Hello Kidney Kit | Toolkit for kidney failure patients
The Hello Kidney Kit was developed as part of a value based healthcare implementation plan at the VUmc Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The toolkit consists of a set of tools designed to assist kidney failure patients manage and understand given information during their consultations. This helps patients make a well considered choice regarding their treatment together with their nurse and nephrologist. The tools are; a flowchart feedback system that guides the patient through the full treatment process, an information board that visualises given information and links it to the flowchart, and a card set that functions as a conversation starter. Each component and the integration of the toolkit in the consultation room, is explained in the video.
Observed situations waiting room and consultation room
Research
The goal of the research phase was to discover patient’s current pain points and needs during their visit to the hospital for their kidney failure treatment. To achieve this goal, two research activities were performed, observation of the waiting room and consultation room and interviews with patients, nurses and nephrologists. During observation sessions, occurring scenario’s were sketched out and analysed. The interviews with patients were guided by visual material and focused on patient’s emotions throughout the process. The results were visualised in patient journeys, persona’s and infographics.
The main insights from this research phase the Hello Kidney Kit was based on is the confusion and overwhelmingness patients feel during their process towards finding the right treatment option. There are many different treatment options available, like transplantation and dialysis at home or in the hospital. To involve the patient in choosing a treatment plan, nurses and doctors share a lot of information regarding the patient’s status and the available options. However, the patient often feels overwhelmed by this information and struggles to communicate their (mis)understanding to the specialists, leaving them feeling insecure and inadequate to make a decision.
Patient journey map