Summary

Verana’s Trial Connect tool (VTC) is designed to assist research coordinators in identifying potential candidates for clinical trials and facilitate patient recruitment. However, adoption of the tool was significantly lower than expected, with many research coordinators opting for manual processes or alternative methods. I was tasked with researching the underlying reasons for low utilization and identifying opportunities to enhance the application’s value for end-users.

Objective

To understand why research coordinators were not using the Verana Trial Connect tool and identify potential improvements to increase adoption and overall utility. The goal was to refine the tool’s design and functionality to better fit into the daily workflows of research coordinators.

Solution

Based on interviews and direct observation, I designed a new prototype with features that addressed the key pain points. The solution included:

• A simplified secure login process.
• An optimized dashboard with options for workflow customization.
• A new print feature to generate lists of patients flagged as great matches, providing a low-tech solution to a high-tech problem.

These enhancements led to a 40% increase in adoption among research coordinators

Methods + Logistics

• Internal Collaboration: Collaborated with internal subject matter experts (SMEs) to identify initial pain points and gather feedback.
• Onsite Observation: Shadowed a clinical researcher onsite, interviewed them, and conducted prototype testing to capture live feedback.

• Virtual Interviews: Conducted remote interviews and prototype testing with existing users to gather diverse perspectives.
• Documentation: Documented findings and feedback in a company Wiki for transparency and reference.
• Workflow Design: Created detailed workflows and screen designs based on research insights.
• Implementation Support: Created JIRA tickets and worked closely with the development team to ensure successful implementation of the new iteration.

Challenges + Solutions