The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS) administers exams and grants credentials in ultrasound specialties, aiming to empower sonographers to deliver exceptional patient care through thorough assessments and ongoing education. With the rise of AI and digitalization, ARDMS is exploring new opportunities to cultivate ultrasound learning and streamline certification renewal processes.
While ARDMS provides credentials, support life-long learning path as part of its mission, there is a significant gap between the application and examination stages. Furthermore, in healthcare area maintaining knowledge is crucial for patient safety.
However, the current process lacks an efficient and user-friendly solution, leaving sonographers without a means to effectively hone their skills, enhance their knowledge, and renew their certifications.
Over the course of 3 months, our project team has transformed the landscape of sonographer skill assessment. We have designed an AI-based interactive platform that enables sonographers to enhance their skills, expand their professional network, and renew certifications. Ultimately, this leads to improved patient care and better professional development within the field of diagnostic medical sonography.
Disclaimer: All views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the respective company. Some design elements have been changed from the original. The name and branding were changed for this case study.
By empowering sonographers with an AI-driven feedback loop and a collaborative learning platform, the beta version has shown promising results:
among beta testers, highlighting its usability and relevance.
was onboard with the platform for beta testing.
was onboard with the platform for beta testing and share positive feedback about the interaction field.
showcasing active engagement and knowledge-sharing.
How might we...
— 01. Into learning, review on the go
— 02. Sonograph Assessment
— 03. Beyond the learning
— 04. Actionable Insights & Valuable Contributions
We delved into the world of sonographer education to explore opportunities and understand the impact of high-standard imaging on interpretation and patient outcomes, extending beyond the role of the sonographer. Our journey began with conducting primary and secondary research.
Access to high-quality diagnostic imaging is critical for accurate medical interpretations and positive patient outcomes. However, in many access-constrained economies, patients lack access to high-standard imaging tools and expertise, resulting in systemic challenges for both patients and medical professionals, including sonographer
There are critical gaps in the current system that hinder sonographers' ability to grow professionally and ensure patient safety due to multiple reasons
Many sonographers feeling outdated or under-equipped to meet evolving standards with the rapid advancement in healthcare tech including AI
Many sonographers struggle to access up-to-date resources, guidelines, and training materials to improve their skills and adapt to industry changes.
Opportunities for professional collaboration, mentorship, and feedback are often limited, leaving sonographers isolated in their roles without a clear pathway to growth.
After gaining knowledge and identifying key problems, not only within the sonography field but also in healthcare more broadly, I collaborated with the research team, my PM, and the lead designer to conduct a workshop. The goal was to identify key focus areas that would provide greater value in the certification and learning processes for sonographers.
Build a feedback loop where AI pre-screens scans and highlights areas of concern, followed by expert reviewers providing in-depth feedback.
With the scan and scoring system, sonographers can significantly impact improving real patient outcomes.
Go beyond certification by sharing knowledge and creating value through collaborative processes and an engaging community.
Grounded in insights, we crafted user journerys, service blueprint and a sitemap before translating them into user flows and wireframes. This ensures that our design solutions address user needs and identify potential pain points as users interact with the product
This platform has the potential to reduce diagnostic errors and improve patient outcomes by empowering sonographers with real-time feedback and collaborative learning opportunities
Annye, K - Sonographer @ UCLA Medical Center
A reduced and changing team required us to reprioritize deliverables while ensuring the project’s core objectives were met. Clearer communication and resource allocation from the start would help mitigate these issues in future projects.
Limited access to medical professionals and restricted use of medical technologies during the development phase posed challenges. To overcome this, we leveraged remote user interviews and alternative testing environments.
Designing for immediate needs while planning for future functionality, such as AI integration and data analytics, reinforced the importance of a forward-thinking approach to ensure long-term impact.
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