Patient Story
A photo-storytelling tool integrated into Epic that helps clinicians see beyond the chart—bridging gaps in pediatric care through patient stories that humanize medical decisions.
Healthcare • EHR Integration • Web App
My Role
Background
Integrating the Existing Photo-Narrative Tool into Epic Electronic Health Record.
The project aimed to integrate a photo-narrative tool—originally developed by Dr. Jori Bogetz and the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics & Palliative Care—into Epic (EHR) at Seattle Children’s Hospital. The tool helps families of children with Severe Neurological Impairments (SNI) share personal stories and images that humanize patients beyond their medical conditions.
The Problem
Empathy is Critical in Caring for Children with SNI.
Patient care is often mediated through problem lists, diagnoses, and charts in Epic(Electronic health record). The patient-care experience at SCH often feels problem-oriented, with limited opportunities for clinicians to access patients’ personal context.
An example Problem List in Epic. They can get quite problem-focused, rather then human-focused.
Research Insights
Clinicians lack access to patients' personal context.
The Patient Story is a dynamic digital format of the original photo-narrative tool designed with time-limited clinician workflows in mind while maintaining focus on patient care.
Insights from the interviews I conducted with a neurologist and a patient’s family member.
Design Challenge
Is the Existing Epic Interface sufficient for the new feature?
Design Decision
I preserved Epic’s existing design system for consistency while introducing a distinct yet seamless entry point for the photo-narrative feature—balancing familiarity with functional innovation.
Direct Integration vs External Platform?
Discussions with the Epic development team raised concerns about managing large photo datasets. Some proposed using an external platform linked to Epic. However, user interviews revealed that extra steps reduce efficiency and discourage usage.
Design Decision
Direct integration within Epic to ensure smooth access, reduce friction, and bring clinician engagement.
Design Iterations
Early Exploration focused on potential key user workflow.
I observed healthcare providers on-site to understand how they use Epic. Their workflows varied by role — from admin staff to clinicians — which guided us to design a solution that integrates seamlessly into their existing routines.
I iterated on our mockups based on feedback from key stakeholders, including SCH’s broader Palliative Care Team and IT Team.
Entry Points
Card View
The card view is a take on the original storyboard style format of the original photo-narrative tool, designed for easy scanning and focus on the visual.
Timeline View
The timeline view provides a chronological story for clearer visualization of the patient’s entire journey and makes it easy for clinicians to cross reference events with medical details.
Usability Testing
Validating Design Decisions with Clinical Users
Usability testing was done with 5 participants from Seattle Children’s Hospital medical providers, including 1 nurse practitioner and 5 attending physicians with differing levels of comfort interacting with and navigating through Epic. The testing sessions were conducted online, using the Figma prototype. I led two sessions and synthesized the insights to make further design improvements.
The Impact
Bringing Humanity Into Clinical Care
The Photo-Narrative Tool brings the human side of patients into clinical care by surfacing their personal stories, relationships, and joys alongside medical data. Clinicians reported feeling more connected to patients beyond their diagnoses, fostering empathy in care interactions and supporting more personalized treatment decisions. The tool is also on track to be implemented at the hospital within the coming year.
Reflection
Lesson Learned & What's Next
The Photo-Narrative Tool brings the human side of patients into clinical care by surfacing their personal stories, relationships, and joys alongside medical data. Clinicians reported feeling more connected to patients beyond their diagnoses, fostering empathy in care interactions and supporting more personalized treatment decisions. The tool is also on track to be implemented at the hospital within the coming year.
