Inclusive Design: Integrating Accessibility into the HealthTech UX/UI

TL;DR

The rapid growth of digital health technologies presents both unprecedented opportunities and critical challenges for creating accessible HealthTech UX/UI that serves everyone. As the global aging population is projected to double by 2050 and digital accessibility in medical apps becomes legally mandated across regions, healthcare organizations must move beyond minimum compliance toward a human-centered design approach in HealthTech. 

The key message is clear: inclusive design benefits for patient outcomes aren't just measurable but transformative. When we design for the most excluded users, we create a HealthTech user experience design that works better for everyone, turning accessibility from a compliance checkbox into a competitive advantage and moral imperative.

What is inclusive design in healthcare?

Inclusive design in healthcare specifically addresses the unique challenges of medical environments where user stress, health conditions, and emergency situations can significantly impact how people interact with technology. Human-centered design in HealthTech goes beyond general accessibility guidelines to consider factors like medication side effects that might cause tremors, chronic pain affecting concentration, or age-related changes in vision and cognition. It ensures that critical health functions, like emergency alerts, medication reminders, and appointment scheduling, remain accessible even when users are experiencing health crises or cognitive overload.

Beyond Compliance – The Inclusive HealthTech UX/UI

The way we see the world - shaped by our background, abilities, or stress - inevitably shapes what we build. But in healthcare, those assumptions can turn into real risks: missed appointments, misread instructions, or apps people simply can’t use.

Designing only from our own perspective means designing for too few. In healthtech, where clarity and access can literally affect outcomes, that’s not a small oversight but a barrier to care.

Thus, inclusive UX isn’t a box to check. It’s a mindset shift: designing with empathy, awareness, and the understanding that real people come with real-world complexity. In 2025, as digital health tools become the front line of care, embracing this approach is not optional.

This article explores how design teams are going beyond compliance to create healthcare experiences that truly serve everyone.

Key Takeaways

• Accessibility compliance healthcare standards, such as WCAG 2.2, EAA, and emerging HHS rules, provide the foundation. Still, medical UI/UX best practices must extend beyond generic compliance to address healthcare-specific needs, including emergency access and medical device interoperability.

• The aging population's digital health presents a massive opportunity and responsibility; designing for age-related cognitive changes, sensory impairments, and motor limitations isn't optional.

• AI in accessible UX is revolutionizing healthcare interfaces through voice-driven interactions, real-time personalization, and adaptive telemedicine, making care more conversational and human-centered.

• UX for elderly patients and those with chronic conditions requires addressing real-world constraints like low digital literacy, connectivity limitations, and high cognitive load during stressful health moments.

• Examples of inclusive HealthTech interfaces, such as Medisafe's voice logging, Epic MyChart's plain-language lab results, and Walgreens' accessible refill system, prove that accessible design in healthcare delivers measurable improvements in adherence, safety, and satisfaction.

• Designing for disability in HealthTech by incorporating assistive technologies creates systems that benefit all users, not just those with specific accessibility needs.

Latest Accessibility Guidelines for Medical Applications

When we talk about accessibility in digital health, we’re talking about making sure everyone - regardless of ability, background, age, or situation - can confidently use the tools that support their health and wellbeing.

To support that goal, a range of global standards and regulations have been developed aimed at removing barriers from digital experiences by establishing clear requirements for design, usability, and compliance. They’ve become critical reference points for organizations building healthtech products - from mobile apps and patient portals to diagnostic platforms and wearables.

A Review of Current and Emerging Global Standards

Why General Accessibility Standards Aren’t Enough for HealthTech

While global standards provide critical structure, they often fall short in the fast-paced, high-risk world of HealthTech. By design, they are broad and somewhat technology-agnostic - meant to apply to a wide range of digital products. 

Healthcare, however, comes with very specific needs, high-stakes contexts, and evolving technologies that demand more than generic compliance.

To create digital health tools that are truly inclusive, safe, and effective, we need to build on the standards with HealthTech-specific practices. 

Here’s how:

1. Prioritize Inclusive Design Over Minimum Compliance

Standard checklists are useful, but they don’t account for real-life complexity. HealthTech products must support users in moments of illness, stress, or crisis. That means designing with cognitive load, emotional states, and temporary or situational disabilities in mind - not just permanent impairments.

