Designing w/CARE
A design project focused on supporting caregivers of gynaecological oncology patients and care teams at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.
Context
Oncology care journeys are emotionally heavy, information-dense, and often fragmented. This project looked at how thoughtful experience design can reduce friction, build trust, and make the care pathway easier to understand for patients and caregivers.
Challenge
- How might we help caregivers of patients feel informed and in-control during high-stress moments?
- How might we reduce communication gaps between caregivers and clinical teams?
- How might we design support that is practical, compassionate, and feasible for staff?
Early synthesis showed that caregivers were often overwhelmed by terminology and timing, while staff were constrained by workload and fragmented communication channels. The core opportunity was to design around moments of uncertainty, not only around hospital touchpoints.
Approach
- Mapped end-to-end patient journeys to identify stress peaks and decision bottlenecks.
- Conducted stakeholder interviews to align patient needs with operational realities.
- Developed and tested experience concepts focused on guidance, reassurance, and continuity.
The design direction centred on plain-language communication, pre-visit orientation support, and clear handoff moments between teams. Instead of a single artefact, the outcome was a cohesive set of service-level recommendations that could scale across related care pathways.
Related Writing
This project is documented through a multi-author research and design writing series. These articles capture how we framed the problem space, mapped current systems, and developed direction for stronger care coordination across transitions!
- Research Objectives for Cancer Care Coordination
- Mapping the Cancer Care Terrain
- Redesigning Care Coordination Across Transitions
- A.E.I.O.U in Action at UPMC Magee
- Mapping the Cancer Care Terrain
- The Big Idea: Designing a System that Cares for the Caregiver
- Three Concepts, One Direction
- From Direction to Discovery: Listening Before We Build
- What We Heard, What We Missed, and What Comes Next
- Building Together: A Team Reflection
- Designing for the Invisible Details of Caregiving
Outcomes
- To bridge the gap between caregivers of oncology patients and resources.
- To create a more empathetic and effective care coordination system.
- To produce design artifacts that meet the identified needs of caregivers.
- To strengthen my confidence in service-design methods for high-stakes healthcare contexts.
More to come on this project.