WaitInfo

🚨 WaitInfo transforms ED visits by providing real-time updates on wait times, queue status, and care phases, reducing anxiety and empowering patients with clarity and transparency.

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Inspiration

Emergency departments (EDs) are essential, but the patient experience can be overwhelming. During visits, many patients and their families feel lost, anxious, and uncertain about what’s happening next. The lack of communication and transparency inspired us to create WaitInfo, a web app that empowers patients by keeping them informed during their ED journey. We wanted to bridge the gap between medical processes and patient understanding, making ED visits less stressful and more transparent.

What it does

WaitInfo provides patients with real-time updates on their emergency department visit. It displays:

  • Current phase of the care process (e.g., triage, assessment, investigation).
  • Estimated wait times for the next step.
  • Number of people ahead in the queue.
  • Notifications for status changes, including triage updates, test result availability, and when it’s their turn to be called.

Additionally, the app offers companion-friendly features, allowing family or friends to remotely track the patient’s progress. By combining clarity and accessibility, WaitInfo reduces anxiety and ensures patients feel informed at every stage.

WaitInfo also includes a game section to make the waiting experience less stressful. Patients can play a simple game designed to distract and relax them, and the game is seamlessly integrated into the app, offering patients a positive way to spend their waiting time while staying informed about their progress.

How we built it

We used a combination of modern web technologies to develop WaitInfo:

Frontend: Built with TypeScript and React.js to create an intuitive and responsive interface for users. Backend: Developed using Firebase, which also hosts the web app. Design: A patient-centered UI was created using Figma for prototyping and implementation using CSS frameworks.

Challenges we ran into

Balancing Features with Simplicity: Designing an app that combines real-time updates, notifications, and games without overwhelming the user was a significant challenge. We wanted to ensure that patients could easily access all features without feeling lost or confused, especially during stressful situations.

User-Friendly and Responsive Design: Building an interface that is intuitive for users of all ages and technical abilities was critical. We tested multiple layouts and workflows to make sure navigation was clear, and users could quickly find the information or features they needed, even in high-stress environments.

Technical Integration: Bringing together real-time status updates from the given API, a notification system, and lightweight, responsive games into one cohesive platform was technically complex. Each feature had unique requirements, and ensuring they worked seamlessly across devices was a challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Designing a fully functional prototype that is accessible from the web and simplifies communication for ED patients.
  • Developing a real-time system that effectively updates after the queue changes.
  • Building an accessible, responsive interface that is intuitive.
  • Successfully addressing the emotional needs of patients and companions through thoughtful, calm, and simple design.
  • Successfully creating a game section that complements the core purpose of the app without overshadowing it.

What we learned

  • Empathy in Design: Building for healthcare requires understanding not only technical challenges but also the emotional experiences of users.
  • Collaboration: Combining technical expertise with design thinking and healthcare knowledge strengthened our approach.

What's next for WaitInfo

  • Integration with Hospital Systems: Partnering with hospitals to integrate live data.
  • Pilot Testing: Running a small-scale pilot in collaboration with a local emergency department to test functionality and gather real-world feedback.
  • Language Support: Adding multi-language options to make the app accessible to diverse patient populations.
  • Enhanced Features: Introducing calming tools like relaxation exercises or educational content about ED processes.
  • Mobile App Development: Expanding WaitInfo to native iOS and Android apps for broader accessibility.
  • Expanding the Game Library: Adding more game options tailored to different user preferences (e.g., memory games, multiplayer challenges for companions).

By continuing to refine WaitInfo, we aim to improve transparency, reduce anxiety, and make emergency department visits a smoother, less stressful experience for all.

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