Skip to main content

Healthcare Software: Designing for Clinical Reality

· 3 min read
Darren Lin
Darren Lin
Blogger

Recently, I was invited to speak with Biomedical Informatics graduate students about software development in healthcare. This got me thinking about the unique challenges in this field, so I decided to share some key insights from my experience building tools for clinical teams.

The Unique Challenges of Healthcare Software​

UI Design: Density Over Beauty​

Walk into any hospital department and watch doctors use their software. You'll notice something immediately – screens packed with information. Unlike consumer apps that prioritize sleek interfaces with plenty of white space, healthcare software crams everything onto one screen.

Why? Because a doctor doesn't have time to click through five pages to find critical lab results.

When building a patient data centralization system, we focused on pulling everything—charts, history, medications—into one dense dashboard.

Development: Collaboration Over Speed​

In mainstream tech, the mantra is "move fast and break things." Companies like Meta might release features quickly, measure user engagement, and iterate based on data.

Healthcare development moves differently. We can't just "break things" when patient care is on the line.

For an AI-assisted clinical documentation system, we spent weeks shadowing doctors, understanding their documentation flows, and identifying pain points. Every feature went through multiple reviews with clinical teams before hitting production. This collaborative approach is slower but essential. The goal isn't user engagement – it's clinical accuracy and patient safety.

Testing: Real Scenarios Over Simulations​

When testing a knowledge-based chatbot for new nurses, we didn't just run standard QA processes. We created real-world scenarios: "It's 2 AM, you're the only nurse on duty, and you need to set up an IV for a difficult case."

This approach differs drastically from general tech, where A/B testing or load simulations are standard. In healthcare, we test against clinical scenarios because the stakes are higher than a dropped video call or a misplaced button.

What Works in Healthcare Development​

Through trial and error, I've found these approaches consistently work:

  • Iterate with clinical teams, not metrics: your most valuable feedback will come from the doctors and nurses using your software, not usage statistics.
  • Test with real-world scenarios: simulate actual clinical scenarios to ensure your software meets the demands of healthcare environments.
  • Prioritize usability over aesthetics: create interfaces that prioritize comprehensive data display over aesthetic minimalism.

The healthcare software space continues evolving rapidly. AI tools are just the start. But one thing stays true—good healthcare software isn't about following tech trends. It's about building things that actually work for doctors and patients in real, often stressful situations.

After years in this field, I've learned that the best compliment isn't "cool app" but "I didn't even notice the software." Because when technology fades into the background, doctors can focus on what matters most—the patient in front of them.