LABORATORY SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE
Revolutionising laboratory workflows across the globe
Summary
Clinisys is a leading laboratory information systems provide delivering laboratory management solutions across UK, Europe, and US serving over 3,000 labs in 34 countries.
Leading UX design for new specimen processing and system configuration module design using MUI as the base design system for the UK. In addition, driving design thinking for patient management and inventory modules using Telerik and Kendo for the US.
Timeline
The project was executed across synchronised agile sprints, coordinating four cross-functional development teams working in parallel. Each team focused on distinct but interconnected system components, requiring careful sprint planning, shared design systems, and regular cross-team synchronisation. This structured approach enabled us to maintain consistent progress while managing dependencies and ensuring seamless integration of features across the platform's ecosystem.
The Clinisys supports a broad spectrum of labs across the globe and functions in high-stake, safety-critical environments. Clinisys modules are currently delivered in a mixture of cloud and on-premises formats. The vision is to create a globally deployable, modular, cloud-based solution called Clinisys Laboratory Platform.
Core Concerns
The Clinisys supports a broad spectrum of labs across the globe and functions in high-stake, safety-critical environments. Clinisys modules are currently delivered in a mixture of cloud and on-premises formats. The vision is to create a globally deployable, modular, cloud-based solution called Clinisys Laboratory Platform.
Complex Persona-Centric Workflow Requirements
Complex laboratory workflows spanning specimen processing, patient data management, and inventory control, demanded a systematic approach to unify diverse systems.
This required harmonising taxonomies, restructuring information architecture, and standardising both, content models and UI components in order to create an intuitive system that could seamlessly handle variations in laboratory procedures while maintaining design and data integrity across different facilities.
Global Compliance Needs
With a diverse set of standards across the UK, Europe, and the US, interface design components needed to be modular and adaptable to meet varying regulatory requirements without compromising user experience.
High-Cognitive Load
Laboratory professionals routinely juggle samples, complex datasets and perform time-sensitive critical procedures.
To mitigate mental fatigue and reduce error risk, interfaces needed to present dense information in easily scannable formats, provide clear visual hierarchies, and offer contextual assistance at key decision points. The design prioritised rapid data entry, instant validation feedback, and intelligent defaults to support users during high-pressure scenarios.
Legacy Technology & Architecture
Design Activities
Insights
In summary across modules, research revealed several key challenges: high error rates in specimen entry, tracking challenges, fragmented data points and access to patient data, and bloated workflows in configuration and dictionary workflows.
Users also faced pains in inventory visibility, patient record handling, and tracking sample data lineage due to complex data structures.
Together, these challenges led to operational bottlenecks, increased cognitive load, and impacted efficiency and accuracy in high-stakes lab settings.
Error Prevention
Implement robust data validation and clear visual hierarchies to minimise errors, especially in high-risk areas such as specimen handling and patient data. Safeguard critical actions with multi-step verifications and confirmation prompts
Cognitive Load Management
Use progressive disclosure, contextual cues, and smart defaults to display only relevant information at each stage, reducing mental strain. Visually group key tasks and create clear pathways to guide users through steps, enabling focused and efficient task completion.
Task-Centred Workflow Design
Optimise workflows to reflect real lab processes, aligning with the natural task order and mental models of lab professionals. This approach minimises disruptions, speeds up task execution, and enhances ease of use for repetitive actions like data entry and specimen tracking.
Task-Centred Workflow Design
Provide immediate, context-specific feedback for user actions to enhance transparency and user confidence. Employ success confirmations, error prompts, and visual cues so users can quickly understand the outcomes of their actions, creating a smoother experience.
Adaptable Interface Design
Develop scalable, flexible interfaces that meet diverse compliance, data privacy, and operational needs across the UK, Europe, and the US. Design adaptable modules that can be configured to fit local regulatory contexts, supporting efficient and compliant workflows in each region.
Process
Agile Two-Week Sprints
Two-Week Sprints: Leveraged agile sprints to continuously refine and test features, incorporating real-time feedback from lab professionals to meet evolving requirements.
Usability Testing Across Regions
Conducted multiple rounds of testing with labs in the UK, Europe, and the US, ensuring that each module was adaptable, user-friendly, and compliant with varied regulatory needs.
Global Collaboration
Maintained alignment with cross-regional teams through regular meetings, ensuring that both design and development addressed compliance requirements and user needs across diverse geographies.
Module Challenges & Solutions
Specimen Processing
Challenge The existing laboratory framework lacked robust capabilities for specimen management, leading to inefficient data entry and unreliable status tracking.
Solution Revolutionised specimen handling through:
Implemented intelligent validation system with real-time contextual prompts and visual cues that guide technicians through each step, ensuring adherence to safety protocols while reducing entry errors
Developed hands-free voice command interface and streamlined touch interactions, eliminating redundant steps and allowing technicians to maintain sterile procedures
Created intuitive workflow aligned with laboratory staff mental models, resulting in more efficient specimen processing and a reduction in data entry errors
Lab Dictionaries
Challenge Managing and updating lab-specific dictionaries was complex and time-consuming.
Solution
Nomenclature, information hierarchy and taxonomies played a crucial role in design configurable dictionaries
Provided a flexible, adaptable setup, allowing labs to customise data fields according to evolving needs.
Quick Action Features: Enabled fast, direct access for adding and editing items, minimising workflow interruptions.
Patient Management
Challenge Fragmented access to patient data created delays in decision-making.
Solution Designed an integrated clinical dashboard that transformed care administrator task completion.
Unified dashboard delivering centralised patient data for quick, comprehensive access to critical information.
Quick access tools for prioritised high-frequency tasks like editing and viewing, boosting speed and efficiency, especially in urgent scenarios.
Outcomes and achievements following design implementation.
Time Savings
Reduced specimen processing times through optimised workflows
Error Reduction & Prevention
Minimised error rates with improved validation patterns.
User Satisfaction
Significantly lower cognitive loads reported by laboratory staff.
Personally Awarded!
Received company-wide excellence in design award for implementing user-centered design solutions