Research team aims to simplify the mammography process for patients

MSN, Becker's Hospital Review and a San Francisco television station highlighted a multidisciplinary project from the University of Cincinnati’s Colleges of Medicine and Design, Architecture, Art and Planning that took a human-centered design approach to identify and implement tangible patient-centered improvements in the screening mammography program.

The collaborative team sought to identify areas of the mammography process that cause anxiety for patients and implement design solutions to reduce this anxiety.

“We had seen this as something that we know is anxiety-provoking for women,” said Ann Brown, MD, associate professor of radiology at the UC College of Medicine and a UC Health breast radiologist. “We found we do very well in terms of sending reminders but not so well in terms of what are the next steps for patients.”

After identifying pain points, much of the work focused on improving or adding features to patient dashboards on MyChart, the online platform where patients can schedule appointments, message their providers and view test results.

“One of the biggest things we focused on was how we’re utilizing technology, since people are now relying on their devices and accessing their health care information using the online MyChart tools,” Brown said. “With the release of patients now being able to read their own reports, we realized we need to have a better system whereby patients can understand those reports.”

Read more about the research.

Read the MSN article.

Read the Becker's Hospital Review article.

Watch Brown's segment on San Francisco's KTVU morning show.

Featured photo at top of Ann Brown and a colleague reviewing a mammography image. Photo/UC Health.