Impact
10+
Wireframes
Developed
Mapping the full emergency journey from crisis to arrival.
1
Finalized
Product
Emergency Room Mode – a native iOS feature within Apple Maps.
15
Target Users Interviewed
On features to uncover real user priorities.
3
Top-Notch
Features
Live ETA
Medical Profile
Micro-Navigation.
Next Steps
This solution would be funded through a combination of hospital partnerships, insurance-provider sponsorships, and local health grants.
Primary cost areas include AR navigation development, backend infrastructure, HIPAA-compliant data security, and ongoing system maintenance.
To reduce risk, the product would first be validated through a small-scale city pilot before national expansion.
Overview
Designing a solution to improve the emergency room experience for a specific user demographic.
1 | Task
Design an integrated Apple ecosystem solution
Reduce emergency stress to prevent delays in critical care
Reduce anxiety that can worsen medical outcomes during emergencies
2 | Action
Mapped the emergency journey from initial crisis to hospital arrival
Prototyped solutions within the Apple ecosystem
3 | Result
Emergency Mode – a comprehensive iOS feature
Eliminates wayfinding confusion
Keeps loved ones informed in real-time
Equips triage staff with immediate access to critical patient health data
Research | User Needs
Understanding what people actually need in their most panicked moments.
User Pain Points
1 in 3 first-time visitors struggle to navigate to the ER
Incomplete medical info delays triage beyond the critical 10–15 min window
Stress and panic during the drive worsens decision-making on arrival
Priority Features
Real-time navigation to the ER during the drive
Instant sharing of patient health data with triage staff
Live location updates for family and companions
Ecosystem Integration
Maps, Find My, and Health app are already on users' devices
No new app download or setup needed in a high-stress moment
Emergency Mode activates within the existing iOS experience
Research | User Survey
We distributed a survey to 15 potential users to evaluate 10 possible features for Emergency Mode. Medical Profile and Within-a-Mile Directions ranked as the top priorities, selected by 12 out of 15 participants.
Medical Profile
A secure profile card where users can store medications, conditions, allergies, and key medical information that can be shared with emergency contacts.
Within-a-Mile Directions
Turn-by-turn micro-navigation that guides users exactly where to go once they arrive at the emergency room, helping them avoid confusion in high-stress moments.
Apple ER Mode
Streamlining emergency room navigation for companions in high-stress situations
My Role
UI/UX Designer
Team
3 UI/UX Designers
Timeline
Spring 2025
Tools
Figma
Prototyping | Wireframes
Choosing a ER
Pulling-up directions
Notifying Emergency Contacts
Following Directions
Prototyping | Feedback
“I probably wouldn’t get directions if I’m familiar with the area, but it would be nice if there was a one-click to contact anybody I need to.”
Including a one-tap button to notify emergency contacts would be helpful in the ER driving experience.
Final Product
Research | Statistics
Getting to the ER can be a stressful experience.
155M+ people in the U.S. visit the ER each year
That’s nearly 46% of the U.S. population annually.
Nearly half of all hospital ER visits occur between 5pm-8am
Research | Journey Gap
Current ER tools focus on arrival, not the urgent journey necessary to get there.
Most research focuses on the waiting room experience meaning many solutions have been developed to address this.
We researched the most stressful part of a companion's ER experience the drive to the emergency room.
Jakael Meadows