Scheduling Application
The scheduling application I designed and helped develop marked a pivotal moment in my career. I was selected to be part of a cross-functional team to develop the company's first in-house application. We were asked to create the tool in PowerApps as part of a hackathon designed to resolve a significant gap in scheduling. Our existing scheduling software lacked sufficient guardrails, and the learning curve for new employees to master the scheduling process was steep and time-consuming. The goal of this application was to provide a layer of scheduling guidelines to ensure new hires could schedule with more confidence and efficiency.
First Draft
Here is a screenshot of the scheduling application we developed in PowerApps. This project was a tremendous learning experience, as we quickly discovered the limitations of the Power Platform. While it helped us create the app rapidly, it became clear that PowerApps wasn’t the fastest solution for the high volume of users we had. About a year later, I was tasked with designing a more modern version of this application, which we planned to develop as a custom-built solution.
Patient Search
The Patient Search page saw several key enhancements in the new design to improve usability and efficiency. We added a "Recently Viewed" section, which displays the patients that have been recently searched or selected, allowing schedulers to quickly find and re-access patient information. We also introduced a side navigation panel that houses frequently used resources and was built to work with a healthcare EHR platform. This makes it easier for schedulers to access relevant information and tools without having to navigate away from the page, streamlining the workflow and improving efficiency.
Registration Page
The redesigned Registration page significantly improving the user experience based on input from end-users. In the first version, there was no functionality to remember search criteria between pages, which sometimes required schedulers to repeat questions to patients. In the new design, the search criteria from the Patient Search page is carried over to the Registration page, saving time and reducing the need for redundant data entry. This enhancement allows schedulers to streamline the registration process and provides a smoother, more efficient interaction with patients.
Patient Details
The addition of the Patient Details page was one of the most significant upgrades in the new design. In the original version, important patient data was shown directly on the Patient Search page, while additional details were relegated to the footer. With the new design, we introduced a dedicated side navigation panel that provides easy access to a complete range of patient information. The Patient Details page allows schedulers to view key information like previous appointments, appointment notes, and more. Additionally, we included a new scheduling workflow for dental patients, making this page even more comprehensive and user-friendly for schedulers.
Reason for Visit
In the first version of the app, the "Reason for Visit" page was functional, but lacked some critical features. In the new design, we added proactive notifications that alert schedulers if the selected reason for visit is not supported by the patient’s primary care provider. This helps prevent scheduling errors by ensuring that patients are scheduled with the appropriate provider who can accommodate their needs. The notifications serve as a safeguard, reducing the risk of reschedules and improving the overall scheduling process.
Available Appointments
The Available Appointments page in the original app was limited by space and visibility, making it difficult for schedulers to view a week’s worth of appointments at a glance. In the new design, we maximized screen real estate and created a modal for the appointment filters, allowing users to filter by criteria without cluttering the page. We also added filter tags at the top of the page, giving schedulers an easy way to understand and manage their filters. These improvements enhance the user experience by making appointment selection more efficient and organized.
Appointment Details
The Appointment Details page was upgraded to include dynamic scheduling override cards (or case cards), which display additional information when specific conditions are met. For example, if a provider does not see patients for a selected reason for visit, the scheduler is prompted to provide a reason for overriding the provider’s scope. This ensures that scheduling decisions are well-documented and transparent. The new design also allows schedulers to see any special considerations or requirements for the appointment, improving accuracy and reducing the likelihood of scheduling conflicts.
Confirmation
The Confirmation page provides a clear and concise snapshot that the appointment was successfully booked. It also offers an easy way to integrated with existing healthcare data systems, allowing schedulers to continue their workflow with additional data gathering or research if necessary. This streamlined approach ensures that schedulers can quickly confirm appointments and proceed with any follow-up actions without having to search for patient information elsewhere.