Medical Product Innovator
The ExPedite
The ExPedite is a dedicated device for lab ordering with software and hardware components. It was created for the course Medical Product Ideation (BIOENG 2150). The team was comprised of myself, Eva Caruso, Dr. Chigozirim Ekeke, a cardio-thoracic surgeon, Vishaal Dhamotharan, a 2nd year PhD candidate and Ying Xu, a fellow 1st year master's student.
Ethnography
Our team performed ethnographic research at University of Pittsburgh Presbyterian Hospital. We conducted interviews with Dr. Christopher Sciortino who mentioned one of his pain points- the latent period between requesting a lab test and recieving that information in order to make a clinical decision, he cited that over 70% of clinical decisions require lab results. We also watched workflow in the CT ICU to gain a better understanding of this pain point for all clinicians involved! Lastly, we actually went to the clinical laboratory to get their input
Brainstorming
Our team went through the affinitization process where we individually wrote our findings and observations on sticky notes, gathered around 115 observations, funneled them down to create a customer image diagram. This was done to keep human centered design at the heart of our project and to see all of the opportunities for innovation in this space! We decided to go forth with two of our most popular ideas formed through a morphological analysis: A POC Blood Analyzer and a dedicated device for lab ordering.
pretotyping
We used the idea of Pretotyping which is a way to test a product idea quickly and inexpensively by creating extremely simplified versions of the device to be made! We created both ideas, the POC Blood Analyzer using foam board, real IV lure locks and digitally created design photos, the other device using foam board, lab vials and an iPad where we created an App for lab ordering!
Customer Verification
We brought both of our pretotypes in to present to Dr. Christopher Sciortino who believed that the POC Blood Analyzer was too well researched and thus not feasible, which we had originally thought would be the case. What was amazing was his enthusiasm for device, ExPedite. Since this device would be used by ICU nurses we also brought it to them who thought this dedicated device would alleviate their pains associated with the computer-printer-pnuematic tube system in current lab ordering and sending practive. We decided to continue pursuing our ExPedite device and pitched it to a panel of "sharks".
ExPedite: Overview
Expedite combines a concise lab ordering software with a touch screen retina display, this software will present the 8 most vital labs for clinical decision making on the front screen, most selected, frequently combined or frequently ordered labs will be available to customize. When the lab test is put in for a specific patient a label will automatically be generated. This software and associated physical screen combine with a hardware portion of the device which includes a vial cartridge, a vial labeling mechanism and a vial dispenser. Once the label is generated, and the nurse selects to print, the label will be printed by the internal printer, fixed to the vial in the correct alignment and dispensed for the nurse to collect the sample in. This device eliminates the protracted stages of ordering a lab and incorporates the process into one piece of hardware.
ExPedite: The App
Clinical Impact
The patients would benefit by a decrease in hospital stay and mortality based on the fact that clinical decisions (ex. Take back to OR, give blood to) and diagnosis can be made earlier. Using Expedite, nurses will not have to use finnicky computer to log-in and order a lab, to put the label on the vial themselves or to leave the patient’s side to retrieve vials. The “input value” portion of the software for urine, chest tube and wound vacuum outputs gives the nurses a place to put this information as it is currently tracked on a whiteboard. For clinicians and hospitals, retrieving ICU patient lab results as fast as possible helps the health care system deliver better value by providing faster means for ICU patient diagnosis. Diagnosis can be made quickly and subsequent life-saving clinical actions can be taken. This improves hospital reputation for saving lives and reduces patient stay in the ICU which in turn increases bed availability in ICU.