2. Make Privacy and Security Features Fully Accessible

Healthcare apps handle sensitive information. Web app security mechanisms like multi-factor authentication and consent dialogs must be accessible to users who rely on assistive technologies or alternative input methods.

3. Ensure Access to Critical Features in Emergencies

Vital functions, like emergency call buttons, allergy alerts, or medication reminders, should be obvious, consistent, and available through multiple modes (visual, auditory, tactile), so no one is left behind in high-pressure situations.

4. Enable Interoperability with Medical Devices and Assistive Tech

Health apps must seamlessly connect to both medical devices and accessibility tools. That includes screen readers, voice commands, and wearables, while ensuring user preferences persist across platforms and data flows.

5. Use Emerging Technologies Responsibly

AI-powered personalization, real-time captioning, and adaptive interfaces can significantly improve accessibility, but they must be implemented with transparency, fairness, and privacy in mind to avoid bias and exclusion.

In short, standards are the starting line, not the finish line. HealthTech innovators must interpret and extend these frameworks with empathy, clinical awareness, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Designing for an Aging Population: Empathy in Every Pixel 

According to the United Nations, the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to double by 2050, reaching more than 1.6 billion globally (United Nations, 2023). In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that by 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older (CDC, 2022). Across the European Union, Eurostat projects that nearly 30% of the population will be over 65 by 2050, up from just over 20% in 2022 (Eurostat, 2023).

This demographic shift brings with it a rise in age-related chronic conditions - and with that, a growing demand for long-term, accessible, and continuous care. Traditional healthcare systems are already under pressure and increasingly struggle to meet these evolving needs.

In response, the digital health sector is stepping up. From remote patient monitoring and AI-powered diagnostics to user-friendly telehealth platforms, a new generation of tools is emerging to help bridge the gap and better serve the world’s aging population.

The global digital health market is projected to reach $810.12 billion by 2030, with Europe’s share expected to hit $222.22 billion (Custom Market Insights; Mordor Intelligence). A key driver? The aging population. In the U.S. alone, the proportion of people aged 65+ is expected to grow from 17% in 2020 to 22% by 2040 (America's Health Rankings / U.S. Census Bureau).

But this opportunity also brings a critical responsibility: to ensure that the technologies meant to support aging adults are actually usable by them.

Yet, despite the promise of digital healthcare - greater convenience, better access to care, and more personalized treatment - many older adults are still left behind, encountering challenges when interacting with digital tools, stemming from age-related such as:

Cognitive changes (memory, attention, processing speed)

Many older adults experience natural declines in memory, attention span, and information processing speed. Digital tools that present too much information at once, use complex navigation, or expect users to remember multi-step instructions can be confusing and overwhelming. Without clear, step-by-step guidance, older adults may struggle to complete crucial healthcare tasks or risk making errors.

Sensory impairments (vision, hearing, dexterity)

With age, vision and hearing often decline, and dexterity may be reduced. Small or low-contrast text, tiny tappable areas, and unclear audio cues can make digital platforms hard to use. For example, reading lab results on a screen, navigating dense menus, or interpreting alerts may become challenging without adaptations like larger fonts, crisper colors, alternative text, or visual/audio adjustments.

Motor skill limitations (fine motor control, tremors)

Age-related conditions such as arthritis or tremors commonly impact fine motor control. Tasks that require precise tapping, swiping, dragging, or holding a device steady for prolonged periods can be difficult or painful for older adults. Designs that rely on small buttons or fast interactions may discourage use or lead to mistakes when managing medications, appointments, or records.

That’s why inclusive design matters. By recognizing these common barriers and intentionally addressing them, we create digital tools that meet users where they are, not where we assume they should be.

Best Practices in Crafting an Accessible Healthcare UX/UI

Designing truly accessible healthcare interfaces is complex work. It means thinking beyond checklists - grappling with a wide range of user needs, physical and cognitive limitations, environmental factors, and moments of stress or urgency. It’s not easy, and it can’t be done as an afterthought.

Each challenge must be met with specific design and technical solutions, tailored to ensure digital tools are not only functional, but intuitive and safe for everyone.

The table below highlights key accessibility challenges and matches them with actionable design and development strategies that help address them in real-world healthcare contexts.

Emerging trends in HealthTech UX

In 2025, no product conversation can escape the mention of Artificial Intelligence and healthcare is no exception.

