In collaboration with the Moores Cancer Center, we developed MyPath, a cross-platform mobile application designed to assist cancer patients as they navigate their personal treatment plans. The project, which spanned from June 2022 to February 2023, aimed to simplify and enhance the experience of cancer patients, providing them with personalized guidance throughout their journey.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into the goals, challenges, and key outcomes of this transformative project.
Goals: helping patients navigate their journey
The main goal of MyPath was to bridge the gap between patients and their healthcare providers, giving patients a digital companion to help them understand and manage their treatment journey. Cancer treatment can be overwhelming, with multiple appointments, medications, and therapies to keep track of. MyPath provides patients with:
- A personalized care roadmap that outlines the treatment process.
- Appointment scheduling and reminders for care pathway events and medications.
- Access to supportive services that patients can discover and schedule within the app.
- A direct connection to care providers, with options for emergency contact and general inquiries.
The main value created by the app is that patients can receive timely updates, track their progress, and have easy access to help when needed.
Challenges of healthcare app development
Building an application for healthcare means one has to navigate a complex set of challenges, particularly around data privacy, user authentication, and user experience. MyPath required us to develop both a robust backend system and an easy-to-use mobile app that would work seamlessly on either iOS or Android.
One of the major challenges was managing two separate authentication flows. MyPath had to serve both patients and providers while guaranteeing data security and patient privacy. Here’s how we handled this:
Method A: This backend service allowed the app to look up appointments and send reminders based on patient IDs. While this method enabled us to serve a broader audience, it raised privacy concerns since it allowed access to any patient’s information within the organization.
Method B: This method authenticated a single patient and returned their account information (including their patient ID). It allowed users to log in using their existing EPIC login but didn’t provide access to FHIR APIs (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) necessary for certain data requests.
The challenge was integrating both methods in a way that served the application’s needs without compromising security or user privacy. Ultimately, we implemented a dual authentication system that maintained user session information separately, allowing us to send reminders and notifications while protecting patient data.
Technical approach: Crystal and Flutter for seamless performance
The project’s technical architecture was key to its success. For the backend, we used Crystal because of its performance and simplicity. It allowed us to build a single executable that was efficient and reliable, which was important for backend-heavy operations like managing patient data and notifications.
For the mobile app, we used Flutter, to get a consistent experience across both iOS and Android. Flutter’s flexibility allowed us to build a visually appealing, intuitive interface that made navigating treatment plans, appointments, and services effortless for users.
Key features of MyPath
The simplicity of MyPath’s design and functionality played a significant role in its success. Some of the key features include:
- Patient Roadmap, which gives patients an overview of their entire care pathway, allowing them to zoom in and explore details for each step of their treatment.
- Calendaring for Care Pathway Events & Medications, which enables patients to schedule or view appointments, with reminders sent directly to their phones.
- Supportive Services, so that patients can discover additional services and schedule appointments for therapies or consultations directly from the app.
- Request for Help, which provides patients with a direct line to their care providers, enabling them to request assistance or contact emergency services as needed.
Each feature was carefully crafted with ease of use in mind, with a clean design and intuitive navigation to support patients during what is often a difficult and stressful time.
Lessons learned from the development process
Working on MyPath provided our team with valuable insights into healthcare app development. For those embarking on similar projects, here are some key takeaways:
- Understand Existing Systems: When integrating with existing authentication systems like EPIC, it’s important to explore all available options and understand the trade-offs. Communicate these trade-offs clearly with the client to avoid issues later in the project.
- Scope Control: It’s essential to limit the scope of the application if certain features conflict with existing systems. Trying to stretch the capabilities of an authentication system to meet your needs can introduce security risks and complicate development.
- Experimentation and Research: Having the time and freedom to experiment with different solutions is crucial. In MyPath’s case, being able to research the best authentication methods and integrate them seamlessly into the app was key to the project’s success.
- Constant Communication: Regular check-ins with the client were a major factor to stay aligned with their vision and goals. Open communication also helped us navigate roadblocks, as the client could quickly provide direction or clarity when needed.
Results: a simple, user-friendly tool for patients
The final result is an app that is both simple and powerful. Patients now have a clear and easy-to-navigate system that helps them manage their treatment plans and appointments, request help, and access supportive services. All in one place.
Since February 2023, MyPath has been ready for use and is currently undergoing legal reviews before it is published on app stores. We are proud of what we achieved in this project and look forward to seeing its positive impact on patients’ lives.