HealthLink

presentation:

HealthLINK Final powerpoint (1) - Google Slides

Framing the Problem

What is the problem you are trying to solve? Who does it affect?

Long waiting times for medical lab results (eg: blood tests, urine samples) to be given back can be inconvenient and also risky for patients who may have severe issues and need their prescription as soon as possible. This is a big issue for young adults, who are busy with work and university, and do not have time to call up their GP or make another appointment. It is also a major issue for the elderly or disabled, as it is not easy for them to constantly go out of the house to travel to appointments.

Idea Explanation

What is your idea? How does it fix the problem?

With Health Link, patients are able to retrieve and access their results as soon they are ready through an app or website that is linked with their NHS account, so it stays confidential. Then, using AI powered tools, recommended next steps are given in simple terms: no complicated medical jargon. This can be linked to each individual person's GP and Pharmacy, so prescriptions can be quickly approved and ordered.

Therefore, this fixes the long waiting times and avoids any medical issues being left too late, making it more convenient for those with busy lives or people who cannot easily leave their homes.

Implementation

How do all the pieces fit together? Does your frontend make requests to your backend? Where does your database fit in?

Health Link uses a secure frontend (website) where patients log in using their NHS account. The frontend sends requests to a backend server through secure APIs whenever a user wants to view their lab results or prescription status.

The backend connects to NHS systems and GP databases to retrieve medical test results once they have been approved by healthcare professionals. An AI service analyses the approved results and converts medical terminology into simple, easy-to-understand explanations, while suggesting appropriate next steps based on NHS guidance. The AI does not make diagnoses but provides educational information and directs users to contact their GP or seek urgent care when necessary.

If medication is required, the backend sends a prescription request to the patient's GP for approval. Once approved, the prescription is forwarded electronically to the patient's chosen pharmacy, where it can be prepared for collection or delivery. Throughout the process, all data is encrypted, user authentication is required, and access follows NHS data protection and privacy standards to keep patient information secure.

Challenges

What did you struggle with? How did you overcome it?

We struggled to make the website accessible, as it will be used by many people. Therefore, we included an AI powered language feature and a read aloud feature for those with sight issues.

Accomplishments

What did you learn? What did you accomplish?

We learned the importance of accessibility in design, especially when targeting the elderly. With our website, we learned how to use AI to speed up the process of development and engineering, and how to efficiently use it to give us the best prompts. Finally, we strengthened our teamwork and problem-solving skills while designing a solution that could make healthcare more convenient and accessible for patients.

Next Steps

What are the next steps for your project? How can you improve it?

For our next steps, we can make an app for Health Link, so that is it accessible from everywhere and is more simple to use.

We would also improve the AI by making its explanations more accurate, personalised, and easier to understand, ensuring they follow NHS guidance. Future updates could include appointment booking, medication reminders, notifications when new test results are available, and secure messaging with GPs or pharmacists.