Chippewa Valley Times

Graphic design and interactive media students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout are collaborating with Epic Systems to enhance user experiences in healthcare software. Under Professor Nagesh Shinde's guidance, students work alongside Epic designers, creating web, mobile app, or kiosk products.

“Building this partnership with Epic has taken immense effort, and promoting healthcare user experience – UX – on our campus is vital,” said Shinde. “It shows how an interdisciplinary collaboration can shape students’ experiences.”

Epic Systems, established in 1979 and based in Verona, develops software used by over 2,400 hospitals and 45,000 clinics across the U.S., impacting more than 325 million people. The company reported $4.9 billion in revenue for 2023.

“The pairing of design and healthcare is an interesting emerging space,” Shinde noted. “The healthcare profession didn’t always appreciate design, but it now recognizes the user experience as essential to the quality of accessible and meaningful service.”

Joshua Canale from Epic emphasizes that usability was once secondary in healthcare software design but now takes precedence. “Now, UX is at the forefront of design in healthcare,” he said.

A notable project includes Ceci Feldt’s MyVCP: Rare Disease Tracker app which aids those with VCP disease. Though Feldt graduated before the collaboration began, her course experience influenced her career path.

“It opened my eyes to the vast opportunities where design can serve as a powerful tool,” Feldt expressed.

Canale stresses the importance of clear UX in critical settings like hospitals. He uses examples such as potential medication dosage errors due to shorthand entry systems to highlight risks mitigated by thoughtful design choices.

Shinde plans to involve more professionals for feedback on student projects and hopes to expand course offerings to other universities.

Feldt's capstone project aligns closely with Cure VCP’s initiative under a grant from CZI Rare as One program. Her personal connection to VCP disease drives her advocacy efforts through technology solutions aimed at improving patient care.

She encourages young designers: “Utilize your gifts and leverage your life experiences to make lasting change.”

The graphic design program at UW-Stout also partners with Great Northern Corporation for a collaborative course involving graphic design and packaging students working on real-world projects for national clients.