Most of the buzz so far has centered on how AI, especially large language models (LLMs), is transforming what we create, from blog posts and patient education content to user flows and production-ready code.

But the real shift goes deeper.

AI is no longer just powering what happens behind the scenes. It’s beginning to define the interface itself - how we interact, how we communicate, and how care is delivered digitally. Especially in HealthTech, this means moving beyond static layouts and rigid user flows to interfaces that are conversational, personalized, and adaptive by default.

For patients juggling chronic conditions, caregivers navigating complex portals, or older adults unfamiliar with digital tools, AI holds the promise of not just making health apps smarter, but making them more human.

Here are three of the most powerful UX trends being shaped by AI today

Voice-driven interfaces: Making healthcare conversational

For many users, especially older adults or those with visual, cognitive, or motor impairments, typing or tapping on a screen isn’t easy, and often not possible. 

This is where AI-powered natural language processing (NLP) and speech recognition are reshaping accessibility and ease of use.

Voice-driven interfaces let users:

• Book appointments, request refills, or log symptoms by speaking naturally.

• Navigate apps hands-free - crucial for users with tremors, arthritis, or low digital literacy.Receive real-time spoken feedback that reduces confusion and cognitive load.

The state-of-the-art LLMs are taking voice interfaces far beyond the frustrating, rule-based chatbots of the past - the ones that often got stuck in loops, misunderstood intent, and made conversations more painful than helpful. Today’s AI can understand tone, accent, context, and even complex medical language, transforming voice from a limited feature into a fluid, care-enabling channel that actually listens and responds like a human.

AI-based personalization: From one-size-fits-all to one-for-one

Most digital experiences still operate on assumptions, designed around an average, “typical” user or broad personas based on outdated demographics or static user segments. But real users don’t fit neatly into those boxes, and their needs can change from moment to moment.

AI responds to that.

Thanks to its ability to analyze vast datasets, including behavior patterns, biometric signals, contextual inputs, and preferences, AI enables real-time, dynamic personalization that goes far beyond generic user types or historical data models. It doesn’t just react to what a user once did but adapts to who they are, how they feel, and what they need right now.

This level of precision unlocks truly individualized healthcare experiences:

• Tailored content that adjusts reading level, tone, and language on the fly.

• Adaptive interfaces that simplify, highlight, or reorder features based on live usage patterns (e.g., surfacing a medication tracker during a flare-up).

• Responsive mental health support that senses changes in mood or behavior and adapts interventions accordingly.

This isn’t about designing for “personas.” It’s about designing for a person in the present moment. And in healthcare, that difference is everything.

Optimized Telemedicine: Smarter, Smoother Virtual Care

Telemedicine has become a staple of care delivery, but too often it still feels transactional and clunky. AI is now streamlining the entire virtual care journey, from connection to consultation to follow-up.

AI-enhanced telehealth includes:

• Real-time captioning and translation, improving access for deaf or multilingual patients.

• Predictive scheduling, matching patients with the right provider based on need, history, and urgency.

• Clinical decision support, where AI offers relevant prompts or diagnostics to assist providers in real time.

Overcoming Barriers: Practical Design Considerations in the Real World

The emerging, AI-related technologies promise more intelligent, adaptive healthcare experiences, and it hard to ignore it. Yet, the UX design realities on the ground, so far, are often a bit less idealistic, as not every user has a brand-new smartphone, fast internet, or comfort with digital tools; not to mention that not every interaction happens when users are calm, focused, and fully able.

Having said this, for digital health products to be truly inclusive, they must account for everyday constraints that disproportionately affect older adults, patients with chronic conditions, and people in low-resource settings.

Low Digital Literacy and Tech Confidence

Even the most advanced interface won’t help if users don’t understand how to use it. Many older adults, first-time app users, or people dealing with health-related stress struggle with common digital interactions.

To support these users, UX design should focus on:

• Simple, guided workflows that lead users step-by-step with no dead ends.

• Clear, jargon-free language for all instructions and actions.

• Reducing cognitive branching, with fewer decisions required on each screen.

Connectivity and Device Limitations

Access to care shouldn’t depend on the latest phone or fast, stable internet. But many digital health apps still assume users are operating in ideal tech conditions which simply isn’t the case for large parts of the population.

