Case Study
Case Study
Project HealthDesign: Pioneering Next-Generation Personal Health Records
Shaping the Future of Personal Health Applications with Early Innovation and AI-Ready Design
Executive Summary
About the Client
The Challenge
Problem
In the early 2000s, as smartphones began to emerge, there was a pressing need to rethink how individuals could manage and engage with their personal health information digitally. Patients lacked meaningful, interactive access to their health data and the tools to make daily decisions based on it.
Solution
As part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Project HealthDesign, Estenda partnered with researchers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and leading clinicians to design one of the first Personal Health Applications (PHAs). The solution enabled users to track critical health information and receive individualized recommendations, leveraging early mobile tech, clinical algorithms, and user-centered design.
Impact
The resulting prototype anticipated many capabilities that are mainstream today, such as real-time feedback, integration with wearables, and automated suggestions powered by AI. This project helped set the trajectory for modern PHAs and digital health innovations.
Executive Summary
About the Client
The Challenge
Problem
In the early 2000s, as smartphones began to emerge, there was a pressing need to rethink how individuals could manage and engage with their personal health information digitally. Patients lacked meaningful, interactive access to their health data and the tools to make daily decisions based on it.
Solution
As part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Project HealthDesign, Estenda partnered with researchers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and leading clinicians to design one of the first Personal Health Applications (PHAs). The solution enabled users to track critical health information and receive individualized recommendations, leveraging early mobile tech, clinical algorithms, and user-centered design.
Impact
The resulting prototype anticipated many capabilities that are mainstream today, such as real-time feedback, integration with wearables, and automated suggestions powered by AI. This project helped set the trajectory for modern PHAs and digital health innovations.
Executive Summary
About the Client
The Challenge
Problem
In the early 2000s, as smartphones began to emerge, there was a pressing need to rethink how individuals could manage and engage with their personal health information digitally. Patients lacked meaningful, interactive access to their health data and the tools to make daily decisions based on it.
Solution
As part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Project HealthDesign, Estenda partnered with researchers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and leading clinicians to design one of the first Personal Health Applications (PHAs). The solution enabled users to track critical health information and receive individualized recommendations, leveraging early mobile tech, clinical algorithms, and user-centered design.
Impact
The resulting prototype anticipated many capabilities that are mainstream today, such as real-time feedback, integration with wearables, and automated suggestions powered by AI. This project helped set the trajectory for modern PHAs and digital health innovations.
Our Engagement
01
How We Started
Estenda joined forces with Walter Reed and Project HealthDesign to explore how patient-centered technologies could improve diabetes care. Through focus groups, clinical insight, and user-centered design, the team shaped a solution that addressed real-world needs.
01
How We Started
Estenda joined forces with Walter Reed and Project HealthDesign to explore how patient-centered technologies could improve diabetes care. Through focus groups, clinical insight, and user-centered design, the team shaped a solution that addressed real-world needs.
01
How We Started
Estenda joined forces with Walter Reed and Project HealthDesign to explore how patient-centered technologies could improve diabetes care. Through focus groups, clinical insight, and user-centered design, the team shaped a solution that addressed real-world needs.
02
Project Goals
Help patients better manage diabetes with minimal manual logging.
Reduce medication errors and improve lifestyle adherence.
Create a scalable digital infrastructure for personalized health insights.
Lay the groundwork for future AI integration in PHAs.
02
Project Goals
Help patients better manage diabetes with minimal manual logging.
Reduce medication errors and improve lifestyle adherence.
Create a scalable digital infrastructure for personalized health insights.
Lay the groundwork for future AI integration in PHAs.
02
Project Goals
Help patients better manage diabetes with minimal manual logging.
Reduce medication errors and improve lifestyle adherence.
Create a scalable digital infrastructure for personalized health insights.
Lay the groundwork for future AI integration in PHAs.
03
Collaboration Model
Working closely with Walter Reed clinicians and diabetes patients, Estenda conducted focus groups, implemented clinical research findings, and applied user-centered design to ensure the PHA met both medical and patient needs.
03
Collaboration Model
Working closely with Walter Reed clinicians and diabetes patients, Estenda conducted focus groups, implemented clinical research findings, and applied user-centered design to ensure the PHA met both medical and patient needs.
03
Collaboration Model
Working closely with Walter Reed clinicians and diabetes patients, Estenda conducted focus groups, implemented clinical research findings, and applied user-centered design to ensure the PHA met both medical and patient needs.
The Solution
Technologies Used
Early mobile frameworks and web-based platforms.
Data management systems.
Common Platform by Project HealthDesign.
Microsoft® HealthVault™ for later PHR integration.
Early mobile frameworks and web-based platforms.
Data management systems.
Common Platform by Project HealthDesign.
Microsoft® HealthVault™ for later PHR integration.
Early mobile frameworks and web-based platforms.
Data management systems.
Common Platform by Project HealthDesign.
Microsoft® HealthVault™ for later PHR integration.
Processes implemented
Iterative prototyping.
Focus groups with diabetes patients.
User-centered and clinician-informed design.
Integration of personal observations and medical records.
Iterative prototyping.
Focus groups with diabetes patients.
User-centered and clinician-informed design.
Integration of personal observations and medical records.
Iterative prototyping.
Focus groups with diabetes patients.
User-centered and clinician-informed design.
Integration of personal observations and medical records.
