Michigan Medicine
A debriefing tool for Medical trainees at the University of Michigan to improve their Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) skills using a VR simulation.
Role
UX/UI Designer
Industry
Medical
Duration
3 months
Key Results
Completed learning cycle through structured feedback.
Motivated learning via clear progress tracking.
Enhanced preparation via tailored feedback channels.
The Problem
Need for improved feedback mechanisms for medical trainees during their Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) simulations, which are critical for enhancing their skills and increasing their chances of passing certification.
The Goal
Transform the debriefing process by turning simulation data into personalized learning insights, helping trainees better understand their performance.
Step I Research
Competitive Analysis
As we reviewed the competitive landscape, we realized there were very large names that were heavily advanced with branding or graphical UI however, they were very expensive and out of the constraints of the University of Michigan with their tool.
We started to understand that there may be a unique path where we can develop and make sure the feedback loops are could be developed to feel more comprehensive.
Interviews
We needed to better understand the primary and secondary users for this tool. We realized interviewing a doctor would be a challenge due to time constraints on the project. We were able to discuss certain questions with ACLS instructors to receive insight from the “harder to reach” users.
Video Calls
30 Minutes
Findings
Journey Map
Step II Solution
Personas
For this project, we created two primary personas—medical students and academic lecturers—who are the main users of our app for learning and teaching ACLS skills through mTeam VR simulations. We also developed two secondary personas, a medical surgeon and a nursing student, who may use the app occasionally or have different needs. Completing this assignment was challenging but rewarding, as we gained valuable insights into our users. Challenges included finding enough participants, managing conflicting data, and ensuring our personas were specific without being stereotypical. The main benefit of creating personas was fostering empathy and helping us design user-centered solutions. It allowed us to address the core project problem from our users' perspectives.
Moving forward, we aim to improve the process by using more diverse data sources, involving more users in feedback, and updating personas as we gather new insights.
Mid fidelity Mockups
Step III Testing
The professor successfully completed most tasks, but the timeline feature caused some confusion due to insufficient metrics for a clear display. With the 10-minute training session, the professor found the dashboard overly complex, citing the 40 screens as unnecessary. The consensus was to reduce the number of screens for the debrief session. Features seemed to used correctly during testing.
Trainees effectively performed all tasks, though some were confused by the lack of Virtual Reality access. They appreciated the feedback tool and the flexibility to review performance metrics at their convenience, especially given the stress of debrief sessions. However, the strengths and weaknesses feature was largely overlooked, suggesting it might not be useful.
Reflections
Through the developmental process, I learned the value of balancing structured questions with open-ended discussions during interviews. This approach reinforced the importance of flexibility in user research, ensuring a deeper understanding of user needs and behaviors.
Each member brought unique perspectives and skills, which allowed us to iterate and refine our product. This reinforced my belief that a design project matures most effectively as multiple viewpoints are considered and integrated throughout its development.
Feedback, especially from stakeholders, was instrumental in shaping our product. Consistent critiques helped us stay aligned with both user needs and project goals. Healthy debates drive great product decisions.
