Building radiology imaging software was the most complex design challenge.
It was also my favorite.
This project had everything: Complex workflows, stressed end users, federal regulations, lots of data, and project timelines that were moving targets.
It often pushed me to the edge of my expertise. Through this work, I came away with a defined strong practice around research, project planning, and multi-disciplinary collaboration. It cemented my passion for service design as framework for building software.
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Scrolling through 1000's of Images
This is an example of a viewer interface built by GE Healthcare. Radiologists scroll through images, hang comparisons, and annotate as part of their diagnostic process.
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Working in the Dark
Radiologists work in a unique environment. Rooms are typically dimly lit or completely dark. It makes user research slightly more challenging!
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Minimum of 3 monitors
Radiologists use a lot of monitors to do their work. Configuration is quite complex.
Skill highlight: a 60-second research study
Devising user-centered user research methods
Research is part of your user’s experience. For this project I needed to understand level of impact on the radiologists if we took away their keyboard.
This was a part of the software gap analysis between UPMC Breast Imaging Radiology’s current vendor and GE Healthcare’s solution. Hologic’s solution includes a proprietary keyboard which GE did not have.
In the dark, I could only see that radiologists were pressing buttons but it was hard to tell which ones and why. Radiologists didn’t have a lot of time to walk me through. I had to figure out a way to get the data I needed.
Light bulb! Do we use every button on our tv remotes? Maybe this is kinda the same thing?! I devised a worksheet and had participants color based what buttons they used all the time, which they never used, and which they didn't even understand. The worksheet took seconds to annotate and allowed me to capture a visual representation of usage.
Hologic’s proprietary keyboard
Annotated worksheet. Buttons are color-coded by level of use.
Additional research and design work for radiology imaging software
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![hand-written annotations of user observation]()
Observing radiologists read mammograms
When working on breast imaging feature gap analysis, I relied on observation. A radiologist can read a screening mammogram in a few minutes. I had to create shorthand annotations to be able to capture the data I needed.
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![thumbnail MRI of lesion on Kidney]()
Getting comfortable with radiology
Being an effective designer involved investing time in understanding the work that radiologists do. This included getting a basic understanding of medical terminology and images.
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![Screenshot of youtube video lecture on digital breast tomosynthesis]()
Desk Research
Busy users don’t have time to explain the fundamentals of what they do. Desk research was key to getting to a base level knowledge to make sure every moment of time with users was high value. Youtube was an amazing resource for learning technical and clinical content as needed.
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![person in surgical scrubs]()
Experiencing the clinical workflows
Getting to shadow surgeons, ED doctors, hospitalists, nurses was an amazing research experience.
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![image of excel spreadsheet]()
Documentation of workflow and gaps
The design work wasn’t always flashy but it took consistency and attention to detail. Spreadsheets helped keep all stakeholders have a pulse on the data.
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![workflow diagram of screening mammogram]()
Workflow diagramming
This diagram was a blend of an experience diagram with front stage and back stage processes to stay patient-centric .
Leveling up my design expertise
The biggest area of growth through this work crafting user research as part of the user experience.
The power of co-design is immense but a huge effort. Maintaining communication with external and internal stakeholders is key.
Complex product service systems require ongoing user engagement. Every interaction we have with our users is an opportunity to strengthen connection to the organizations we represent.