To improve accessibility, products should:

• Minimize bandwidth demands by reducing file sizes and avoiding unnecessary animations or high-res media.

• Support offline functionality, such as queuing actions that sync automatically when a connection returns.

• Ensure compatibility with older devices and operating systems, especially in rural or low-income communities.

High Cognitive Load in Stressful Moments

Healthcare rarely happens in a calm, focused state. Whether someone is in pain, anxious, or multitasking, cognitive overload is a major barrier to completing essential tasks and can lead to dangerous errors or disengagement.

To reduce mental strain, UX should prioritize:

• Clean, uncluttered layouts that focus attention where it’s needed.

• Progressive disclosure, revealing information step-by-step instead of all at once.

• Minimized distractions, avoiding busy interfaces or nonessential animations.

Successful Inclusive Design: Real‑World Patient Outcomes

When healthcare tools are built inclusively - with attention to usability, clarity, and accessibility - they don’t just make life easier but actually make people stay engaged in their care, which is a crucial success factor. 

Here’s how inclusive UX actually delivers better outcomes:

Improved Engagement & Adherence

A treatment plan only works if it’s followed. Just like braces left in a drawer don’t straighten teeth, medications won’t work if the app reminding patients to take them is too confusing to use. Tools must be so simple that using them becomes a habit. Medisafe introduced a voice‑activated logging feature designed for users with arthritis or limited dexterity. According to a recent study in JMIR Human Factors, this enhancement led to a 40% increase in daily adherence among those users.

Enhanced Health Literacy

Medical jargon can be overwhelming. When patients don’t understand their test results or instructions, they’re more likely to make mistakes or avoid taking action. Epic MyChart redesigned lab result displays with clear, plain‑language summaries and simple visual indicators. A ResearchGate study showed a 45% increase in the correct interpretation of results, especially among users with lower health literacy.

Reduced Errors & Better Safety

Tiny buttons, confusing workflows, or poor contrast can make users skip doses or abandon refills entirely.The Walgreens Pharmacy App redesigned its refill interface with larger, high‑contrast buttons and guided step-by-step prompts. That redesign led to a 30% drop in refill errors, particularly helping older adults and those with visual impairments, according to pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Higher Patient Satisfaction

When healthcare tech is easy to use and feels like it was built with real people in mind, patients are more likely to trust it and keep using it. At Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN), a patient portal was co-designed with users living with various disabilities. The result: a 25% increase in patient satisfaction scores, with users reporting greater confidence managing their care independently.

Expanded Access to Care

Inclusive design opens healthcare to people previously excluded—whether by geography, ability, or temporary limitations - ensuring equitable participation and better overall public health. The PEBBLES Project used telepresence robots so hospitalized kids could join school from their rooms. The accessible controls allowed children with mobility challenges to participate, boosting engagement, reducing isolation, and supporting emotional well-being.

The Future of HealthTech is Inclusive

Inclusive design in HealthTech is not about doing the minimum, it’s about doing what matters. When we build healthcare tools that account for the full spectrum of human experience, stress, disability, aging, unfamiliarity, low literacy, we improve usability, safety, and outcomes for all, not just for a few.

We’ve seen how inclusive UX boosts adherence, reduces errors, and expands access. But the real takeaway is this: inclusive design isn’t charity, nor is it just compliance. It’s a competitive advantage and a moral obligation. In a sector where poor design can lead to missed medication or misunderstood diagnoses, accessibility isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s life-altering.

Too often, digital accessibility is still treated like physical ramps once were, added on reluctantly, late in the process, to meet the minimum. But just as physical infrastructure had to evolve beyond checkbox compliance, so too must our digital infrastructure. And especially in healthcare, the stakes are too high for design decisions to be made from a place of default, assumption, or convenience.

As AI reshapes every pixel and interaction, it’s easy to get swept up in hype cycles and promises of smarter, faster, more dynamic tech. But progress isn’t measured in more personalized ads or slicker interfaces. Real progress is measured in dignity, equity, and trust. Let’s use our tools to serve people, not profiles.

To get there, the change must start not in code, but in mindset. HealthTech creators - designers, developers, strategists, must lead with empathy, curiosity, and responsibility. Not because it’s trendy. Not because the law demands it. But because people deserve it.

Let inclusive design be the default, not the exception. Not a feature, but a foundation. Because when we build for those most often excluded, we create systems that work better for everyone.