JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Patients fail to accurately remember 40 to 80% of medical information relayed during doctor appointments, and most standard after-visit summaries (AVS) fail to effectively help patients comply with behaviors to manage their health conditions. The value of technology to empower and engage patients in their health management has been shown, and here we apply technology to help patients remember and act upon information communicated during their medical appointments. We describe the development of WellNote, a digital notebook designed for patients to create a customized plan to manage their condition, plan for their appointments, track important actions such as medications and labs, and receive reminders for appointments and labs. For this pilot, we chose to focus on rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic condition that relies on many of these features. WellNote’s active and structured note-taking features allow a patient to clearly document the information from their physician without detracting from the conversation, helping the patient to become more empowered and engaged in their health management. The development of WellNote followed a structured method based on design thinking and co-design principles, with the app built in close collaboration with patients and a physician partner to ensure clinical relevance. This co-design process empowered these stakeholders to share their needs and participate in the development of a solution that truly solves pain points for these groups. This viewpoint highlights the role of digital health tools and the co-design of new healthcare innovations to empower patients and support clinicians.