HMS and EMR drive HCPs to GTFO

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) face an onslaught of documentation. It’s so bad, it actually causes a significant level of burnout and employee attrition. People spend all day on the computer instead of helping patients, get overloaded, and decide they can’t make it work. The root of the problem: a near total monopoly on Healthcare Management Systems and Electronic Medical Records by just two companies. With zero incentive to improve software usability, these companies have made zero investment in their UX. Commure was a (very well funded) angel stage healthcare startup with ambitions to take on and disrupt the monopoly holders (Epic and Cerner) by making software that actually works for users. My partner and I did a vision project for them covering two key areas – excessively difficult data entry, and fractured data views. We did research with eminent medical professionals and leaders including onsite ethnography at UCSF and delivered a code/design hybrid prototype. It could transcribe doctor/patient conversations and identify medically relevant tokens like conditions, medical orders, and medications and provided an integrated longitudinal visualization of patient status and medical records. We worked with the CEO and presented to the board and key investors. Commure is delivering on the promise of their initial concept – they’re valued somewhere north of $6 billion, closing a $200 million round in 2025.