How I Built My FYP

In my final year of software engineering, I decided to build a healthcare app with my partner for out final year project (FYP). The idea was simple: to create a mobile application that would allow patients to book appointments with doctors, manage their medical records digitally, and include some helpful AI features. Here’s how I built it, step by step, and the technologies I used.

The Idea

The main goal of the app was to solve a common problem: patients waiting in long hospital lines or dealing with scheduling conflicts when booking appointments. My app allows users to find the right doctors and book appointments from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, I wanted to help patients keep their medical records organized digitally, avoiding the mess of paper prescriptions and reports.

Technology Stack

For this project, I chose a stack that would allow me to build a cross-platform app (for both iOS and Android) with a solid backend to manage all the data securely.

• Frontend: React Native

• Backend: Node.js with Express

• Database: MongoDB

• AI/ML Features: Gemini & RNML-KIT

• APIs: RESTful APIs for data exchange

What’s in it ?

Building this healthcare app was more than just developing a simple mobile app; it’s a full-fledged product with four distinct user roles. These roles include a patient, doctor, hospital (all using the mobile app), and the Healthease admin, who manages everything through a web panel. Here's a detailed look at the technical stack and how I implemented the features for each role.

1. Patient Role (Mobile App)

The patient’s experience is at the core of this app, focusing on appointment booking, health record management, and AI-driven features.

• Chatbot (AI Feature):
  For personalized meal suggestions, I integrated the Gemini API, which provides customized diet recommendations based on the patient’s health conditions. The API is integrated into a chatbot that communicates naturally with the patient.

  • Technology Used: React Native for the interface and API calls, Gemini API for meal suggestions.

• Medicine Recognition Scanner:
  I used the React Native Machine Learning Kit for the scanner feature. This tool allows patients to scan medicine packages, which are then recognized by the ML Kit. It converts the image to text to identify the medicine, ensuring that users take the correct prescriptions.

  • Technology Used: React Native ML Kit for image recognition and text conversion, React Native Text-to-Speech to call out the name of the medicine after detection, adding an accessibility layer for patients.

• Animations:
  For smooth and visually appealing transitions, I utilized a combination of React Native Spinkit (for loading spinners), Lottie React Native (for animated illustrations), and React Native's Layout Animations for creating intuitive and fluid UI experiences.

• Urdu Language Support:
  The entire app is available in Urdu, making the healthcare platform accessible to Urdu-speaking patients. This feature switches the app's language for ease of use in a local context.

  • Technology Used: React Native's localization libraries for multi-language support, including Urdu.

2. Doctor Role (Mobile App)

The doctor’s interface is designed to manage appointments, view patient details, and prescribe medications digitally.

• Appointment Management:
  Doctors can view all their appointments, check patient histories, and manage consultations using the mobile app. All interactions with the database are handled through a backend built with Node.js and Express.

  • Technology Used: React Native for the doctor’s interface, MongoDB for data storage, and Node.js for handling the backend.

• Digital Prescription:
  Doctors can prescribe medicines through the app, which then automatically updates the patient’s digital records. The prescription is generated and stored digitally, eliminating paperwork.

  • Technology Used: React Native, Node.js for backend processing, and MongoDB for record storage.

3. Hospital Role (Mobile App)

The hospital role allows registered hospitals to manage their doctor listings and ensure patients have access to up-to-date appointment slots.

• Doctor Listings and Registration:
  Hospitals can register themselves on the platform and post available doctors. The hospitals can also manage doctor schedules, ensuring patients can book appointments smoothly.

  • Technology Used: React Native for the mobile app, JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for secure authentication, and MongoDB for storing hospital and doctor data.

4. Healthease Admin (Web Panel)

The Healthease admin manages the entire system, ensuring that hospitals, doctors, and patients are using the platform correctly. This is done through a web panel built with React.js.

• Web Panel (React.js):
  The admin interface allows the Healthease team to manage the backend of the app. Admins can monitor hospital and doctor registrations, oversee appointments, and handle any issues that arise on the platform.

  • Technology Used: React.js for the web panel, with backend management powered by Node.js and Express, while data is stored in MongoDB.

Backend & Security

The entire app relies on a secure and scalable backend system. Here's how it works:

• Backend Framework: I used Node.js with Express to build the backend for handling API requests, user authentication, and data processing.

• Database: I chose MongoDB for storing data such as patient records, doctor listings, and appointment details, primarily because of its scalability and flexibility for unstructured data.

• Authentication & Authorization: For secure login and role-based access (patient, doctor, hospital, and admin), I implemented JWT for secure authentication.

Conclusion

This healthcare app is designed to solve common issues like appointment scheduling conflicts, paper record-keeping, and accessibility. By integrating AI-powered features as well as ensuring the app is available in both English and Urdu, it caters to a wide range of users. A convenient way to track and find the best doctors in their area, complete with ratings and reviews, helping them make informed healthcare decisions.

This app not only provides a streamlined experience for patients but also offers long-term sustainability in the market. For hospitals, it’s a valuable tool because the Healthease team will handle the marketing and audience-building efforts, giving hospitals a wider reach. By registering on the platform, hospitals can ensure their doctors' schedules are efficiently managed and easily accessible to patients.

The platform creates a win-win situation—hospitals benefit from increased visibility, and patients get better access to quality care. This product is positioned to thrive in the market.

This was a highly rewarding project that allowed me to apply modern technologies to a real-world problem in the healthcare domain that will be offering real value to both healthcare providers and users.