COVID Tech Connect originated as a nonprofit organization in spring 2020, right before the initial summer surge in COVID-19 cases. 

With hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities facing increasing pressure due to the pandemic, the urgent need for devices like tablets and smartphones for patients to say parting words to loved ones became apparent. But each facility had unique requirements and data privacy regulations, necessitating a tailored approach for efficient device distribution and usage instructions.

Time was of the essence. This is the roadmap I drafted and executed to quickly facilitate a solution.

SEt Goals and Objectives:

1. Facilitate Efficient Device Donation:

   • Streamline the device donation process by guiding donors to the appropriate facilities based on specific facility needs and requirements.

2. Customize Instructions for Diverse Devices:

   • Provide tailored instructions to each facility for using the devices received, considering the wide array of devices from various donors.

3. Ensure Compliance with Regulations:

   • Guide donors and facilities to adhere to specific data privacy regulations relevant to their type of healthcare facility.

4. Optimize Time-Sensitive Operations:

   • Design a simple and intuitive website to quickly connect devices with the right facilities, prioritizing time-sensitive operations.

Determine Methodology:

1. User Research and Analysis:

   • Conducted interviews and gathered insights from hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities to understand their unique device needs, regulations, and concerns.

   • Identified the critical touchpoints in the device donation and distribution and setup process.

2. Website Development:

   • Developed a user-friendly website that effectively directed hospital and healthcare providers to the appropriate forms and instructions for each type of facility based on privacy requirements and the devices donations they received.

3. Content Tailoring:

   • Created customizable instruction templates for various devices (e.g., Android, Apple) to ensure appropriate and easy-access device usage guidance for each facility.

4. Testing and Iteration:

   • Conducted usability testing with organizers and healthcare facility representatives in real-time to identify any usability issues and gather feedback for further refinements.

   • Iteratively improved the website based on feedback in real-time to ensure a smooth and efficient user experience.

Provide Solution:

The solution comprised the following key components:

1. Intuitive Website Interface:

   • Designed a simple and intuitive website interface that efficiently guided hospital workers and healthcare providers to the appropriate forms based on the device and healthcare facility type.

2. Facility-Specific Forms:

   • Customized forms for each type of facility, ensuring that the right details were collected to match the facilities with the devices best suited for their needs.

3. Tailored Device Instructions:

   • Developed instruction templates specific to various device types (e.g., Android, Apple) to provide facilities with clear guidance on utilizing the donated devices quickly and effectively.

4. Regulatory Guidance:

   • Integrated regulatory guidance sections to educate facilities on data privacy regulations relevant to their specific healthcare facility type.

introduce telehome:

About one year after its original debut, COVID Tech Connect expanded into software with an app called TeleHome. TeleHome, which soft launched in May 2021, is a device-agnostic, HIPAA-compliant way to perform a video call within a hospital.