THOR excels in advanced project environments in which planning and strategy are core components of success. Our work with Knighten Health in the development of the I-SEE clinical app resulted in an intuitive and highly functional resource for physicians.

The I-SEE app is rooted in the findings of a landmark scientific paper introducing the concept of an index of severity for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (I-SEE). This numeric severity scale, ranging from 0 to 25, allows frontline medical professionals to comprehensively assess whether a patient has inactive, or the severity of active, EoE. Our app was meticulously crafted to validate this innovative scoring system.

Goals

The overarching goals of the I-SEE app can be distilled into three key objectives:

Provide Accurate Medical Data and Resources: Accuracy is paramount in any medical information tool. The I-SEE app achieves this by guiding users through a streamlined 6-step decision system, scoring patient data to deliver comprehensive assessments of a patient's disease. Throughout this process, resources are strategically highlighted to define unfamiliar terms and conditions, and to guide physicians toward best practices. Anonymized data gathered from each session aids in progressing EoE management by establishing the app as an educational tool, a data collection instrument, and a quick severity calculator. The app sets the digital standard for future AGA projects involving point-of-care decision making.

Respect the Time of Practitioners: Recognizing the critical constraint of time, the I-SEE app aims for a swift 30-second process to align with the demanding schedules of medical professionals. The streamlined decision process, coupled with easy one-handed navigation, efficiently guides users through the app. The objective is to complete all necessary steps within the app during a standard patient visit, respecting the time constraints faced by doctors in their daily practice.

Provide a Resource for Cutting-Edge Patient Management: Beyond accuracy, the app strives to enhance the lives of individuals grappling with chronic EoE. By putting cutting edge knowledge directly into the hands of doctors worldwide, tools like the I-SEE app bridge the gap between niche expertise and global medical practice. The app addresses the challenge of staying current in the ever-evolving field, effectively communicating the latest management advances. Notably, a primary treatment goal is to aid in the assessment of pediatric patients (18 and younger), a demographic frequently at risk of having their EoE symptoms and severity overlooked.

In essence, the I-SEE app emerges as a dynamic tool, not only revolutionizing assessment processes but also serving as a catalyst for advancing EoE treatment, respecting practitioners’ time, and imparting crucial knowledge to the medical community worldwide.

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Strategy/Tactics

The I-SEE app serves as an important test case for AGA, evaluating the practicality of incorporating apps into the daily routines of gastroenterologists and allergists. Our strategic approach revolved around this unique experiment, weaving together established best practices in app design and development with the nuanced demands of our specific target audience. Our development process unfolded through structured phases:

Discovery: Meetings with EoE thought leaders and practitioner interviews culminated in a comprehensive report. This report delved into demographics, usage patterns, available content, overarching goals, and common stumbling blocks in patient assessment. Diverse individuals were engaged, ensuring representation across practice locations and sizes, encompassing specialists and allergists alongside gastroenterologists. This rich dataset laid the foundation for distilling the user journey to the most efficient path.

Design: The app’s design harmoniously blended a unique aesthetic associated with the EoE program while adhering to the overarching AGA parent brand. Every element underwent scrutiny with a focus on readability and ease of navigation, featuring large text, sizable selection elements, and dismissible trays for secondary resource content.

Prototype: An iterative process evolved from a decision tree diagram to a static user interface and, eventually, to working prototypes extensively reviewed by the team. These prototypes simulated app functionality, refining data input points to align with real-world needs. Constant solution generation addressed anomalies in data and uncertainties surfaced during testing.

Development: An advanced development process breathed life into all planned functionalities, ensuring alignment with app store requirements and meeting the diverse needs of our audience.

The culmination of this process resulted in a highly streamlined app, earning acclaim from the practitioners who integrate it into their daily practice. The success of the I-SEE app underscores the feasibility and effectiveness of leveraging apps within the gastroenterology field, marking a significant stride towards enhancing medical practice through innovative digital solutions.