Designing a Community Hub Client Portal
A case study on designing a centralized, user-friendly hub for healthcare professionals to connect, collaborate, and access essential mental health resources.
The HCA Community Hub was envisioned as a digital solution to empower healthcare professionals by fostering collaboration and resource-sharing within their community.
My role was to lead the design efforts, transforming complex user needs into an intuitive platform that simplifies connection and information access. Through user research, iterative design, and stakeholder collaboration, I created a scalable, user-centric solution tailored to a diverse audience.
01
Overview
Healthcare professionals faced significant barriers to collaboration, including a fragmented ecosystem of tools and limited access to reliable, centralized resources.
These inefficiencies resulted in time wasted, missed opportunities for knowledge-sharing, and a lack of a unified community identity.
Key questions included:
Engagement
How can we enhance user engagement and encourage repeated use of the portal?
Ownership
How can we give the different users a sense of control while using the portal?
Achievement
How do we build a feeling of achievement within the Community Hub for all users?
The solution had to balance functionality, accessibility, and scalability while addressing these pain points.
02
The Challenge
To tackle these challenges, I embraced a human-centered design process:
Research & Discovery:
Conducted interviews and usability testing with healthcare professionals to uncover pain points and key needs. I synthesized findings into personas and user journey maps to guide design decisions.
Iterative Prototyping:
Crafted wireframes and prototypes in Figma, validating concepts with stakeholders and users at each stage. This iterative approach allowed for continuous refinement and alignment with user expectations. The wireframes and mockups included key pages such as the onboarding process, admin dashboards, account settings, conversations, and admin pages.
Design & Accessibility:
Designed a clean, modern interface that prioritized usability and inclusivity. Accessibility features were integrated from the start.
Collaboration:
Partnered closely with developers and stakeholders to ensure technical feasibility and adherence to project goals, translating user insights into practical design solutions.
03
My Approach
How can we enhance user engagement and encourage repeated use of our new portal?
To enhance user engagement and encourage repeated use of the portal, I prioritized creating a seamless and intuitive interface.
Examples of these features include:
Consistent Navigation:
A left-side menu anchors navigation across all pages, providing familiarity and reducing cognitive load.
Quick Access Features:
A top navigation bar includes a dashboard shortcut and a Conversation Switcher, enabling users to easily manage their subscriptions and stay connected to ongoing discussions.
These elements work together to simplify the user experience, making the platform more approachable and encouraging regular interaction.
How can we give the different users a sense of control and ownership while using the portal?
To give users a sense of control and ownership while using the portal, I implemented customizable notification settings, allowing participants to choose how and when they receive updates about new conversations, replies, and important announcements.
Additionally, I provided admins and moderators with robust controls for setting up and managing conversations. They can create and edit conversation topics, moderate discussions, and publish summaries. This empowered users to tailor their experience according to their preferences and roles, fostering a more engaged and self-directed community.
How do we build a feeling of achievement within the Community Hub for admins and participants?
To foster a sense of achievement within the Community Hub for both admins and participants, I designed features that highlight collective efforts and individual contributions:
Dashboard Visibility:
The dashboard showcases a dynamic range of current and archived discussions, with filters to explore the platform's breadth and active participation. This visibility allows users to see their contributions as part of a larger, impactful community effort.
Outcome Documentation:
The output page enables participants to document discussion summaries and outcomes before archiving. Admins can publish these insights on the HCA website, extending their value to a wider audience and reinforcing the impact of individual and group contributions.
These features celebrate progress, collaboration, and the tangible outcomes achieved within the hub.
04
Results
The HCA Community Hub delivered measurable improvements in collaboration and resource accessibility:
Increased Engagement:
Within six months of launch, the platform achieved a 35% increase in user activity compared to their previous BuddyPress tool.
Streamlined Processes:
Users reported that they could find and share resources, as well as communicate with each other more efficiently.
Positive Feedback:
Stakeholders praised the design for its clarity, usability, and alignment with their vision. They have also come back to us to add additional features to expand the product with more functionality.
Scalability:
The flexible design framework allowed the platform to grow alongside the community’s evolving needs, establishing a foundation for future enhancements.
05
Impact
Want to learn more?
Connect with me on LinkedIn or email me at jananiramesh75@gmail.com