U of R Medical Center
UX Design and Product Design
UX Strategy, Information Architecture Content Strategy
User Journey Design, Human-Centered Design,
Evidence-Based Design, Healthcare UX Design
RCORP, the Rural Center of Excellence on SUD Prevention, is a $3.33 million HRSA funded initiative through UR Medicine. The program provides evidence based tools, training, media, and treatment resources to reduce stigma and support rural communities across the United States. Its digital platform serves as a central resource hub for finding support, learning about substance use disorder, and accessing relevant programs.
The redesign focused on making these resources easier to find and understand. I restructured the information architecture, clarified the content hierarchy, and refined the interface within URMC brand guidelines. The goal was to reduce the effort required to navigate the platform and create clearer paths from a user’s need to the right resource.
HEALTHCARE UX
Healthcare information platforms carry a unique responsibility — their users are often under time pressure, seeking critical clinical resources or community support during high-stress situations. Trust and clarity are not nice-to-haves because they are table stakes.
This redesign prioritized four user types with distinct needs: rural healthcare providers seeking clinical training, community health workers looking for outreach programs, clinical administrators managing program delivery, and community members self-navigating for the first time. Each required a different entry point into the same content system.
THE GOAL
To build an information architecture that lets rural healthcare providers find specific clinical resources in under two clicks, while also welcoming first-time community members who may not know the correct terminology for what they're looking for.
ACCESSIBILITY
Accessibility was considered throughout the redesign, supporting users with different levels of digital literacy and device access. The interface follows WCAG 2.1 AA principles for contrast, focus states, readable typography, and keyboard navigation. A guided entry point helps first time users find relevant resources without navigating the full content library.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
The main challenge was organizing a diverse resource library for two very different behaviors: users searching for specific clinical information and users who may not know where to begin.
Resources were organized into six categories: Prevention, Stigma, Primary Care, Treatment, Covid 19, and Best Practices, with resource counts helping users understand what is available. Resource cards surface essential information for quick scanning, while search, topic filters, and pagination help users narrow results and browse a growing content library.
PROJECT RECAP
The redesigned platform creates a scalable content structure that the RCORP team can maintain as the program grows. New topics and resources can be added without reorganizing the navigation or changing how users browse the platform.
The “Not sure where to start?” guided flow helps first time users find relevant resources without knowing exactly what to search for.
A clear topic structure and search by topic and location give users multiple ways to discover the support they need.
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20∞ designed at midnight, perfected by dawn!