Connected Inhaler Management

Overview

Developing a consolidated connected inhaler management system was a win-win for every stakeholder. An app for each connected inhaler created isolated, disjointed views for patients, increasing effort to manage medications. Consolidation meant monitoring triangulated insights from multiple inhalers in one place, getting consolidated notifications, and sharing one report with their doctor.

Concept comparison showing fragmented vs. consolidated inhaler app experience — Hassle-free medication management — comparing fragmented notifications with a streamlined consolidated experience

Problem

Many respiratory patients (Asthma & COPD) are inadequately controlled — only 20.1% controlled, 34.8% partially controlled, and 45.1% uncontrolled per GINA guidelines. Poor adherence to preventative therapy and poor inhaler technique are both linked to poor outcomes.

Teva had been developing a connected inhaler ecosystem, but separate apps for each inhaler created fragmented experiences. Patients were jumping between apps, getting duplicated notifications, and struggling to correlate data across devices.

At the heart, patients wanted to feel normal, in control, and free from fear of unexpected exacerbations. As one patient said: "I don't want to feel afraid of something bad happening or going to the ER."

Research mapping exercises including patient journey maps and needs analysis — Mapping exercises: patient journey maps, needs mapping, and opportunity identification

Process

Conducted multiple rounds of ethnographic research and contextual inquiry to develop asthma patient Jobs-to-be-Done. Mapped patient needs, journeys, and opportunity areas across the full asthma experience.

Fully explored the problem space and ideated 50+ initial concepts, refined and narrowed to the most robust ones. Brought 5 concepts into field testing with asthma sufferers to validate directions.

Two weeks of intensive data visualization iterations covering self-assessment views, inhaler event tracking, weekly/monthly views, technique quality indicators, and environmental trigger integration.

Mapped a complete onboarding service blueprint across system, app, and user layers — tracking the emotional journey from skeptical to accomplished.

Data visualization concept iterations for inhaler usage tracking — Two weeks of data viz iterations — refining self-assessment, event tracking, and technique quality views

Solution

Consolidated home dashboard monitoring triangulated insights from multiple Digihalers in one place, with environmental notifications and dose reminders surfaced at the right time.

Applied "Overview First, Zoom and Filter, then Details on Demand" — presenting high-level overview of inhaler usage with easy-to-digest visuals showing taken doses, missed doses, and technique quality.

Companion HCP dashboard enabling honest, forthright exchange about inhaler use, frequency, and technique between patients and providers.

Contextual onboarding bringing teachable moments over time rather than all at once — helping users learn while in the moment with the principle of "give before take."

Concept generation whiteboard sessions — 50+ initial concepts with sticky notes, sketches, and affinity mapping — Concept generation: exploring 50+ ideas through collaborative ideation and affinity mapping

Connected inhaler mobile app — consolidated medication management interface for patients — Consolidated mobile app for real-time inhaler tracking, dose reminders, and technique feedback

Companion HCP dashboard for healthcare providers to review patient inhaler data — Companion dashboard enabling honest exchange about inhaler use between patients and providers

Impact

The app and companion dashboard went into development. The connected inhalers went through FDA approval.

Launched in several early experience programs in early 2020, driven by strong interest from healthcare providers who saw the system's potential.