One small step for health literacy. One giant win for Labcorp users.
This little piece of UX goodness actually inspired me to start this blog. It’s so simple and yet so powerful, I just had to share it. Here’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout WIllis.”1 For comparison, I’ve included results from another popular EMR system.
Test Results from another EMR System
Labcorp Test Results
See the difference? The talented UX and content designers at Labcorp made the smart choice: they tell me what the heck a BUN is, and why I should care. Knowledge is power. Can I go google “What is a BUN, and why should I care?” No doubt, boo. And I totally would, but not everyone would. And chances are, if my results are normal, I wouldn’t even be that curious.
By putting themselves in the user’s shoes, the Labcorp team realized that showing what the results mean, right there on the screen, helps people understand their own health and take action if something looks off. It’s an awesomely empathetic approach that supports health literacy and empowers patients. Having the information right at my fingertips is just a darn good user experience.
Good job, Labcorp content strategists and designers. Love, love, love it!
Footnote
- A phrase made famous on the 80s sitcom “Different Strokes”. Featuring the late Gary Coleman as Arnold and Todd Bridges as Willis, each episode included Arnold saying to his older brother, “Whatchoo talkin’ ’bout Willis?” There isn’t anyone who watched TV during that time who doesn’t know the phrase, and many, such as myself, still say it. Keep in mind, there were only 3 TV channels. It’s all we had.
Check it out: ↩︎