blockchain and AI-enhanced health portal

In the fast-evolving world of healthcare technology, ensuring the privacy, accessibility, and clarity of patient information has become paramount. This case study explores the development of an innovative health portal that leverages blockchain and artificial intelligence to address some of the pressing challenges in today’s healthcare landscape. Developed as a showcase at the Swiss Digital hackathon, this project highlights how cross-disciplinary collaboration can redefine user experiences and data security in healthcare.

My role:

Facilitator + UX Designer

Team:

UI UX Designer (Ekaterina Akhromeeva) + Software Developer (Rachel Werner) + 2 Project Managers (Elke Kumala & Anna Koczen)

Timeline:

2 working days

the challenge

The project began with a clear mission: to create a portal that not only meets the high-security standards required in healthcare but also enhances the patient experience in meaningful ways. The primary objectives were ambitious:

Organizing a diverse team of professionals to work effectively within the hackathon’s tight timeframe.

Spending no more than three hours working on the AI and blockchain prototypes.

Aligning the project with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure that the solution had a tangible, positive social impact.

Crafting a unique, user-focused solution that would set this health portal apart from conventional designs in the market.

These challenges were not just technical but also logistical and strategic, requiring thoughtful planning and a well-coordinated team approach.

A diverse team of Software Engineer, UX designers, and Project Managers from various fields came together, each contributing a unique perspective and skillset. Embracing the Double Diamond design methodology, the team divided their work into clear phases:

Discover

Each team member conducted independent research within their field, gathering insights into user pain points, regulatory requirements, and the technological limitations in current healthcare portals.

Define

After consolidating the research findings, the team identified several key problem areas:

• The inefficiency and inaccessibility of traditional health records, which often remained siloed and insecure.

• Language barriers that complicated communication between healthcare providers and patients, especially in multilingual settings like Switzerland.

• Security and environmental concerns associated with paper-based documentation in healthcare.

Prototype

Finally, the team selected high-impact features to rapidly prototype and test. Each feature was evaluated based on its potential to improve patient outcomes, its alignment with SDGs, and the practicality of implementation.

solution

Security and authenticity were paramount. Using blockchain technology, the team created a tamper-proof system for storing and verifying health records. Each document could be accessed through a unique QR code, allowing patients to share information securely and seamlessly with healthcare providers.

To support patients in managing their health, the AI chatbot provided personalized insights based on each user’s health history. From recommending preventive measures to explaining complex medical terms, the chatbot offered patients accessible and actionable advice.

Recognizing Switzerland’s diverse linguistic landscape, the team integrated a real-time translation tool. This feature allowed users to translate medical documents and communications, bridging language gaps and enabling patients to understand and manage their health information more effectively.

Leveraging AI, the portal could extract and highlight critical information from health documents, making it easier for both patients and healthcare providers to find essential details without combing through lengthy records.

The QR code feature enabled quick access and sharing of health documents. This feature was particularly useful in emergency scenarios, allowing for immediate access to critical health information without sacrificing privacy.

expected results and metrics

By providing a secure and user-friendly portal, patients were expected to feel more confident and engaged with their healthcare information.

Automating verification and documentation tasks aimed to free up valuable time for healthcare providers, allowing them to focus more on patient care.

The language translation feature and personalized guidance were expected to make healthcare information accessible to a broader audience, including non-native speakers and patients with limited medical knowledge.

This health portal showcases the potential of blockchain and AI to create secure, accessible, and user-centered solutions in healthcare. By focusing on the real-world challenges faced by patients and providers, this project demonstrated how technology could bridge the gap between privacy, accessibility, and efficiency. The team’s work laid the foundation for a healthcare experience that is not only secure but also deeply empathetic and responsive to user needs.