Delivering high-quality palliative care requires a deep understanding of each patient’s personal values and preferences to support truly patient-centered advance care planning (ACP). Despite strong evidence showing that ACP can lower healthcare expenditures by up to 36%, reduce emotional strain on patients and families, and promote care aligned with patient goals, participation rates remain below one-third among adults. This project sought to design a mobile health intervention that addresses barriers to ACP engagement and enhances the integration of patient values into palliative care. Guided by a design-thinking framework, our team developed a mobile application prototype informed by recurring challenges identified across palliative care research and practice. Communication barriers related to expressing and understanding patient priorities were recognized as a major obstacle within palliative care delivery. To respond to this need, a prototype application was designed to facilitate clearer, more meaningful communication between patients and their care providers. The proposed “Mission Statement” app empowers patients to articulate what is most important to them and to share these values with their healthcare team. It also offers a dynamic space for patients to refine their goals and preferences throughout their care journey. Employing design-thinking proved to be an effective strategy for driving patient-centered innovation and translating research insights into practical clinical tools.
