Introduction

The Challenge

The healthcare consulting firm faced numerous challenges with its previous software which was unable to deliver an effective solution tailored to the specific needs of medical service recording. The principal demand was for a mobile-friendly application that could simplify and expedite the data entry process for nursing staff. This requirement was crucial to enable quick and efficient recording during ad hoc tasks and short assignments.

Furthermore, the company required a solution that could facilitate accurate and efficient projections and comparisons across various healthcare facilities. This functionality enhanced decision-making processes and improved service delivery within different healthcare environments. The firm wanted a user-friendly platform that could seamlessly integrate with existing healthcare systems and handle large volumes of data, all while maintaining high standards of data accuracy and security. The ideal solution would not only resolve the current inefficiencies but also adapt to the evolving demands of the healthcare sector.

The Solution

A comprehensive, custom-built progressive web application (PWA) was developed to address these needs:

• Offline Capabilities: Ensures continuous operation without internet connectivity, syncing data when online.

• Event Sourcing: The software architecture is event-based, storing all events for accurate data aggregation and enabling rollback in case of errors.

• Audit Trails: Implements detailed tracking of changes by users for enhanced security and accountability.

• User Interface: The mobile app features a user-friendly design, accepted and adopted quickly by staff across roles.

• Integration: Connects with external systems, including personnel data, patient data, and shift scheduling, providing a holistic view and seamless data flow.

• Technology Stack: Utilizes .NET with a GraphQL interface, event sourcing with Marten DB, and PostgreSQL for storage. The frontend is built using Angular PWA, with job scheduling managed by Hangfire.

• Hosting: Deployed on Azure with a fault tolerant setup, supporting both public and on-premise environments, ensuring data residency within Switzerland, managed via GitLab CI/CD.

Implementation Process

• Workshop for Requirements: Initiated with detailed workshops to capture client needs.
• Design and Mockups: Created initial designs to visualize the solution.
• Development and Feedback: Employed a Kanban model for agile development with a short feedback loop.
• Continuous Integration and Deployment: Setup CI/CD to support rapid iteration and deployment.
• Customer Onboarding: Implemented a process to smoothly integrate new clients and their external systems.

Results Achieved

• User-Friendly Application: High acceptance and satisfaction among users.
• Efficient Onboarding: Reduced deployment time from start to finish to six months.
• Rapid Customer Integration: Streamlined the integration of external systems.
• Improved Data Quality: Enhanced the detail and accuracy of recorded data.
• Minimized Recording Effort: Simplified and accelerated data entry process.

Lessons Learned

• Event Sourcing: Improved structure in code, clarity in processes, enhanced testability, and increased production security.
• GraphQL API: Enabled automatic type creation, adding flexibility to the frontend.
• Fast Feedback Loops: Critical in maintaining development momentum and addressing issues swiftly.
• Automation in CI/CD: Focus on automating as much as possible within CI/CD pipelines to deploy new features and bug fixes rapidly.