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Project Summary:
The Michigan Medicine Emergency Department, in partnership with the Tapper family, are leading an initiative to establish the Center for Diagnostic Excellence to improve diagnostic accuracy and safety for ER patients.
This project is inspired by Alice Tapper.
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Erika Arias, Aurelia Hudak, Aditi Kagalkar, Zhengdong Peng, Xuechun Wang, Linus Xu, Jialin Yan
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Timely and accurate diagnosis is critical to effective patient care. However, diagnostic delays and misdiagnoses contribute to preventable patient harm and nearly a trillion dollars in excess healthcare costs. How might we enhance diagnostic accuracy and safety to improve patient outcomes and optimize healthcare spending?
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Who are your users, and what’s bothering them?
Who are the users?
Patients & Family Members
Individuals who have experienced delayed, incorrect, or successful diagnoses and wish to share their stories to help others.
Clinicians & Healthcare Providers
Medical professionals aiming to better understand patient perspectives and improve diagnostic accuracy.
Researchers & Administrators
Individuals studying diagnostic errors and developing interventions based on real-world patient narratives.
Pain points:
For Patients & Advocates:
Lack of Voice in the Diagnostic Process
Patients often feel unheard, especially when misdiagnoses or delays occur, leaving emotional and physical trauma unacknowledged.
Privacy & Trust Concerns
Many fear that sharing personal health stories could compromise their privacy or lead to judgment.
Difficulty Navigating Healthcare Systems
Complex systems often lack intuitive ways for patients to reflect on or revisit their diagnostic experiences.
Quotes:
“No child should suffer from a delay in care or misdiagnosis of a common medical problem.”
— Jake & Jennifer Tapper
“Arriving at the correct diagnosis in a timely manner is fundamental to every interaction that the patient has with their healthcare provider.”
— Michigan Medicine, Emergency Department
MVP definition and core values. Highlight how each feature maps to user needs and client needs:
| Feature | User Needs Met | Client Goals Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| Structured Story Submission | Easy way to share diagnostic journeys- Control over how and when to publish stories | - Build a searchable library of user-generated diagnostic data- Support research input |
| Customizable Privacy Controls | Choose who sees what- Feel safe and secure sharing sensitive health data | - Ensure HIPAA-compliant submission- Gain trust from participants |
| Search & Filter System | Find relevant stories by category/date/diagnostic phase- Gain community insight | - Help researchers and practitioners extract meaningful data for analysis |
| User Authentication System | Secure access to personal health data- Edit/manage own stories | - Ensure secure data storage- Comply with privacy standards |
| Home Page & Navigation | Smooth onboarding and guidance through story flow | - Improve UX to encourage participation- Set a standard for future health platforms |
| Community Stories Page | View others' experiences for support and learning- Feel part of a movement | - Build empathy-driven diagnostic improvement culture |