Inspiration
We were aware of the division between different levels of society in which we were inspired by the despairing nature of the healthcare situation in the US. Many disabled and underserved individuals face difficulties in transportation, often leading to inadequate health care or even avoidance. As a result, we were driven to create an application that could alleviate the pressure on the underserved community, providing a pathway to a future with higher health literacy and accessibility.
What it does
Our application connects volunteers with users who have difficulty accessing transportation to medical institutions,
How we built it
We implemented a combination of React (TypeScript) framework with Django to create a project that incorporated extensive front-end and back-end functionalities. We created APIs in the back-end that were able to create a local database, a verification system for volunteers, and update in real time.
Challenges we ran into
We dove into the project with the intention of exploring our skill levels and challenging our understanding of logic. As a result, we had issues connecting the React framework with Django in the initial phases of the project, as well as running the project. We had little experience with the specific language and syntax we used for this project, adding to some problems involving testing, dependencies, and debugging.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are proud of implementing the two libraries together to create a hybrid structure. Additionally, we are also proud to learn new languages during the creation of the project and the final implementation and interactions between the back end and front end.
What we learned
We learned about how to use React with Django, specifically how to integrate the frontend and backend capabilities of both systems. We went out of our comfort zones and took on tasks we wouldn't normally undertake, especially in such a short time limit. With this, we also learned how much of a teacher a hackathon can truly be.
What's next for MediMaps
For MediMaps, the transportation is simply a part of the ultimate cost issue of medical care. Seeing as MediMap can tackle the transportation costs of medical visits in the future, we hope to tackle other facets of the medical care costs. For example, a cost calculator to make families more aware of the costs of hospital visits, allowing them to be more prepared and ready to handle the cost.
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