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CVS Medication Reminder
Project Overview
This project focused on improving how CVS app users receive and interact with medication reminders. Many users were missing doses or ignoring alerts due to unclear messaging and a lack of personalization. Our goal was to create a seamless, low-friction experience that builds trust and increases adherence to prescription routines.
The Challenge
One of the biggest reasons people miss their medication is not intention—it’s daily overwhelm. Whether it’s busy parents, elderly users, or those managing chronic conditions, many simply forget to take their meds on time. Our existing CVS app had refill and order features, but no simple, user-friendly way to track daily medication use or receive reminders. We saw a huge opportunity to improve adherence and support better health outcomes, with something as small as a well-timed nudge.
My Role
As the lead product designer, I worked across multiple teams to conceptualize, design, and test a Medicine Reminder experience integrated directly into the mobile app. I focused on making it feel intuitive, personal, and supportive, not clinical or robotic.
Research & Insights
We started with interviews and pharmacy feedback. What we heard:
Users often tried using alarm apps or Post-its, but it didn’t stick.
They wanted something easy to set up, non-annoying, and ideally built into a tool they already trusted.
Caregivers expressed interest in being looped in when medications were missed.
Designing the Experience
Smart Reminders, Built Around the User
We let users set reminders by:
Time (“8:00 AM”)
Context (“after breakfast”)
Dosage frequency (“every 3 days” or “as needed”)
The flow was just 3 taps: Add > Select med > Set schedule.
Friendly & Supportive UI
The reminder messages were short, gentle, and written in a warm tone:
“Time for your dose Ready when you are.”
“You’re all caught up for today, nice work!”
Users could “Mark as taken” with a single tap, and the app would adapt based on usage patterns.
Tracking & Motivation
We added a small habit tracker, simple dots showing streaks and missed days. No pressure, just encouragement.
Caregiver Option
A small but important detail: users could opt to share updates with a caregiver, especially useful for elderly users and those managing multiple conditions.
Solution
We created a simplified medication reminder system that uses personalized timing, gentle notifications, and visual cues. The design allows users to easily adjust schedules, snooze or confirm doses, and see their daily medication overview. The tone and visual design were crafted to reduce cognitive load and make reminders feel supportive, not intrusive.
Testing & Results
We tested the feature with 10+ patients, including caregivers and older users.
What worked:
Easy setup flow (90% completed reminder setup on the first try)
“Mark as taken” button saw strong engagement
Users reported feeling "more in control" of their routine
What we improved:
Clarified the difference between refill alerts and daily reminders
Added snooze/dismiss options based on feedback
Impact
Boosted medication adherence by 40% in active users over 60 days
Increased CVS app engagement during morning and evening hours
Received positive user feedback in app store reviews related to health tracking
Final Thoughts
This project reminded me that sometimes the simplest features make the biggest impact. It wasn’t flashy, but it was human. And in healthcare design, that matters.
Designing the medicine reminder gave me a chance to blend empathy, clarity, and habit-forming design, and deliver something that truly fits into people’s lives.
