A Strategic Design Analysis to Facilitate the Transition for All to the New Patient-Centered Healthcare Model in China

The China healthcare system is strongly relying on large hospitals, managing many thousands of patients every day. The limited number of doctors, the limited data interoperability even in the same city or province, and the patients' limited access to their own medical data challenge this model, reducing efficiency (unnecessary duplication of procedures) and patient satisfaction. Although standardization of the “one size fits all” model is an essential part of providing safe and cost-effective care, especially in a vast country like China with a relatively low patient-doctor ratio, effective healthcare requires participation from both healthcare providers, patients and caregivers, establishing new relationships to empower and involve them. Through co-creation-driven design for All in healthcare, it is possible to identify patient and operators Abilities, Necessities and Aspirations and design systems and services comfortable for diverse people. A co-created app may facilitate the transition to a patient-centred system without requiring a structural change of the current organizational model. In this way, it is also possible to test user and experience-centred technological solutions in pilot form, respecting the established hierarchy and facilitating policymaking.