Customization
The PHA was tailored to meet the needs of endocrinologists and their patients, focusing on chronic disease management such as diabetes.
The PHA was tailored to meet the needs of endocrinologists and their patients, focusing on chronic disease management such as diabetes.
The PHA was tailored to meet the needs of endocrinologists and their patients, focusing on chronic disease management such as diabetes.
Challenges Along the Way
Obstacle
Technical limitations of early mobile platforms.
Solution
Emphasized modular, flexible design for future upgrades.
Obstacle
Technical limitations of early mobile platforms.
Solution
Emphasized modular, flexible design for future upgrades.
Obstacle
Technical limitations of early mobile platforms.
Solution
Emphasized modular, flexible design for future upgrades.
Obstacle
Balancing simplicity for users with clinical precision.
Solution
Streamlined logging interfaces to minimize user effort.
Obstacle
Balancing simplicity for users with clinical precision.
Solution
Streamlined logging interfaces to minimize user effort.
Obstacle
Balancing simplicity for users with clinical precision.
Solution
Streamlined logging interfaces to minimize user effort.
Obstacle
Lack of widespread data standardization at the time.
Solution
Prioritized integration with emerging third-party data sources.
Obstacle
Lack of widespread data standardization at the time.
Solution
Prioritized integration with emerging third-party data sources.
Obstacle
Lack of widespread data standardization at the time.
Solution
Prioritized integration with emerging third-party data sources.
Results & Success Metrics
Quantifiable Outcomes
Quantifiable Outcomes
Built a fully functional, web-based PHA prototype (2006–2010).
Enabled comprehensive tracking of ODLs (observations of daily living).
Provided tailored guidance for better chronic disease self-management.
Built a fully functional, web-based PHA prototype (2006–2010).
Enabled comprehensive tracking of ODLs (observations of daily living).
Provided tailored guidance for better chronic disease self-management.
Built a fully functional, web-based PHA prototype (2006–2010).
Enabled comprehensive tracking of ODLs (observations of daily living).
Provided tailored guidance for better chronic disease self-management.
Qualitative Benefits
Qualitative Benefits
Selected as a foundational model for Project HealthDesign.
Widely recognized for forward-thinking design and clinical relevance.
Used in clinical research to study real patient needs and engagement.
2006–2010: Estenda and Walter Reed deliver one of the first web-based PHAs for diabetes.
2010–2014: Project HealthDesign validates the system’s approach, stating that ODLs significantly improve medical decision-making.
Selected as a foundational model for Project HealthDesign.
Widely recognized for forward-thinking design and clinical relevance.
Used in clinical research to study real patient needs and engagement.
2006–2010: Estenda and Walter Reed deliver one of the first web-based PHAs for diabetes.
2010–2014: Project HealthDesign validates the system’s approach, stating that ODLs significantly improve medical decision-making.
Selected as a foundational model for Project HealthDesign.
Widely recognized for forward-thinking design and clinical relevance.
Used in clinical research to study real patient needs and engagement.
2006–2010: Estenda and Walter Reed deliver one of the first web-based PHAs for diabetes.
2010–2014: Project HealthDesign validates the system’s approach, stating that ODLs significantly improve medical decision-making.
Current Status
Where We Are Now
Where We Are Now
The original Estenda-Walter Reed prototype is a proven blueprint whose core features now define mainstream personal health tools. Its architecture and methodology continue to influence the evolution of AI-powered, user-centric healthcare applications.
The original Estenda-Walter Reed prototype is a proven blueprint whose core features now define mainstream personal health tools. Its architecture and methodology continue to influence the evolution of AI-powered, user-centric healthcare applications.
The original Estenda-Walter Reed prototype is a proven blueprint whose core features now define mainstream personal health tools. Its architecture and methodology continue to influence the evolution of AI-powered, user-centric healthcare applications.
Ongoing Relationship
Ongoing Relationship
Estenda continues to partner with healthcare institutions and researchers, building on this legacy with AI-ready platforms, EMR-integrated apps, and cutting-edge digital health research.
Estenda continues to partner with healthcare institutions and researchers, building on this legacy with AI-ready platforms, EMR-integrated apps, and cutting-edge digital health research.
Estenda continues to partner with healthcare institutions and researchers, building on this legacy with AI-ready platforms, EMR-integrated apps, and cutting-edge digital health research.
Key Takeaways
Why It Matters:
Why It Matters:
Estenda’s work with Walter Reed and Project HealthDesign was instrumental in the early definition of PHAs—tools that empower patients and improve outcomes by leveraging personalized, real-time health data.
Estenda’s work with Walter Reed and Project HealthDesign was instrumental in the early definition of PHAs—tools that empower patients and improve outcomes by leveraging personalized, real-time health data.
Estenda’s work with Walter Reed and Project HealthDesign was instrumental in the early definition of PHAs—tools that empower patients and improve outcomes by leveraging personalized, real-time health data.
Why Estenda:
Why Estenda:
Estenda’s ability to collaborate effectively with clinicians and researchers, combined with its forward-looking technical approach, was critical in creating a solution ahead of its time that continues to influence digital health innovation.
Estenda’s ability to collaborate effectively with clinicians and researchers, combined with its forward-looking technical approach, was critical in creating a solution ahead of its time that continues to influence digital health innovation.
Estenda’s ability to collaborate effectively with clinicians and researchers, combined with its forward-looking technical approach, was critical in creating a solution ahead of its time that continues to influence digital health innovation.
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