Blog | Creyos | Cognitive Testing for Better Brain Health

Improved Accessibility in the Creyos Patient Experience

Written by Creyos | Oct 22, 2024 8:20:52 PM

Cognitive health technology has the potential to enhance the efficiency of assessment, diagnosis, and care management—but only if it’s accessible to all patients. By addressing accessibility gaps, healthcare providers can ensure that patients receive the cognitive care they need while enhancing the overall patient experience and delivering high-quality services.

Creyos is advancing the patient experience by focusing on improving accessibility for patients with diverse needs. These upgrades ideally help clinics, from private practices to large health systems, reach more patients, reduce obstacles to care, and maximize appointment time spent on discussing meaningful insights and treatment planning.

Improving the accessibility of cognitive testing involves several key factors, including approachable patient onboarding, simplified instructions, multilingual capabilities, inclusive interfaces, and streamlined workflows. With the launch of our New Patient Experience, Creyos is meeting the evolving demands of modern healthcare by integrating accessibility strategies directly into the platform’s design.

In this blog, we’ll explore the accessibility features in the Creyos patient experience, why they matter, and the benefits for patients and providers.

The Importance of Patient Experience in Cognitive Testing

Patient experience is a vital component of delivering high-quality healthcare. Positive healthcare experiences not only boost patient satisfaction but also lead to better clinical outcomes, higher engagement, and improved compliance. Whether in health systems or private practices, focusing on the patient experience strengthens patient-provider relationships and enhances retention (Doyle, Lennox, and Bell, 2013). 

At Creyos, we are dedicated to advancing patient care by offering accessible and inclusive cognitive testing. Our patient-centered approach is designed to meet the diverse needs of all patients, especially those from underserved or underrepresented communities. By prioritizing accessibility, we aim to help healthcare providers deliver more equitable and effective care.

Enhancing Platform Accessibility During Patient Assessments 

These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to advancing health equity. By enhancing the accessibility of our cognitive assessments, we empower patients from diverse backgrounds to participate fully, regardless of language, literacy, or ability level. Key improvements—such as enhanced accessibility features, multilingual support, and simplified instructions—ensure that all patients can engage meaningfully with our assessments.

For a deeper dive into our commitment to health equity, explore our article Improving Health Equity with Accessible Cognitive Tests, where we discuss how inclusivity and digital access can transform healthcare outcomes for marginalized populations.

Explore the Accessibility Features of the Creyos Patient Experience

Patient-Centered Session Onboarding

Our new onboarding process features a virtual avatar that guides patients through their assessment sessions. This friendly guide helps set patients up for success by clearly explaining the expectations and ensuring they are in a distraction-free environment. By offering step-by-step assistance, the avatar creates a more supportive and engaging experience, allowing patients to focus on the task at hand and perform at their best.

Key updates include: 

  • Expanded Multilingual Capabilities: Written and auditory onboarding instructions are now available in English, French, and Spanish. Given that over 20% of the U.S. population spoke a language other than English at home in 2019 (Korhonen, 2024), these options reduce exclusion due to language barriers.
  • Simplified Language: We’ve reduced the complexity of written instructions, optimizing them for clarity, making them accessible to low-literacy populations and younger audiences.
  • Visual and Voiceover guidance: Incorporating visual cues throughout the tutorial, along with an option for audio instructions, caters to diverse learning styles, creating a more engaging and effective learning experience.
Enhanced Comprehension: Improved clarity aims to reduce pre-test anxiety, minimize drop-off rates, and encourage self-administration for efficient workflows.



Accessible Design in Cognitive Tasks 

Each of our 12 cognitive tasks now features clearer instructions and refined visuals, with accessibility embedded into the design of every task. 

It's important to highlight that these updates focus primarily on instructional and visual improvements, without altering the core mechanics of the tasks. This ensures that the scientific validation and outcome measures remain consistent. As a result, assessments completed on the new interface can be reliably compared to those completed on the previous version, preserving continuity and accuracy in patient care.

Enhancements include: 

  • Tutorials Designed for Maximized Comprehension: Our interactive tutorials present instructions one line at a time, encouraging patients to engage actively with the content. Each tutorial also includes a practice round, allowing patients to familiarize themselves with the task before proceeding. 

    Recognizing the diverse demographics of our user groups, we designed these tutorials to accommodate visual, auditory, and tactile learning styles, optimizing learning and enhancing information retention (Bransford, Brown, and Cocking, 2004). This multifaceted approach ensures that all patients can effectively understand and navigate the cognitive assessments, leading to a more inclusive experience.

  • Multilingual, Auditory Instructions: All text in our cognitive assessments is available via voiceover, supporting English, Spanish, and French for improved auditory access. Users can easily toggle voiceover settings on or off and customize them according to their organization’s preferences, enhancing the overall accessibility of our platform.
  • Dark Mode Interface: Our refined, modern design adheres to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, featuring a dark mode interface. This update is particularly beneficial for users who may be experiencing concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the time of assessment, as a darker display can provide greater comfort for photosensitive individuals. These thoughtful design choices ensure a more inclusive and user-friendly experience for all patients.

  • Accessible Colors and Contrast: The colors and contrast used in each cognitive task have been meticulously curated to accommodate color-blind users while maintaining the scientific integrity of the assessments. This ensures that all participants can engage meaningfully without compromising the validity of the results.
  • Improved Readability: We've enhanced readability by using larger text and non-condensed typefaces, making it easier for users to read and comprehend instructions, regardless of their visual abilities.
  • Fine-Tuned Buttons: Our updated interface features larger buttons and optimized placement to improve visual and motor access. Additionally, we have de-emphasized the scoring and timing portions of the screen to minimize distractions, allowing users to focus on the assessment itself and driving more accurate testing outcomes.

Efficient and Accurate Administration of Standardized Questionnaires

The Creyos Health platform has an extensive library of standardized questionnaires, and the New Patient Experience introduces an updated and refined interface for administering these assessments. This upgrade enhances accurate reporting, streamlines workflows, and improves the overall patient experience.

  • Scrolling Interface: The new design minimizes the amount of information displayed per screen, helping to limit distractions and improve users' comprehension of each question.
  • Informational Modals: These pop-up windows provide additional context and information for specific questions, assisting users in delivering accurate responses without overwhelming them with excessive information. This design helps create a more user-friendly environment, enhancing both engagement and clarity.

Want to Learn More About Our Accessible Patient Experience? 

The enhancements made to the Creyos Health platform's New Patient Experience reflect our commitment to accessibility, inclusivity, and improved patient care. By prioritizing user-friendly design and diverse learning styles, we aim to create an environment where all patients, regardless of language or ability, can access cognitive assessments when they need them. Our multilingual capabilities, simplified instructions, and refined visuals contribute to a seamless experience, reducing barriers to care and promoting better clinical outcomes.

As we continue to innovate and improve, we invite healthcare providers to explore these new features and discover how they can enhance their practice. By addressing the unique needs of diverse populations, we strive to empower patients and providers alike, ensuring that cognitive health assessments are accessible to everyone.

Already using Creyos and want a detailed walkthrough of the new features and enhancements? Contact cs@creyos.com and we can offer a personalized orientation. 

Not yet using Creyos, but are interested in building inclusive health programs and boosting patient engagement? Book a time to speak with an expert about how Creyos can enhance your patient care.