Beginning to consider a user persona, it felt quite daunting as really anyone can avail of emergency departments. There is no one specific user which makes crafting a user persona rather difficult. I decided to create a mind map of various points I wanted to touch upon across a range of user personas. I honed in on what any user would want out of a trip to A&E. It boils down to fast and friendly service. I also wanted to consider the entry points of users and perhaps some users who should have availed of other services.
User Personas Brainstorm Mind Map
I began crafting user personas below. I aimed for 8 personas which I will then condense down to 5 to bring through to final design.
Name: Sean
Age: 45
Profession: Construction worker
Health Scenario: Sean has injured himself at work and needs immediate medical attention. He lives in a rural area and the closest A&E hospital is 30 miles away.
Needs: Sean needs efficient, fast, and empathetic care. He isn't well-versed in medical terminology so clear and simple communication is important. He also needs post-care follow-up due to the nature of his profession.
Challenges: The distance from the hospital and uncertainty about waiting times can be stressful. Sean also worries about the impact of his injury on his ability to work.
Name: Maeve
Age: 28
Profession: Teacher
Health Scenario: Maeve has a chronic condition that occasionally requires immediate medical attention. She lives in Belfast, close to a major hospital.