{"id":12285,"date":"2025-05-16T09:12:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T14:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=12285"},"modified":"2025-05-16T09:13:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T14:13:29","slug":"an-epic-class-graphic-design-students-collaborate-with-epic-systems-to-improve-ux-in-healthcare-software-apps","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/an-epic-class-graphic-design-students-collaborate-with-epic-systems-to-improve-ux-in-healthcare-software-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"An Epic class: Graphic design students collaborate with Epic Systems to improve UX in healthcare software, apps"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
Professor Nagesh Shinde works with UW-Stout graphic design students. Within Professor Shinde\u2019s Healthcare User Experience Design course, students are working with designers at Epic Systems, who serve as mentors for students as they create web, mobile app or kiosk products and services. \/ UW-Stout<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Industry partnership with one of nation\u2019s largest healthcare software companies aims to impact patients\u2019 quality of life<\/h2>\n

Graphic design and interactive media<\/a>\u00a0students at UW-Stout are collaborating with professionals from Epic Systems, one of the nation\u2019s leading healthcare software companies, to improve the user experiences of patients and healthcare providers.<\/p>\n

Within\u00a0Professor Nagesh Shinde<\/strong>\u2019s Healthcare User Experience Design course, students are working with designers at Epic Systems, who serve as mentors for students as they create web, mobile app or kiosk products and services.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuilding this partnership with Epic has taken immense effort, and promoting healthcare user experience \u2013 UX \u2013 on our campus is vital,\u201d Shinde said. \u201cIt shows how an interdisciplinary collaboration can shape students\u2019 experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 1979,\u00a0Epic Systems<\/a>\u00a0develops software to help improve the way more than 325 million people receive healthcare. The Verona-based company is one of the biggest privately held U.S. tech companies, with reported revenue of $4.9 billion in 2023. Currently, 2,400 hospitals and 45,000 clinics in the U.S. use Epic software.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pairing of design and healthcare is an interesting emerging space,\u201d Shinde said. \u201cThe healthcare profession didn\u2019t always appreciate design, but it now recognizes the user experience as essential to the quality of accessible and meaningful service. There\u2019s a new shift in understanding that design has to be a part of everything we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the last two years, Shinde has worked closely with Epic UX Design Team Lead Joshua Canale and UX Designer Adrienne Hoover to strengthen students\u2019 experiences in the course.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe healthcare sector used to place functionality first in software design. Usability was an afterthought,\u201d Canale said. \u201cNow, UX is at the forefront of design in healthcare, with a focus on efficient and intuitive software programs. UX is a powerful tool that can positively impact patient care, as well as empower doctors and clinicians.\u201d<\/p>\n

One recent graduate\u2019s capstone project is being referenced by a national nonprofit organization.\u00a0Ceci Feldt<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s research and concepts for her\u00a0MyVCP: Rare Disease Tracker<\/a>\u00a0are providing valuable insights for a new study app by\u00a0Cure VCP Disease<\/a>, driving research, support and education initiatives.<\/p>\n

Although the collaboration with Epic began after Feldt graduated in 2023, the\u00a0Healthcare UX Design\u00a0course was a turning point for Feldt in her college career. It introduced her to the idea that her two passions \u2014 healthcare and design \u2014 could merge into a meaningful and impactful career.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt opened my eyes to the vast opportunities where\u00a0design can serve as a powerful tool, not just for aesthetics but for creating solutions that\u00a0genuinely improve people\u2019s lives,\u201d Feldt said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis course helped me recognize that\u00a0design is everywhere, embedded in every profession and practice, and has the potential to drive real change. It reinforced my belief that my creativity could be used for more than just visual appeal \u2014 I could\u00a0build tools that make a difference\u00a0in healthcare,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

The course is offered through UW-Stout\u2019s School of Art and Design and is one of the first courses of its kind to be offered among design departments.<\/p>\n

Using design to impact care, empower caregivers<\/h3>\n

Canale has coordinated outreach activities for Shinde\u2019s class with Epic\u2019s software, UX design and artificial intelligence divisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh\u2019s team has been an incredible pillar of support for our program. He has had a large impact on getting students excited about the healthcare space. I\u2019m committed to strengthening our collaboration in the years ahead,\u201d Shinde said.<\/p>\n

Canale starts his conversation with students by having them think about a time when they struggled with a confusing app or website. He then asks them to imagine that same frustration happening in a hospital, where time and clarity are critical, and the risk is high.<\/p>\n

\u201cUX design in healthcare isn\u2019t just about aesthetics. It\u2019s about making sure clinicians and patients can access the right information quickly and accurately. If they can’t, it could hurt patient care. A well-designed system can literally help save lives,\u201d Canale said.<\/p>\n

