Order Utility - Optum
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Order Utility, formerly Referral Utility, has been used by thousands of users across the United States for over five years. Originally, the product was solely designed to create referrals, but has expanded to incorporate laboratory and imaging orders. In addition to the expansion of order types, OU is utilized by markets around the country and multiple electronic health record platforms. Each market can configure field requirements, specialties, treatments, diagnoses, clinical question requirements, etc., and has a unique list of hundreds to thousands of specialists for referrals.
The number one request from users since OU’s inception has been the reduction of scrolling, white space, and clicks. However, as the product continues to grow and new markets and users are added, more new features and enhancements are requested. Below are some of the concepts I worked on with the account team and presented during monthly user group sessions.
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To address the user requests to reduce scrolling, I researched different ways to incorporate all field and component requirements and still reduce scroll fatigue. The concept I presented to the account team and a select group of users was a four-step wizard form.
Additional user requests solutions include:
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Step 1 General Details - Create Referral Order
Step 2 Patient Diagnostic Details - Create Referral Order
Step 3 Clinical Questions - Create Referral Order
Step 4 Referring Specialist Selection - Create Referral Order
Contact Order Utility from Sticky Header
New Order Creation Enhancements
Referral Specialist Comparison
Users expressed the desire to easily compare two specialists in a more comprehensive view. From the specialist grid, users are able to select two specialist and select “Compare” leading to the view above. From here they are able to compare the specialist’s details and all factors, as well as, change the specialist or directly select the specialist to create the referral.
Product News and Enhancements
Currently, the process of informing Order Utility users of product changes is by sending out enhancement, new feature, and bug fix updates to the Markets who distribute them to the users. In order to expedite this process and ensure all users have access to updates, I created an experience which incorporates the updates directly in the product and can be customized to each Market’s specific configurations.
Persistent Patient Details
Currently in Order Utility, users must scroll to the top of the page to reference pertinent patient information, such as, age and insurance details. This information is often necessary when completing clinical treatment questions and selecting the appropriate specialist to refer to. In addition to the patient information being persistent, it is also responsive. Order Utility works within multiple EHRs (electronic health records) whom have varying display size restrictions.
New User Preference Concepts
Custom Profile Picture
This concept would give the user the ability to customize their profile image which would be used across all Optum brand products. By default the system would use their initials.
Interface Layout
Due to the variation in age personas, many of the product users prefer less space between each field, and may want to revert back to the original “single-page” layout. This concept puts that control into the hands of the user, rather than assuming a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Specialty Favorites
By default the favorited specialties are selected by the parent market. However, each physician using Order Utility does not have the same specialty or sub-specialty. For example, a pediatrician would benefit from having pediatric specialties selected as their favorites, rather than the subset the Market selected. This concept helps to expedite their referral order creation.