Any suggestions?

[sarah001]

Hello,

I am a third year Product Design university student and I have been set a design brief in the medical field.

I am required to design a patient interface to make a procedure or treatment less scary, dehumanising or embarrassing.

I was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas for something which could be redesigned to improve quality of life by making the experience of receiving care better? I would really appreciate any suggestions.

Many thanks
Sarah

[Loretta]

I would say the one thing that would improve the delivery of my care would be to truely have RLS controlled during dialysis, so that I could rest during that time.

[BASSMAN]

Product Design.  Patient Interface.

I am just a high school graduate and not really sure what you mean.  When you say patient interface, to me, it sounds like something computer based.  Some kind of interactive program?

Or, a DVD detailing the whole process or flip chart presentation? 

Or are you talking about an actual change in the design of medical equipment?

I am not sure I can be much help, but I am not really clear on what you are asking. 

My own ignorance at play.

[Stoday]

Maybe you could design a better way of inserting needles, two of which have to be inserted into a fistula three times a week. This is a skilled task and causes problems if the nurse gets it wrong. Maybe the procedure could be deskilled using a machine that utilises feedback on needle position related to the fistula.

Potential benefits include financial, better patient care and, perhaps, fistulas that last longer.

[Hanify]

I'm not sure either what exactly you are asking, but I would really like to be able to access my records via the internet.  So I could look up my own blood test results for eample, or what the last letter said from my specialist kind of thing.  Is that the kind of thing you're after?  I don't know if that's already possible in the States - I'm in New Zealand.

[Rerun]

Hi Sara, maybe you could go introduce yourself and refer people to this thread.  You may get more exposure if you go introduce yourself like the directions say (University Student).   

Rerun, Moderator

[kidneydoc]

Hmm a new interface for the home PD machine.

that would be useful
the current one is pretty ugly.

[Loretta]

Designing comfortable dialysis chairs, at a price the units could afford them would be nice.

[sarah001]

Thank you for all your replies, sorry I didn't introduce myself, I shall do that now.

I am looking for something to redesign, such as the comfortable chair or the needle inserting as suggested.  By interface, I mean the way in which you interacts with any part of the procedure, preferably improving the form or function to make something easier and better to use.

I am really sorry if I am unclear.  I really appreciate your reponses.

Many thanks
Sarah

[Des]

 Cover the person at all times...... (with a blanky) do not expose any flesh unless absolutely neccesary
- talk softly in any public areas when discussing anything
- explain IN DETAIL what the procedure is (we are not idiots)
- Pain is very real..... make sure that you use cream, local aneasthetic or any other method to reduce pain.
  don't just asume that we get used to it. WE DON'T
- eating or drinking in front of us..... not nice (when we are not allowed any of it)
- it is not comfortable to sit, lie or stand in one position for a long time.... so ensure that we are   comfortable (chair, bed, pillow)

I am not sure if this is the kind of info you wanted....... but it is a beginning.

[KICKSTART]

I was asking the question just the other day , the Hemo machines are amazing ,the things they can do and detect, but how come NO ONE has looked at designing something that replaces the quite inhumane procedure of sticking 2 needles into a persons arm every other day , a procedure that causes pain , discomfort and quite a few problems ! Its quite barbaric in this day and age that a person should have to endure this day in day out. We can all tolerate an odd needle now and again but day after day ?

[beachking]

1.   If one has problems needling,  either get practised at it better,  or geta more proficient nurse to do it , properly used methodical process should not give any concerns.

2.The biggest fear one can have ,is lack of knowledge of the issues , whys and wherefores.  I have never seen or read suitable literature  as a guide book on dialysis.   In my opinion this is what is needed the most .   with input from patients and technicians alike , explanation of the machines processes , and different settings .   

[jpearce]

For sure new comfortable chairs!!!!

[BASSMAN]

Thank you for all your replies, sorry I didn't introduce myself, I shall do that now.

I am looking for something to redesign, such as the comfortable chair or the needle inserting as suggested.  By interface, I mean the way in which you interacts with any part of the procedure, preferably improving the form or function to make something easier and better to use.

I am really sorry if I am unclear.  I really appreciate your responses.

Many thanks
Sarah

I am not on dialysis yet but from what I have read and heard from people who are,  I would suggest a whole revamp of the current dialysis clinic.  How about a chair with the comforts of home.  Each chair with a massage apparatus built in. Maybe a heat control too.  Let's face it,  If you are stuck in a chair for three to four hours,  that would be a nice touch.  How about each chair having a LCD monitor  and headphones for movies or internet access.  How about changing the whole concept to something like an internet cafe but serving healthy type beverages that are beneficial to the dialysis patient, if the is such a thing.  A waitress to serve the patients needs.

A detailed explanation of the machine and the process could be played on the monitor at a patients very first treatment.

[pamster42000]

My suggestion would be to make a dialysis unit more patient orientated. There isn't privacy. When you weigh it there are other people in the area and for some reason this is the time when you are asked do you have any problems or concerns. Then you go to get hooked up to the machine. One big room with a bunch of recliners and machines. I would think a patient should have more privacy. Maybe have glass cubicles with pull curtains so if a patient wants privacy they can have it. They should have tv and internet hook-ups in each cubicle. Also have separate light controls in each cubicle so the patient can decide what their comfort level is. The recliners could be more comfortable...a person has to be in them for usually four hours. You try sitting in one spot for that long without being able to get up and then maybe you'll know what it is like.

Apparently the HIPPA law doesn't apply in dialysis units because you hear other patients health related issues all the time.

Stoday,

That is a wonderful idea you have. I remember my daughter sometimes dreading get stick with the needles to get hooked -up to the machine.

[MomInDialysis]

I'm not sure either what exactly you are asking, but I would really like to be able to access my records via the internet.  So I could look up my own blood test results for eample, or what the last letter said from my specialist kind of thing.  Is that the kind of thing you're after?  I don't know if that's already possible in the States - I'm in New Zealand.

Great Idea Hanify.  That would be wonderful, and so simple to do as well.

[MomInDialysis]

Definitely the "CHAIR".  It is funny, that if you go to get your toes or fingernails painted, you can be massaged from the base of your neck to the bottom of your ankles, but if you are laying in a Dialysis Clinic, you are on a hard plastic covered gurney that splits in the middle and have to share the TV with another person or empty chair and listen with your speaker plastered up to your ear.  Cost of Pedicure $35.00, Cost of Dialysis $44,000.00 /month....Which could afford the massage chair?

[RightSide]

I am looking for something to redesign, such as the comfortable chair or the needle inserting as suggested.  By interface, I mean the way in which you interacts with any part of the procedure, preferably improving the form or function to make something easier and better to use.

I am really sorry if I am unclear.  I really appreciate your reponses.

Many thanks
Sarah

Sarah,

You should learn about hemodialysis catheters.  I absolutely HATE the bloody things!  (Four fistula operations and so far I still don't have a working fistula.  So after a year of dialysis, I'm still stuck with the catheter.)

For one thing, to guard against infection, the skin opening for my catheter is kept sealed by a great big Tegaderm bandage 4" x 4 3/4"), which is replaced at the end of EVERY dialysis session.  I'm a short guy and the bandage occupies a lot of my chest.  And my chest is fairly hairy. So the bandage itches all the time.  If I perspire under the bandage between dialysis sessions, the bandage itches even more.

Plus the bandages have an annoying tendency to peel off when bathing or sleeping.  Yet my dialysis center has prohibited me from changing the bandage myself because they fear infection.

If there were some better kind of seal that could seal the catheter opening against the skin and prevent infection without the use of giant bandages, it would be greatly appreciated!