Optum Design Brief

Posted on by Rob

Design Brief

“With the aging of the US population, people will be happier and healthier in their homes versus care facilities. Are there ways of using the Internet of Things to better offer remote monitoring for caregivers, etc.? How do we help immediate post-retirees that are active and do not need a caregiver yet with prevention? For those that are working with a caregiver now, how do we keep them in the home longer?”

Project Description:

Discover a way to use the Internet of Things to monitor our aging population in their own homes and send any and all information to their doctors and/or caregivers.

Intent/Scope:

  • Use the Internet of Things to create better, safer, lives for our aging population
  • Provide caregivers and doctors with more frequent data on their family members/patients in order to catch concerning symptoms early
  • Offer both freedom and safety to immediate post-retirees and active elders

Exploration Questions:

  • What facets of at-home care can currently be improved upon?
  • What role does emerging technology potentially play in this market?
  • What are Optum’s current offerings?

Target Users:

  • Early retirees and soon-to-retire seniors (ages 65-75) who are still active and able, maintain independence in living, and are or have been helping elderly parents through late-life care

Research Plan:

  • Gather current statistics/information on the aging population and this demographic in the healthcare industry
  • Talk to Pat Keran/other Optum employees about any current projects concerning IoT with aging people/caregivers
  • Research current implementation of IoT in the healthcare industry
  • Research caregiving strategy/use of technology with caregivers
  • Interview potential stakeholders directly in order to diagnose current needs (think Competing Against Luck text)

Expected Outcomes:

  • We are expecting to come up with an interactive way to bring aging patients closer to their caregivers and provide accurate information while allowing them to stay in their homes for longer.

Success Metrics:

  • >60% satisfaction with IoT by elderly patients
  • 2 organized activities per week utilizing IoT

Project Planning:

  • Weekly team meetings to discuss strategy
  • Biweekly communication with Contact