Inspiration
It all started when one of the team members, Sarah, came down with the flu during a busy season. Prescribed medication was supposed to help them recover quickly, but juggling pill bottles, deciphering labels, and remembering to take the medication at the right times proved overwhelming. This led to missed doses and a longer, more frustrating recovery than necessary.
We realized Sarah's experience wasn't unique. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a 2003 report estimated that approximately 50% of patients with chronic diseases in developed countries don't take their medications as prescribed. Medication adherence is a global challenge, and the consequences of missed doses or confusion can be serious.
That's why we created HealthGem. We wanted to develop a tool that empowers individuals to simplify medication management and take control of their health journey.
What HealthGem does
HealthGem is your AI-powered medication management companion. It helps you decipher prescriptions, set personalized reminders, and even suggests dietary recommendations based on your meds. With a built-in chat powered by Gemini AI, you can get instant guidance on side effects and nutrition, empowering you to take charge of your health journey.
How we built it
HealthGem leverages the power of Gemini AI technology. Here's a high-level overview:
- Machine learning: We used the capabilities of AI models to decipher prescriptions from images or text (using Gemini Pro Vision).
- Reminder functionalities: We developed algorithms to create personalized medication reminders.
- Nutritional integration: We incorporated AI to analyze medication interactions and suggest compatible foods. We're also exploring the creation of personalized meal plans based on medication needs.
- Chat function: We integrated the Gemini AI model to provide real-time guidance on health-related questions.
Challenges we ran into
We had the following challenges as we worked on the project:
- Balancing AI and user control: We focused on creating a user-centric experience while ensuring the AI's role is informative and empowers informed decisions, not medical advice.
- Privacy and security: Building robust features while maintaining user data privacy and security was a top priority.
- Short timeline: Due to a late project start, we had a condensed development period of only 2 weeks while still focusing on organisation goals. This required efficient teamwork and prioritisation of core functionalities.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
- User-friendly interface: We created a simple and intuitive app that is accessible to a wide range of users.
- AI-powered features: HealthGem's core functionalities utilize AI to simplify medication management and promote holistic well-being.
- Early user feedback: We've received positive feedback from beta testers regarding the app's effectiveness in improving medication adherence.
- Multimodality with Gemini Pro Vision: Through this project, we successfully integrated and explored the capabilities of Gemini Pro Vision for prescription image processing.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: The tight deadline tested our teamwork and communication, ultimately leading to a more collaborative and efficient development process.
What we learned
- The importance of user-centered design: Understanding user needs and preferences is crucial for creating a successful health app.
- The power of responsible AI: Responsible development and deployment of AI technology is essential for building trust within the healthcare space.
- The need for continuous improvement: We remain committed to ongoing development and improvement based on user feedback and the evolving healthcare landscape.
What's next for HealthGem
- Expanding functionalities: We plan to expand features like improving the medication tracking, improving refill reminders, and coming up with personalized meal plans based on medication interactions and nutritional needs.
- Partnerships with healthcare providers: We aim to collaborate with healthcare professionals to further integrate HealthGem into the healthcare ecosystem back here in Kenya.
- Global reach: We envision making HealthGem a valuable tool for users worldwide, considering regional healthcare practices and medication management needs.
Built With
- firebase
- gemini-pro
- gemini-pro-vision
- mongodb
- python
- react-native
- vertexai
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