"The typical blood test report is an
exercise in obfuscation, a document that needs to be translated by a lab
technician or physician, and that’s if you somehow manage to see a copy of your
results."
If an individual understands their health
they can feel empowered to make changes to avoid serious illness.
In 2010 Wired Magazine collaborated with Physicians
at Dartmouth Medical School Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
to explore how patient results could be communicated more clearly with
patients. They reviewed a typical lab results
printout and found that the content was of little to no value to the patient.
The
conclusion drawn was that lab results should be made to be colourful, clear,
simple, easy and relevant. A subsequent design exercise showed
how this could translate graphically. The result is instantly more engaging
and caters to all levels of health literacy. A heart disease and PSA test also
had the same makeover.
Applying
this concept to health checks is a logical step. Health Checks are the most
comprehensive review of health and as a result they produce a lot of medical
test results and figures. If a patient does not feel that they have been given
a thorough understanding of their health after a health check then a huge
opportunity to avoid serious illness can be missed.
Combining
medical test data, personal lifestyle and medical history information and
presenting it in a colourful, clear, simple, easy and relevant report with personalised recommendations is a
great way to ensure patients are happy with their results.
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