An example the Epic team shares with students is how even small design choices can have massive consequences in healthcare: Imagine a doctor entering a patient\u2019s weight for a medication dosage. If a system allows shorthand, such as “k” for kilograms and “l” for pounds, it creates a risk because the letters are next to each other on a keyboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cA simple typo could mean entering 80k (80 kilograms) instead of 80l (80 pounds) \u2013 a mistake that could lead to a drug dosage meant for an adult being given to a child, or vice versa. In extreme cases, that kind of mix-up could be fatal,\u201d Canale explained.<\/p>\n

To prevent this, Epic designed a system to require full unit names \u2013 such as \u201ckg\u201d or \u201clb\u201d \u2013 instead of single-letter entries.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though this adds an extra step in a workflow that is already time-crunched, it removes the risk of a life-threatening typo,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s a clear example of how good UX isn\u2019t just about efficiency, it\u2019s about making sure critical decisions are accurate every time, especially when lives are at stake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shinde invites other working professionals to share input and feedback on students\u2019 designs throughout the course and during their final presentations. In the future, the course may be open to students from other universities.<\/p>\n

Creating solutions to improve people\u2019s lives<\/h3>\n

Feldt\u2019s drive for advocacy in healthcare, combined with her experience as a CNA, led her to develop an app as her senior capstone for patients with VCP disease, a rare neurodegenerative condition that can affect a person\u2019s muscles, bones, brain and nerves. There is no cure or treatment as of yet.<\/p>\n

Her senior capstone project,\u00a0MyVCP: Rare Disease Tracker<\/a>, is a customizable app that helps individuals with VCP disease and caregivers track symptoms, health events and disease progression; take surveys to aid in research; discover trends based on symptoms to reveal triggers and remedies; and digitally share their experiences with their doctor and support system.<\/p>\n

Cure VCP is developing the app through the\u00a0CZI Rare as One grant\u00a0in collaboration with 4YouandMe. It is currently in the testing phase, and patients will soon enroll in the study.<\/p>\n

The core goal of MyVCP app closely aligns with Cure VCP\u2019s initiative for its study app \u2013 to leverage patient-reported outcomes and biometrics to empower patients and leverage their experiences for research, Feldt said.<\/p>\n

Feldt\u2019s personal connection to VCP disease inspired her project. Both her family and her husband\u2019s family are affected by VCP disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see firsthand the difficulties of navigating this disease, and I wanted to develop a tool for patients and caregivers to have a voice and contribute to research,\u201d said Feldt, who lives in San Diego with her husband, Brandon, the development and partner relations coordinator for Cure VCP Disease. They are caregivers for his mother, who has FTD caused by VCP disease.<\/p>\n

Since 2022, Feldt has volunteered with Cure VCP Disease as an ambassador, assisting with the facilitation of conferences, networking, and contributing to marketing, social media, patient outreach, and design projects, including the I CAN MOVEment virtual Move-a-thon logo. Most recently, Feldt has been assisting in the launch of a new support group for young adults whose families are affected by VCP disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough my volunteer work during my senior year, I built strong relationships with the VCP patient community \u2014 many of whom I now consider friends \u2014 and received valuable insights from patients, caregivers and researchers. Dr. Armelle Pindon, who was Cure VCP\u2019s chief scientific officer at the time, played a key role in helping me refine the goals and intended outcomes of my app. My hope is that my capstone project has planted seeds of encouragement in patients, demonstrating that technology can have a real impact on the future of this disease, and inspiring more people to participate in the Cure VCP Disease study app.\u201d Feldt said.<\/p>\n

She is eager to see the graphic design program at UW-Stout continue to emphasize the importance\u00a0of design in healthcare and equip students through partnerships with companies like Epic Systems.<\/p>\n

To other young designers looking to make an impact, Feldt said, \u201cUtilize your gifts and leverage your life experiences to make lasting change. Find a need and merge that with your passion for design.\u201d<\/p>\n

View Feldt\u2019s\u00a0MyVCP project<\/a>\u00a0to see her design iterations and research for her app.<\/p>\n

The graphic design program also partners with\u00a0Great Northern Corporation<\/a>, which sponsors a collaborative experience course that brings together graphic design and packaging students\u2019 education. Formed in 2021, students within the cross-disciplinary course design and develop products for GNC\u2019s national clients, with GNC representatives and mentors involved throughout the semester-long process.<\/p>\n

\n

Written by Abbey Goers<\/p>\n

Link to original story: https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/epic-class-graphic-design-students-collaborate-epic-systems-improve-ux-healthcare-software-apps<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Industry partnership with one of nation\u2019s largest healthcare software companies aims to impact patients\u2019 quality of life Graphic design and interactive media\u00a0students at UW-Stout are collaborating with professionals from Epic Systems, one of the nation\u2019s leading healthcare software companies, to improve the user experiences of patients and healthcare providers. Within\u00a0Professor Nagesh Shinde\u2019s Healthcare User Experience […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":12289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[90],"story_category":[],"class_list":["post-12285","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-stout"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/12285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12285"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=12285"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=12285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}