.
USER INTERVIEW FINDINGS X 10 PEOPLE
As part of a research project, I recently conducted interviews with 10 individuals who had experience with healthcare in both China and the United States. Through these interviews, I gathered valuable insights on various aspects of healthcare. By sharing these perspectives, I hope to shed light on the similarities and differences between healthcare systems in China and the United States and provide useful information for those who may be navigating healthcare in a new country.
THE SOLUTION
Scenario Explanation
Here you can explore various scenarios that will help you gain a better understanding of how Cura can benefit Chinese students.
Free Exploration
Here you can freely explore the Cura app and all of its features.
ITERATION
+ Simplified the home screen and added a COVID function for Chinese students.
+ Expanded the schedule tab with additional features like daily medication reminders and refilling notifications.
+ Rearranged the hierarchy of the app to ensure important features are easily accessible.
+ Transformed the appointment journey function in the tab bar to an extensional bar under the appointment section, making it a hidden function for users familiar with the U.S. medical system.
+ Enhanced the doctor info page by including more details such as specialties and available languages, as well as an option for online appointments.
+ Reorganized the community section by redesigning the cards to include image previews and partial post contents, and added card shadows for a cohesive design.
UX FLOW-MOBILE APP
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Mapping out a user scenario to show what a journey looks like:
FUTURE PLAN
As CURA continues to grow, my goal is to provide healthcare guidance and support to a wider audience, beyond just Chinese students. I plan to add more languages to the platform, making it accessible to international students from various countries.
Furthermore, I want to incorporate more AI functions into CURA, making it more interactive and user-friendly. For instance, I could use AI chatbots to provide quick answers to common health-related questions or implement machine learning algorithms to provide personalized health recommendations to each user based on their health history and lifestyle habits.
I also want to improve the user experience of making appointments on CURA. Currently, users can only provide a written description of their symptoms. In the future, I plan to implement 3D human modeling, which will allow users to click on different parts of the body to better illustrate their pain and discomfort. This will help healthcare professionals provide more accurate diagnoses and treatments.
Overall, my future plans for CURA are focused on improving the accessibility and functionality of the platform, with the ultimate goal of helping people around the world take charge of their health and well-being.
FINAL THOUGHTS & TAKEAWAYS
Even though I didn't have the opportunity to interview medical insurance and school health center stakeholders, I still gained valuable insights from this project. One of the key takeaways for me was the importance of understanding the needs and goals of different user personas in order to design an effective service. I learned that there are active and inactive potential targets, as well as active and inactive existing targets, and each has unique needs and goals.
Another takeaway was the importance of user research, which helps to uncover pain points and challenges that users face. While my friend's complaint about difficulties in seeing a doctor sparked the idea for this project, further research and user testing revealed other pain points that we could address.
Overall, this project has given me a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the healthcare space. While there are many hurdles to overcome in creating a sustainable business model, I believe that by continuing to prioritize user needs and conducting thorough research, I can develop solutions that make a real impact on people's lives.
