Case Study
Glomii
Glomii is a system designed to help patients with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) manage all their points of contact and medication while going through the different stages of CKD.
Domain
Healthcare
Focus
System Design
Type
Concept Project
Impact at a glance
Designing for a complex, progressive condition.
Problem
Patients with CKD need to navigate stages of disease while managing multiple points of contact and medication; many lack awareness and a single place to track care.
Approach
Research, system mapping, user journeys, and concept modeling to define how a system could support patients and react to GFR changes.
Outcome
A system concept that helps patients manage contacts and medication, with the product reacting to kidney function changes and supporting adherence.
Background
Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease is a progressive irreversible loss of kidney function over time. The current treatment focuses on the underlying causes of kidney impairment and any complications that might arise. Common causes are diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart problems, family history and tobacco use.
1 in 7 US adults are estimated to have CKD, and 9 in 10 do not know they have it. Even 2 in 5 adults with severe CKD are unaware of their condition. The only way to know with certainty is by getting screened, most accurately through a blood test that measures eGFR, the amount of kidney function remaining.
Process
How we approached it
System mapping
Mapped all actors and touchpoints in the current CKD care ecosystem to identify gaps and overlaps.
Key gap
No single touchpoint helped patients manage contacts, medication, and GFR data in one place.
User Journey
A day with stage 3A CKD
The user journey focused on representing the experience the day of a regular doctor's appointment. The patient has been living with stage 3A Chronic Kidney disease. On the week overview you can see that patients with CKD follow a pattern to maintain control and stability while also managing their health.
Insights
How Might We
Conceptual map
Defined the core concepts and relationships that would shape the Glomii system.
Patient at center
The patient owns their data, and the system reacts around them rather than the other way around.
System logic
How the System Reacts
Glomii constantly reads a person's GFR to monitor their kidney function, and as soon as it detects changes it reacts accordingly. The patient is reminded when they have to take certain medication but they are able to use this as a tool to keep track of their medication, what they are for and if they need to re-fill.
GFR-driven branching
System flows branch based on real-time GFR readings. Different stages trigger different care paths.
Notification triggers
Automated alerts notify the patient, caregiver, and provider when values change significantly.
Solution · Job Story 1/3
Monitor your own GFR
As a Chronic Kidney Patient I want to be able to monitor my own GFR without going to see the doctor so I can be more aware of my own condition, and schedule an appointment when needed.
For repeating users, the first thing they will see is their GFR. It is monitored every couple of hours. They are able to expand, see what the test means and compare it to universal GFR results.
Always-visible GFR
The current GFR is the hero of the home screen, so patients always know where they stand.
Solution · Job Story 2/3
Book an appointment when GFR drops
As a Chronic Kidney Patient I want to create an appointment with the doctor as soon as my GFR drops so I can be on top of my own health.
Patients get a notification when their GFR drops, the data is automatically sent to the health care provider, caregiver and anyone in the system. Patients are able to book an appointment with the health care provider as soon as possible.
Drop alert
An immediate notification prompts action the moment a GFR change is detected.
One-tap booking
The patient can schedule an appointment directly from the alert, without switching apps.
Solution · Job Story 3/3
Manage all your medications
As a Chronic Kidney Patient I want to be able to see all the different medications so I can manage all the different and or changing medication as well as stay aware of what is going into my body.
The medication view lets patients see all active prescriptions, what each medication is for, and whether a refill is needed.
Medication detail
Each medication card explains its purpose and dosage, building patient awareness rather than just compliance.
Refill reminder
The system flags when a refill is needed so patients never run out unexpectedly.
Next steps
Room to grow.
I would like to do more in-depth user research, conduct user testing and work on the design system for the overall product.