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UX design can improve people's everyday lives. And if you work as a UX designer in healthcare, the stakes are even higher. According to Grand View Research, the medical technology sector is one of the fastest growing in the world, with an expected revenue of $1,305.1 billion in 2030. As a UX designer, you have the opportunity to help shape the future of healthcare. Let's take a look at the role of UX design in healthcare, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital healthcare solutions, the phenomenon of an ageing population, and the key role of design for new technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Most digital healthcare solutions are developed based on unique software that is in high demand and has virtually no competition. Therefore, companies often neglect the UX of medical products. However, the demand for digital healthcare solutions, such as telemedicine, has skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have become much more in demand. Companies are betting on digital healthcare solutions and developing many more products than before the pandemic, which has created a need for improved UX design.

What is UX in healthcare?

UX in healthcare is the design of user interaction with a medical product or service, such as electronic medical records, disease management apps, or appointment scheduling apps. In general, UX/UI design in healthcare is not too different from UX/UI design in other industries. It aims to create value for users, engage them and retain them. However, there is another level to UX in healthcare. Poor UX in healthcare can have dire consequences. For example, a blood glucose meter with a poor interface had to be recalled because it caused patients to misread their glucose levels.

People with insulin-dependent diabetes must check their glucose levels several times a day in order to adjust their insulin doses. They use a glucometer to measure their blood glucose levels. This device analyses drops of blood and displays the glucose level on the screen. In this case, the device was functioning correctly — the problem was the interface design. The decimal point was practically invisible, which led to patients with any visual impairment incorrectly adjusting their insulin doses. For diabetics, receiving inaccurate readings can have catastrophic consequences, ranging from severe hypoglycaemia to diabetic coma or death.

Conversely, an intuitive user interface can empower patients and significantly improve their lives. For example, smart tights for stroke patients; Nxti is an example of how medical technology — motion sensors, etc. — combined with an easy-to-use app can help patients rehabilitate at home and reduce the burden on hospitals and clinics.

In 2022, Nxti received an award for UX design that can change the lives of stroke patients. Good UX in healthcare can help people simplify their healthcare and significantly improve their lives. What's more, good UX in healthcare can transform the way healthcare systems — hospitals, clinics, non-profit organisations, businesses, etc. — operate and help them better serve patients.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UX in healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in global demand for digital healthcare services. According to a McKinsey report, total annual revenue from telemedicine grew by 83% in 2021 compared to 2019.

Historically, the healthcare industry has been slow to adopt new information technologies. A report by the Nuffield Research Foundation states that there is a gap of at least ten years between healthcare and other sectors of the economy in terms of process digitisation. One of the factors hindering the adoption of new technologies in healthcare is bureaucracy. In addition, some of the healthcare industry's requirements are significantly different from others. The high risk associated with human health makes the development cycles of digital medical products very long, and iteration — an integral part of creating a good UX — becomes very complex and expensive. Furthermore, UX design has generally been ignored in healthcare due to high demand and low product competition. As a result, very few products in healthcare are developed using a people-centred design approach or design thinking.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the entire healthcare industry to adopt new digital solutions, and patients had to adapt and be more open to new technologies in order to better care for their health. The pandemic led to a paradigm shift towards digital healthcare services for both providers and users. In addition, numerous regulatory changes have been made to ensure wider use of telehealth. The pandemic has been a catalyst for a significant increase in investment in digital healthcare solutions. This has led to the evolution and innovation of not only the products themselves, but also business models, opening up new opportunities for the future of medicine.

The future of UX in healthcare

UX design for an ageing population

By 2060, people over the age of 60 are expected to make up 23.5% of the US population. There are many age-related factors that affect older people's ability to use websites, apps and digital products. To develop an inclusive and successful UX and create products that take into account the capabilities, behaviour patterns, and preferences of older people, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of these users. This means considering text size, colour variations, simple navigation, etc.

In addition, accessibility benefits not only the elderly population, but also millions of other users living with various forms of visual or hearing impairments, cognitive problems, etc.

UX Design for Big Data

Big data has changed how we analyse, manage, and use data in every industry, and healthcare is no exception. Big data has had a huge impact on healthcare. It has the potential to enable more accurate medicine, reduce treatment costs and improve hospital management, improve quality of life, prevent preventable diseases, and even predict outbreaks of epidemics.

For example, before the commercialisation of glucose sensors, diabetics could only know their glucose levels by measuring them, i.e. before each meal. Let's say 3 times every 24 hours, i.e. there were only 3 data points. Now, people with diabetes can wear glucose sensors that continuously monitor their glucose levels, providing a huge amount of data. Good UX in healthcare is essential for developing software that allows healthcare professionals and patients to correctly visualise and understand this data in order to better manage the disease.

The introduction of glucose sensors has reduced the risk of complications such as hypoglycaemia. This has enabled doctors to better adjust insulin doses according to each patient's individual needs. As a UX designer, you can help transform big data into valuable visual information that will assist healthcare professionals and patients.

UX design for virtual reality (VR)

According to a GlobeNewsWire study, the virtual reality market in healthcare will reach $7 billion by 2026. Extended reality (XR) technologies are ushering in a new era for the healthcare industry. Extended reality is widely used in healthcare, from training surgeons to alleviating pain and mental health issues.

For example, surgeons can use these technologies to undergo training and learn new skills without risking the lives of real patients. A study conducted by the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that surgeons who used virtual reality platforms for simulation training improved their performance by 230% compared to doctors who used traditional training methods.

As VR technology develops, UX designers will need to drive innovation, shape the future of these products, and make them human-centric.

UX design for artificial intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to bring significant improvements to all areas of healthcare, from diagnosis to treatment. In addition, AI technology can enable personalised health predictions and completely transform the entire healthcare system. It is estimated that artificial intelligence will reduce annual healthcare costs in the United States by $150 billion in 2026.

Conclusion

As the healthcare industry rapidly digitizes, UX designers have a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change. From improving patient experiences to enabling better clinical outcomes, thoughtful design is no longer optional — it's essential. With emerging technologies like AI and VR reshaping the landscape, now is the time for UX professionals to bring empathy, usability, and innovation to healthcare solutions that truly matter.