Lessons Learned in Developing a Patient-Centered Website to Support Stroke Patients and Caregivers During Transitions of Care

The chapter focuses on the development of the Michigan Stroke Transitions Trial (MISTT) website, a patient-centered resource designed to support stroke patients and caregivers during transitions of care. The project involved extensive stakeholder engagement, including focus groups with stroke survivors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, to ensure the website met the needs of its users. The development process was guided by user-centered design principles, with iterative stages involving prototype creation, beta testing, and final refinement based on user feedback. The website was designed to provide authoritative, accessible information and resources, including stroke education, medication information, and support for caregivers. The project highlights the challenges and lessons learned in creating a user-friendly, patient-centered website, emphasizing the importance of time management, technical support, funding, and content selection in such endeavors. The final MISTT website was tested in a randomized controlled trial, demonstrating the value of patient-centered design in improving healthcare outcomes.