Improving the Enteral Nutrition Experience
Medical Device Design / Graphic Design / Design Research, Sponsored by PennMed and Penn Center for Innovation
Medication administration to enteral nutrition patients with feeding tubes is complex and thus time-consuming.
We collaborated with PennMed to provide both inpatient and outpatient support. The end goal of this ongoing project is to implement these solutions gradually in more hospitals in the United State.
(2022- Present)
Instead of taking the time to scan, crush, dilute and feed every single pills individually, nurses could leave the device running independently after loading the pills and water. This device reduces nurse’s effort and time required, leaving them more opportunities to assist their patients.
The pamphlet contains straightforward instructions, easy-to-read fonts and accurate visuals. Both caretakers and patients are able to easily follow instructions and perform the procedure without hassle.
Inpatient Support: Automated administration device
Outpatient Support: Take-home instructional pamphlet
Need Finding Process: What type of solutions do we need?
Research Method
Interviews: interviewed 20+ healthcare professionals, patients, and home caretakers.
Onsite Visits: observe the administration process and post-discharge procedure in PennMed.
User Testing: invited both home caretakers and students to perform medication administration.
“Hopefully the tube isn’t clogged, I don't want to waste your time fixing that before we can give him his meds.”
—- Hospital Professional
“ Had I known what a PEG tube meant, I probably would have said no to getting one.”
—- Patient
“In reality unless we see that a prescription needs to be administered separately we don't have the time to mix each individually.”
—— Home Caretaker
Key Insights
Preparation and cleaning processes can take just as long as actual food/medication administration due to long, complex steps and physical strength requirements.
It is oftentimes unrealistic to administer each prescription separately and flush the tube in between every single use.
To successfully transition from hospital to home, patients and caretakers need proper education and hands-on instructions from nurses prior to the transition.
HMWs
Inpatient: How might we optimize the medication process to allow for more meaningful time spent between nurses and EN patients?
Outpatient: How might we improve the learning curve for enteral nutrition patients as they transition home from the hospital?
Inpatient Support: Automated administration device
Final Solution
How it works?
User Interface Design
Device memorizes the medicine needed for each administration.
Interface displays real-time administration progress.
Device logs dosages of administered medicine to the linked hospital system.
Endorsements from Nurses@PennMed
“I could imagine myself doing documentation routines, helping and educating patients while waiting for it to do its job..”
-Stephanie, PennMed
“This device is definitely more efficient than what we have now.”
-Brenna, PennMed
“I would like the device to be more automated! Imagine how much time all the nurses could save..”
-Kristine, PennMed
Second Round of User Testing
Outpatient Support: Take-home instructional pamphlet
We observed how caretakers administer medicines at home, documented their habits and conducted interviews in the end.
The hospital provides…
The patients create…
The process looks like this!
Our revised version of the take-home pamphlet
It has clear visuals, large fonts, laminated pages, and bookbinding.
Most importantly, it cuts down medicine entire process time by nearly half.
